How To Make Pouches + Liners For Baby Animals

Sewing and knitting enthusiasts can make a huge difference to the life of an orphaned joey by knitting or sewing a pouch to keep it warm and comforted while it is being raised by our volunteer wild life carers.

There are many people who would like to help our wildlife but are unable to commit to animal rescue or care, and making pouches for our babies in care is a great way to do just that.

LAOKO takes in many orphaned, sick and displaced joeys during the winter, spring and summer months. These animals require long-term care and love before they gain enough confidence and independence to be released back to the wild where they belong.

When orphaned native wildlife come into care they need to be kept warm and quiet and LAOKO carers are always in need of suitable pouches. Kangaroos, possums, wombats and other joeys spend a significant part of their early development in mum’s pouch. Those in care will utilise pouches made from natural fibres to gain comfort and warmth.

Because there are several stages of development for joeys we also need various sizes for the babies. Some are required for the tiny furless joeys and some for the larger joeys.

Anyone wanting to make LOAKO some pouches, which we desperately need and would be ever so grateful for, can either post them to us or we can arrange collection. Just email us at laokosmwr@gmail.com and we can forward on our address for postage or arrange collection if you live in the Snowy Monaro Region.

Access a printable factsheet with pouch dimensions and instructions here.

To Knit A Pouch

You will need:

• Wool: 8 ply pure wool (we are unable to use pouches made from synthetic materials)
• Needles: Size 8 needles or 4mm

Dimensions:

• Pouches should be knitted in plain (garter) stitch both sides. Sewn together on the two longer sides and one end, and left open at the top.
• Small: 25cm wide x 35cm long when finished (after sewing together)
• Medium: 35cm wide x 40cm long when finished (after sewing together)
• Large: 50cm wide x 65cm long when finished (after sewing together)

To Sew A Pouch/Lining

You will need:

• Material: 100% cotton, bamboo, hemp or flannelette – washable material only. We also need polar fleece or lambswool pouches which we use in winter. We put the baby in the natural fibre pouch/lining first and then bundle them into either into the polar fleece pouch, lambswool pouch or knitted pouch.

Dimensions:

• The seams of pouches should be either on the outside or sew a french seam as per instructions below – this is to stop the joey’s claws from getting caught.  Sew together the two longer sides and one end, and leave open at the top.
• Small: 25cm wide x 35cm long when finished (after sewing together)
• Medium: 35cm wide x 40cm long when finished (after sewing together)
• Large: 50cm wide x 65cm long when finished (after sewing together)