Penguins drenched in oil from New Zealand’s Oil Spill have something to look forward to – a slick new wardrobe.

Over a thousand oil-soaked birds, including 22 little blue penguins, have died since the 236 metre cargo vessel ran aground on the 5th of October dumping at least 350 tonnes of fuel into the Bay of Plenty in New Zealand.

According to Maritime New Zealand, a further 58 oiled penguins have been taken into the Wildlife Response Centre for rehabilitation.

To help the languishing birds, Skeinz a small yarn store in Napier, New Zealand posted a request on their website last week asking crafty-types around the world to knit penguin jumpers (aka sweaters). Marree Buscke of Skeinz told New Scientist they have since received hundreds of woolies, and she expects over a thousand to arrive in the next week. “We just wanted to get some knitters together, but it went a little viral,” she says.

It’s not a joke, but a rather ingenious idea. The notion of penguin jumpers was concocted a decade ago by the Tasmanian Conservation Trust (TCT) as part of a preventative strategy to protect little penguins (Eudyptula minor) in southern Australia that are regularly threatened by oil slicks from passing cargo ships.

According to TCT, oil clogs penguin feathers, reducing their ability to insulate and waterproof the birds. Worse still, the penguins ingest toxic oil when they attempt to clean themselves by preening. Jumpers solve both problems by keeping the birds warm, and creating a barrier to stop them consuming oil.

Before grabbing your needles and yarn, facility manager Brett Gartrell at the Wildlife Response Centre told Maritime New Zealand they have now received enough jumpers and for no more are needed.