How to: Knit for Charity
My grandmother isn’t like your average knitter; she likes to knit squares. Every afternoon she’ll take whatever yarn she has at hand – red, purple, a “lovely rosey” pink – and make a simple, single-stitched square. At the end of each month she mails them to her friend who collects squares from three other neighborhood women and knits them together to make beautiful blankets. The blankets are then donated to churches, homeless shelters or anywhere else where there is a need. I asked my grandmother why she likes knitting for charity and she replied, “How could I not when there are so many people in need?”
Knitting for charity isn’t challenging, but it is extremely rewarding. There are charities all over the nation in search of knitting patterns for sweaters, scarves, blankets, socks, chemo hats – and nearly any other you could think of. Whether you plan to knit for a hospital, a local chemo center or a homeless shelter, there are multiple ways your knitting can be used to help others in need.
Here is a list of some great charities and hospitals that you can knit for. You’ll enjoy your knitting even more when you know it’s going to help someone that needs it.
Knit-a-square
If you’re worried about having enough time to knit larger projects for charity, knitting-a-square is a wonderful place to begin. All the squares donated are transformed into blankets and are shipped to Africa to benefit children suffering from AIDS. Start knitting and donating now to help KAS (Knit a Square) reach their goal of 105,000 squares for 2010.
Miracles Happen
Miracles Happen is a charity dedicated to collecting knit and crochet patterns for new born babies. Many new mothers have no one to turn to when they become pregnant, and understanding how to care for a child, in addition to being able to care for a child, can be stressful. Miracles Happen aims to relieve a portion of this stress by donating knit goods for their new babies. Are you ready to make a difference in someone’s life?
Caps for a Cure
Remind someone struggling with cancer that they aren’t fighting their battle alone. Caps for a Cure accepts knit caps for chemotherapy patients. Every two months, Caps for a Cure sends hats to a different charity, ensuring that a variety of chemo centers receive hats for patients in need.
Red Scarf Project
In conjunction with the Orphan Foundation of America, the Red Scarf Project takes donated crochet and knit scarves to give to college-bound foster children. The red scarves are delivered in a special package on Valentine’s Day. For this year, the submission has already started and lasts through December 1. That’s plenty of time to knit a red scarf.
The Ships Project
This charity sends “hugs from home” to deployed American troops by shipping donated knit slippers and hats. Since their creation in 2001, over 200,000 knit projects have been sent to troops overseas.
There are so many wonderful programs available to caring knitters searching for a way to help out, that it’s impossible to list them all. I hope this collection of charities will at least help get you started.
What are your favorite charities to knit for?
About the Author
Caitlin Kavanaugh is an Editor for FaveCrafts.com and AllFreeKnitting.com
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