Charity Knitting For Beginners (by Robyn Devine)

It seems like only yesterday you picked up a pair of knitting needles for the first time. Maybe it was to finally make a scarf for a friend, or an adorable hat for a new babe. No matter why you picked up the needles, you feel like you’ve got the art of the Knit and the Purl under your belt, and you’re wondering what’s next.

Some are immediately drawn to the intricate color work in Fair Isle knitting, and some are all about the cuddly shapes and sizes of knitted toys. Myself, I was almost immediately drawn to charity knitting. For me, there was no better way to use my newfound skills than to help keep others warm. Whether it was knitting hats for preemies or lap blankets for the elderly, I found my charity knitting taking over my house.

It wasn’t for years that I figured out most knitters around me either don’t knit for charity, or had the desire but didn’t know where to donate. I realize now that my “jump in and see where you land” approach to charity knitting is not the normal path, with most knitters stymied either by the overwhelming needs around them or the lack of donation bins in their area.

What Do People Need?

For new knitters, the challenge can be even harder – still struggling through casting on, binding off, and knitting two together, it can seem too great a hurdle to go from making yourself a scarf to making something for a complete stranger. But have no fear – with a few simple steps you’ll be crafting away for others in no time!

If you’ve got the desire to knit for charity, your first step is to figure out what you like to knit the most. Do you find yourself knitting scarf after colorful scarf? Do your fingers fly around the needles when you cast on a hat? Whatever you love to knit, there’s a charity organization that needs it, I promise. And figuring out what you want to knit, what you love to knit, will make your charity knitting projects more fun. After all, who wants to plug away at a pair of socks when all they really want to be knitting is dish cloths?!

Where To Give

Once you’ve figured out what you want to donate, the trick is to get it to the people who need it most. Lucky for you, I’ve done some of the dirty work, and at the end of this article you’ll find a list of some of my favorite charities, and the items they take.

Looking to donate locally? Start flipping through your phone book! Send an e-mail (or stop by) your local hospital’s NICU (neonatal intensive care unit) and see if they take baby items. Call up a local nursing home or hospice to find out if they’d like some comfort afghans, lap blankets, snuggly caps or slippers. Foster care organizations, AIDS crisis centers, and even your local Humane Society are also great places to ask. In my experience, just about any non-profit organization will take handmade items of some sort – it’s all in matching up your items to the right charity!

Share The Love

Once you’ve gotten in touch with an organization that accepts hand knits, be sure to let others know. If you’ve got a blog, post pictures of the items you’ve made, and let others know where you’re donating them. Hop onto local community boards or attend knit nights at the local yarn shop to recruit other charity-minded people to help out!

Remember, not that long ago you were someone who wanted to help but didn’t know how – now that you’re “in the know”, sharing your expertise is the best way to get others involved.

A Few Places To Start

Want to fast-track your charity knitting? Here’s a few great organizations that are always looking for items. Be sure to head to their websites for specifics!

Warm Woolies – collecting items for orphans across the globe, this charity needs socks, sweaters, and vests made from 100% wool items for sizes from preemie to adult.

The Nest – this organization brings 100% animal fiber items to people struggling through cold winters in Maine.

The Ghana Project – collecting squares to be sewn into blankets for over a decade – the perfect way to use up all your acrylic remnants! These blankets go to children across Africa struggling through painful surgeries.

Homespun Helpers - this group of charity knitters congregates on the web, banding together to knit for a wide variety of charities.

Article author Robyn Devine is a 30-something newlywed who has focused her life on craft, sustainability, and changing the planet for good. Having been a crafter most of her life, it wasn’t until recently she discovered she could meld her love of handmades with her passion to help the world become a better place for all humans, instead of a place that seemed to work only for a privileged few.

She divides her free time between knitting and scrapbooking most days, is in a constant battle with all the clutter threatening to take over her house, and truly believes that with a bit of compassion, some wool, and a slice of pizza, the world could be a happier place for all!  Enjoy Robyn’s blog: http://robyndevine.typepad.com