Archive for the ‘Knitting for Charity Organizations’ Category
17
Dec
Written by Knitting Stitches on December 17th, 2009
With over 300 chapters in the United States, this organization supplies hand knitted blankets to children in need who are seriously ill or traumatized in some way—in other words, “children in need of a big hug”.
You can help by donating knitted blankets to a Project Linus chapter in your area. Visit the national website for more details, patterns and other helpful information.

Technorati Tags: blankets, children in need
4
Oct
Written by Knitting Stitches on October 4th, 2009
Best-selling author and avid knitter Debbie Macomber teams with Leisure Arts to introduce a new Warm Up America! initiative — Friendship Shawls
. Similar to prayer shawls, friendship shawls are handmade gifts of caring. They’re perfect for special occasions or simply as friendship gifts. In addition, these shawls are wonderful for individuals in nursing homes, hospitals, and shelters.
Visit and be the first to introduce friendship shawls to your area through this inviting book! Ten shawls to knit: For All Reasons, A Hug to Keep, Because I Care, So Nice to Have You Around, A Little Something for You, Thinking of You, Gifts to Share, A Wisp of Warmth, A Girl’s Best Friend, and Always With You.
Technorati Tags: debbie macomber, friendship gifts, handmade gift, Knit, leisure arts, nursing homes, Prayer Shawls, shawls, thinking of you gifts, warm up america
3
Oct
Written by Knitting Stitches on October 3rd, 2009
Famous author Debbie Macomber and Leisure Arts are pleased to present this guidebook to charitable causes that are popular with knitters. Each foundation, association, and volunteer group is profiled to help knitters decide which charities they want to support with their handmade gifts. Knit projects for each of the 14 organizations are included, each selected or developed for Knit Along with Debbie Macomber: Charity Guide for Knitters
based on the guidelines or requirements of the featured group. The projects include blankets, caps, scarves, and more.
Technorati Tags: charities, charity, debbie macomber, handmade gift, knitters
22
Sep
Written by Knitting Stitches on September 22nd, 2009
Thousands of premature babies are born every month and spend their first few weeks in hospital nurseries across the country. The National Association of Children’s Hospital and Related Institutions (NACHRI) offers a directory of facilities in different parts of the country which would donations of knitted “preemie” blankets, caps and gowns.
Check out the directory for the hospitals nearest to you and contact the public relations or community affairs directors to find out how to donate your knitted items.
Technorati Tags: blankets, caps, donations, gowns, hospitals, Knit, nurseries, preemie, premature babies
18
Sep
Written by Knitting Stitches on September 18th, 2009
Care Wear is a nationwide group of volunteer stitchers who knit, crochet, and sew handmade baby items to donate to hospitals around the country. Care Wear items are given FREE to infants, children, and their parents.
Care Wear began in 1991 as a personal effort to provide much needed apparel for premature and low birthweight infants undergoing treatment in neonatal intensive care units of several children’s hospitals in the Washington, D.C. area. Since that time thousands of handmade caps, kimonos, booties, blankets, teddy bears, bibs, burial gowns, finger puppets, incubator covers, mittens, mattress covers, and cloth animals have been submitted for distribution.
You can join the Care Wear effort by donating your handmade items to a local hospital or any of those on the Hospital List. Check out the FREE patterns on the site to knit to donate to charity.
Technorati Tags: baby items, blankets, booties, charity, Donate to Charity, free patterns, hospitals, Knit, local hospital, neonatal intensive care, neonatal intensive care units
12
Sep
Written by Knitting Stitches on September 12th, 2009
The Binky Patrol, an all volunteer, national non-profit organization makes and distributes homemade blankets or “binkies” to children (age 0-18 yearn) born HIV+, drug-addicted, infected with AIDS or other chronic & terminal illnesses as well as those who are abused, in foster care or experiencing trauma of any kind.
There are no set patterns for binkies. As long as they are soft and washable and made with love and care; they will be accepted. Here are a few things to keep in mind:
- Consider the age group for which you are making the “binky” when choosing colors or patterns.
- Don’t use yarn that’s too heavy for a small child to kick off at night.
- For a teen or older child, make snugly “binkies” that don’t look like baby blankets.
When you’ve completed knitting the binkies, donate them to a local Binky Patrol chapter or mail them to:
Binky Patrol, Inc.
PO Box 652, Beaverton, OR 97075-0652
UPS/FED EX ONLY:
Binky Patrol, Inc.
c/o Susan Finch
6490 SW Elm Ave.
Beaverton, OR 97005
You can also just make blankets and find a local area shelter or hospital or agency to give them to. You don’t have to be a volunteer for Binky Patrol to do this. They are just happy to have inspired you and wish you well as you help to comfort the children and teens in your area.
Technorati Tags: baby blankets, binkies, binky patrol, foster care, hiv drug, homemade blankets, non profit organization, terminal illnesses, trauma, volunteer
23
Jul
Written by Knitting Stitches on July 23rd, 2009
My Knitting for Others group is currently making helmet liners and neck gators for military personnel overseas who are in cold climates. The easier of the two projects is the neck gator. Both are made using circular needles; but the helmet liner also requires double-pointed needles.
If you can knit or crochet, please consider donating helmet liners or scarves for the soldiers abroad. The items must be 100% wool yarn
, as acrylic yarn is flammable and would endanger the wearer should injury occur—plus they don’t have the same insulating properties as wool. It’s important that they fit properly to avoid obstructing the wearer’s vision.
Here are some things you should know when donated helmet liners and neck gators:
—The yarn must be 100% wool
and of a dark color like black, dark brown, dark gray, drab green (army green). Black is preferred but other dark colors are acceptable.
— Do not add embellishments, fringe or fancy stitches. The key is simplicity made with a basic pattern.
— Although helmet liners and neck gators can be crocheted, the troops prefer the knitted ones because they fit more snuggly and have more “give”.
To get the free patterns and more instructions on how to donate the knitted items, visit these websites:
http://www.citizensam.org/html/patterns/knitting_instructions_helmetliner.html
http://www.citizensam.org/html/patterns/neckgators.html
Technorati Tags: army, charity, circular needles, free patterns, gators, helmet liner, helmet liners, Knit, Knitting, knitting instructions, military personnel, stitch, stitches, wool yarn
22
Jul
Written by Knitting Stitches on July 22nd, 2009
Would you like to start a local chapter of the Get Well Gang in your neighborhood, community or church? This small but caring and sensitive organization seeks to donate comfortable and beautiful knitted hats to cancer patients who are experiencing hair loss. Its mission is to “warm both the heads and the hearts of patients undergoing cancer treatment.” What began with just six hats delivered to a cancer center has expanded to well over 12,000 hats donated throughout Canada and the United States.
The Get Well Gang began in 2003 when the founder, Gretchen Huntley, lost a close friend to cancer. The chemotherapy had caused her to lose her hair and Gretchen’s friend wore unflattering and uncomfortable hats to conceal the hair loss. After her death, Gretchen committed to making hats for cancer patients that were flattering and comfortable.
You can participate in this worthy cause by joining the Get Well Gang and knitting hats made of 100% Cotton Yarns
. The website provides six hat patterns including special designs for women, men and children. You will also receive labels to personalize the hats and prepare them for donation to your local hospital, cancer organization or the Get Well Gang organization. Visit the website for more details.
Technorati Tags: canada and the united states, cancer center, cancer organization, cancer treatment, Gretchen Huntley, hair loss, hat patterns, hats for cancer patients, Knit, knit caps, knitted hats, Knitting, local hospital
15
Jul
Written by Knitting Stitches on July 15th, 2009
I am an avid knitter as well as a Tea Enthusiast. Imagine my pleasant surprise to find a knitting book that celebrated my love for all things “tea”.
Knitting and Tea
brings together two hallowed traditions in all their beauty, charm, and poise. The author takes you on a journey from the lush tea plantations of Sri Lanka to the tearooms in the United Kingdom to explore the intertwining history of these two passions.
The luxurious photographs of each location entice you to sit and sample the delectable teatime recipes included and to knit designs that evoke classic elegance. From a stately Cricket Sweater to lovely Tea Cozies, an embellished Cupcake Cardigan, and timeless Argyle Socks, in Knitting and Tea
, the author shows you how they can go hand-in-hand anywhere.
If you love to sip a cup of tea while you knit, this book will enthrall you!
Technorati Tags: argyle socks, cardigan, cricket, cup of tea, cupcake, Knitting, photographs, sri lanka, tea cozies, tea enthusiast, tea plantations, tearooms, teatime recipes
14
Jul
Written by Knitting Stitches on July 14th, 2009
About 3 years ago, I started a prayer shawl ministry to knit to donate to charity. As part of that one-woman effort, I knitted almost 30 prayer and comfort shawls for the senior citizens in my church and several friends and family members. While most of the patterns I used came from free resources on the web, I did purchase a few of these books to knit a unique prayer shawl for each recipient.

For many, the ultimate expression of spirituality is charity. And for years, people have been crafting prayer shawls – knitted wraps to comfort those in times of need and to help others celebrate special occasions. Written by the two women at the heart of this groundswell of charity knitting, The Prayer Shawl Companion
presents 38 wondrous wraps for all occasions, from baptism to remembrance. The book includes easy, intermediate, and challenging patterns for such inspiring creations as The Calming Shawl, and the Friendship Patchwork Shawl, and many more. Professional knitwear designers like Kaffe Fassett and Nicky Epstein have donated more than 10 patterns.
Create 8 inspirational shawls with these Quick-To-Stitch Prayer Shawls
. Includes Scripture readings and instruction for each shawl. Shawls include: Prayer for Peace Prayer for Healing Prayer for Love Prayer for Life Prayer for a Loved One Prayer for a Friend Prayer for Hope and Prayer for Comfort. Softcover: 24 pages.
Join the thousands of knitters and crocheters of all faiths who are creating handmade shawls for people in need using the patterns in The Prayer Shawl Ministry Volume 1
. Whatever your faith and wherever you live, your handiwork will be a gift of comfort, hope, and peace. Over the centuries, shawls have come to symbolize shelter, peace, and spiritual sustenance. What started as a grass-roots movement has quickly grown into an international cause, with countless numbers of shawls being given to grateful recipients around the globe.

This eagerly anticipated second volume of The Prayer Shawl Ministry
book includes 10 shawl patterns to knit or crochet and a heartwarming follow-up on the three prayer shawl ministries introduced in the first book. Readers will identify with the dozens of letters to The Lion Brand Yarn Company from individuals sharing what the ministry means to them. This photo-rich book also includes prayers for many occasions and concerns, all of which may be used in any prayer shawl ministry. The handy guide to Lion Brand Homespun colors is a useful tool that knitters and crocheters will refer to again and again. In addition, a brief overview will familiarize readers with a new volunteer movement known simply as Friendship Shawls, an idea promoted by Warm Up America!

Best-selling author and avid knitter Debbie Macomber teams with Leisure Arts to introduce a new Warm Up America! initiative — Friendship Shawls. Similar to prayer shawls, friendship shawls are handmade gifts of caring. They’re perfect for special occasions or simply as friendship gifts. In addition, these shawls are wonderful for individuals in nursing homes, hospitals, and shelters. Visit and be the first to introduce friendship shawls to your area through this inviting book! Ten shawls to knit: For All Reasons, A Hug to Keep, Because I Care, So Nice to Have You Around, A Little Something for You, Thinking of You, Gifts to Share, A Wisp of Warmth, A Girl’s Best Friend, and Always With You.
There are times when something special is required to fill a need, provide comfort or give someone a blessing. For that reason, we present this collection of shawls and throws along with a selection of prayers and blessings. Knitters of all ages and all skill levels will love this book! 16 pages.

Many contemplative, prayerful acts involve repetition of action: walking a labyrinth, reciting the Divine Office or saying the rosary. So why not knitting? As their needles flash and click, veteran knitters Jorgensen and Izard practice “contemplative knitting,” which they say is just as real and fruitful a spiritual practice as any longstanding tradition of the church. The shawls change the lives of the knitters themselves, inviting them to engage in quiet meditation, and they also make an impact on the people who receive them, many of whom are recovering from illness or bereavement. Fans of knitting will be, shall we say, hooked: the book offers practical steps on selecting yarn and knitting simple prayer shawls, but its most enduring feature is the heartwarming stories of shawls knitted and given as artifacts of prayer.
Technorati Tags: charity, Knit, knitters, Knitting, lion brand, needles, shawls, warm up america, yarn
13
Jul
Written by Knitting Stitches on July 13th, 2009
Looking for a project to knit to donate to charity? The Care To Knit non-profit organization is a great resource. Its mission is to provide hand knit and crocheted items such as scarves, lap shawls, hats and other related accessories to those in shelters, hospitals, nursing homes and hospices.
To fulfill the mission, Care To Knit has attracted knitters and crocheters from around the country who are interested in donating their hand made items to men, women, and children in need. Baby and preemie caps, blankets and booties are needed year round. Recently the organization has received requests for sweater sets to include in layettes for needy families.
Here are some facts you need to know when donating:
Scarves: adult sizes — width 5″-7″, length 60″; children’s sizes — width 4″-5″, length 48″
Lap Blankets: width 35″, length 40″
Hats: small, medium, and large sizes for both adults and children
Yarn Types: Use your favorite yarn or you can choose Lion Brand Boucle, Fancy Fur, Fun Fur, Red Heart Tweed, Lion Brand Suede, Moda Dea, Jai Alai, Patons Cha Cha or Caron–Simply Soft (good for baby hats and chemo caps)
If you are interested in teaching others to knit and/or crochet, or to donate knitted items and help sew labels into them, contact Care To Knit at 1 800 966-KNIT.
Technorati Tags: adult sizes, baby hats, booties, boucle, chemo caps, children in need, fun fur, hospices, lap blankets, layettes, lion brand, needy families, patons, preemie, red heart, shawls, sweater sets, yarn types