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Knitting for Charity
Want to knit for a good cause? Maybe the only place you heard of knitting for is Oxfam? There are lots of charities, local, national and international that need your help, whether you knit, crochet or sew.
Below are UK, US and South African based charities who accept knitted and crocheted items.
UK Based Charities
Oxfam no longer send knitted tops or blankets abroad, but if you want to knit blankets they will accept them and sell them at music festivals such as Glastonbury, where they are very popular. They also accept hand knitted goods to sell in their shops in the UK and have some patterns on their website for items that will go down well.
On Butterfly Wings
Upon Butterfly Wings is a voluntary not-for-profit organisation which supply hospitals and funeral directors around the UK with premature to full term handmade baby blankets, teddies, burial clothing and much more for babies who have sadly been born too soon, stillborn or who sadly die during the neonatal period right across the UK. They are always in need of donations of these items and patterns can be found on their website.
Lisa’s Stars
Lisa’s Stars was set up after the founder lost her 5th baby at 18 weeks. Due to his size the hospital had nothing to wrap him in so he was wrapped in tissue and presented to her and her husband on a tray. Lisa’s Stars aim is to stop this sort of thing happening in UK hospitals by giving the babies who die prematurely between 16-23 weeks some respect simply because they are not classed as ‘viable’ by British law. They accept and collect knitted blankets, hats, teddies and booties and have reps based all over the UK and Ireland who deliver to their local hospitals. They are also in constant need of donations of wool in any colour in either DK or 3-4 ply.
Teddies for Tragedies
Provide teddies for sick children in mainly Africa, Eastern Europe and Asia. Contact them to find a local collecters for your knitted teddies. They offer their own pattern, as teddies need to be a specific size.
Preemies UK
A small group of volunteers that knit and crochet clothing for premature babies.
Charity Clowns
Knitted clowns needed for the very poor children of Kosovo, on behalf of Hope and Aid Direct.
Algerian Action
Algerian Action provide clothing and toys to needy children aged between 0-12 and ‘baby packs’ to mothers who have nothing for their new-born’s. Suitable patterns are available on the site.
Loving Hands
A charity knitting, crocheting and sewing group based in the UK which has over 160 members who work away helping lots of different charities (Feed the Children, Save, the Children, UK Maternities, Boobs for Breastfeeding, Blythswood care, Burundi Bears, Baby Pack Project, British and International Sailor's Society and Blankets for Animal Shelters at the moment).
Operation Elderly Charity Stitchers
A non-profit Organisation that makes Lap Quilts and blankets for the elderly residents in nursing homes around the UK. They need knitted, crotched or sewn patches.
Bonnie Babies
Sends premature baby outfits and blankets to special care baby units around the UK and to parents who need support.
The Retired and Senior Volunteer Programme
Part of Community Service Volunteers this organisation harnesses the skills of the over-50's. Their knitting projects include coats and bonnets for premature babies, teddies and blankets for the elderly.
Cuddles
Supports families who have lost a baby to still birth or miscarriage and need clothes and blankets for the tiny babies. There are patterns and information on the website and a running totals of the items donated each month.
Ray of Hope
Ask you to send patterns, knit for your local hospital or help Leighton Hospital, Crewe Cheshire, UK. They have patterns, news about charity knitting and message boards for knitters.
Project Linus UK
Project Linus aims to provide a sense of security and comfort to sick and traumatised babies, children and teenagers through the provision of new home made patchwork quilts and knitted / crocheted blankets.
Many civic and church organisations will also have their own links with groups that accept knitted items to send to local hospitals or overseas. You could also try contacting your nearest volunteer bureau to see if they have any requirements. The Knitting Guild Association has a big list of charities who accept knitted items, mostly US and Canada.
US Based Charities
Afghans for Afghans
US Charity sending blankets to Afghanistan. The country has been devastated not only by the original Soviet invasion in 1979 then by the recent war initiated by the US after 9/11. Outside the US you can support their work by purchasing knitting patterns from their website.
Knitting & Giving
Connecticut based charity group that has been established to provide warm hand knit or crocheted items to those in need. They deliver donated items to local hospitals, homeless shelters, and more, as well as ship donations to those in need throughout the United States and abroad.
Steven's Comfy Toes/Cyndy's Tiny Tootsies
Steven's Comfy Toes/Cyndy's Tiny Tootsies provides slippers, hats, mittens and scarves to children ages birth to 12 years in the White Pine County area of Nevada.
Snuggles Project
This charity asks you to donate a little of your time and your leftover scraps of yarn or fabric to make snuggles for your local humane societies and animal shelters. Crochet, knit, quilt or sew cloth blankets.
South African Based Charities
The Ruth Mailbag Group
Knitting baby items for our “fish and chips” premature and newborn babies. Please leave your baby items at: Foto First, 180 Murchison Street, Ladysmith 3370, South Africa, for distribution to moms at the government hospital in town. This Facebook group is intended primarily for the Ladysmith area and surrounds, but please feel free to still join in and then arrange collection points in your own area.
The Baby Pack Project
South African charity which provides a pack of the most basic items needed for a new born baby under-privileged mothers of newborn babies on the lower south coast of Kwa Zulu Natal, South Africa. They say that anything you can knit for a baby would be gratefully received, and have a couple of suggested patterns on their website.
Knit-a-Square
South African charity that asks you to knit squares 8" X 8" which they will then sew together into blankets for children, particularly in Africa. They also have patterns for a square vest, a hat and a roomy pullover for children, all of which they would appreciate donations of.
Please let us know about any charity knitting events or campaigns and we will be pleased to list them here. Contact Us
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