Creativebug As you start focusing on the next season’s creative projects, it’s never too early to think about charitable crafting. Whether you’re a knitter, crocheter, or general crafter, there are many places that could use your generous donations. You don’t even have to start a new project from scratch. Your scraps and misfit projects can be a great starting point. A small piece of fabric or cast-off crochet swatch may not mean much to you but could mean so much to someone else.
To get your ideas flowing, we’ve gathered some project inspiration and places to donate. It’s always a good idea to reach out to specific organizations – local or national – to ask what they currently need. Since many charities have specific guidelines for donations, you want to ensure you are giving them something they will actually use. Often, they will keep their websites updated with that information. Please note that Creativebug is not affiliated with any of the suggested organizations, and we have not worked directly with all of them. Research ones that you are interested in and see if their values align with yours.
Charitable Crafting For Knitters & Crocheters
Blankets, hats, scarves, and gloves are some of the most requested knit and crochet items for donation. As mentioned above, every organization will have different guidelines for types of items, what yarns to use, and what size projects to make, so check for specifics.
Our Patterns & Printables Library is a fabulous place to start if you’re looking for knit & crochet patterns. We also of course have online classes for those who prefer visual instruction. Make to Give: Charitable Crafting provides a nice overview of projects and organizations for both knitters and crocheters.
Knitting patterns:
- Checkered Knit Blanket
- Basketweave Knit Scarf
- Family Knit Hats
- Short Row Shaping Hat
- Family Knit Mittens
Knitting classes:
Crochet patterns:
Crochet classes:
- Granny Squares Baby Blanket
- Crochet a Southwestern Throw
- Design Your Own Crochet Shawl
- Crochet Hat Formula
One of our favorite organizations for crocheters and knitters is Warm Up America. WUA is committed to motivating, training and coordinating volunteers to knit and crochet afghans and clothing for people in need.
They encourage crocheters and knitters of all skill levels to make and send small 7″ x 9″ rectangles. WUA volunteers then assemble those sections into blankets and distribute them locally or to national organizations. So if you don’t have a lot of time to make a whole blanket, you can still make and send part of one. Crochet designer Twinkie Chan guides you through crocheting a blanket section as well as connecting sections in Make to Give: Charitable Crafting. If you need yarn information or crochet/knit pattern ideas, WUA has a page full of information.
You can also send lap blankets, baby blankets and full-sized blankets, and they are often also looking for hats, gloves, and mittens. WUA maintains a list of their current needs which also references specific charities.
Knots of Love provides premium hand-knit and crocheted beanies to people fighting cancer and NICU blankets to preemie babies for free. They provide a submission form, a checklist, and lots of helpful information for your donation. The approved yarn list is really important here for the health and well-being of the recipients.
Knit for Kids has several patterns on their site and distributes knit goods to children in need worldwide.
My Very Own Blanket provides blankets to children in foster care. They accept knit and crochet blankets as well as sewn quilts and no-sew fleece blankets.
To learn how to make a no-sew fleece blanket, Courtney Cerruti shows you how in Make to Give: Charitable Crafting. It’s a simple project that kids can help with, too.
Project Linus provides handmade blankets to children 0-18 in the United States who are seriously ill or otherwise in need. With chapters in every state, their blankets are distributed locally. Find the closest chapter to you and ask what kinds of blankets they are currently looking for. They also organize chapter events where you can donate materials to make blankets.
Donation Ideas for Sewists & Quilters
Quilts and blankets are extremely popular sewn items for charitable organizations, for babies, children, and adults.
We have a lot of quilting and patchwork resources on our site if you’re looking for inspiration. If you already have partial or unfinished quilts that for some reason didn’t make the cut for your personal use, this is a great moment to repurpose them and give them a home.
Faith Hale developed her class, Make to Give: Sew a Gingham Crib Quilt, specifically for small quilts to donate to NICUs. This baby quilt can also be used as an isolette cover, a size that is often accepted by NICUs to help create a warmer, more comforting environment for babies and their families.
Check out the guidelines for baby quilt donations at My Very Own Blanket and Project Linus.
On a more local level, you can also research hospitals, family shelters, community fridges, and nursing homes to see what their needs and guidelines are.
Many organizations are looking for stuffed animals. Some have specific kits to use or patterns to follow, and some have less rigid guidelines as long as the toy is new. If you choose to donate to a place that accepts new, handmade toys, we have some really cute classes for you.
Enchanted Makeovers has a doll adoption program to give children in shelters a little best friend. Find their doll guidelines here at the bottom of the web page.
They also accept handmade pillowcases and play capes.
Charitable Crafting for Paper Crafters
If you love handmaking greeting cards as much as we do, you might already have a stash at the ready to send to one of the many organizations who donate to cancer patients, seniors, troops, and more. Once again, please be mindful of the specific needs of different organizations, as some cannot accept glitter or rhinestones, some want messages inside, some do not, and so forth.
Some of our card-making classes:
- A Card A Day with Hero Arts
- How to Make Watercolor Cards
- Make a Pop-Up Flower Greeting Card
- Carved Eraser Stamps
There are a lot of organizations that distribute greeting cards to cancer patients needing a little support and kindness. Send A Smile Today provides cards to 95% adults and 5% children, and they list a lot of guidelines for you to keep in mind before making your cards and sending them.
Gifts for Seniors has a program called Cards for Seniors to inspire connection and uplift isolated older adults. They encourage you to coordinate a group from your school, place of employment, book club, creative club, or whatever group you choose and create cards together. They provide a lot of messaging tips and creation tips.
The Confertti Foundation is a non profit organization that supplies birthday parties to hospitalized children. They partner with hospitals all over the U.S. and their birthday card donation information here.
You can also donate friendship bracelets, and if you need a brush-up on making those, we have a class for that!
