Join A Charity Knitting Project
Donate Your Knitting to a Good Cause in the UK and Abroad
Apr 23, 2008 Lesley Arnold-Hopkins
Knitters enjoy creating beautiful things, but what happens when your friends have more sweaters than they can wear? Knitting for charity is a way of helping others and there are many organisations who are grateful for your handiwork.
Feed the Children sends jumpers to children in Africa, and has arranged collection points through National Mobile Windscreens Ltd. There is a pattern available on their website, or you can use a favourite of your own. Brian Main, the charity’s Chief Executive asks that you mark your name and address clearly on your parcel ‘so that we can thank the generous donors for their gifts.’ Where possible, Feed the Children would also like financial donations (approx £2 per parcel) to be sent to their head office in Twyford to aid in the cost of transportation.
Knitting can also be used for fundraising. The K9 Rescue Knitting Club started as a small venture in a community centre in Middlesbrough, and has grown steadily in the last couple of years. The coats are made by contributors from all over the country, and are sold both at dog rescue events, and through their website. The funds raised are donated to the Dogs Trust and Ashbourne Animal Welfare, a charity which finds homes for dogs and cats.
Again, a pattern is available on the K9 website, but Carrie Warr, who co-ordinates the charity, is happy to accept original designs. ‘Coats that are a little bit “unique” always sell well. These can be a basic style coat but with a clever pattern or motif on them. However, as she says, ``simple designs are also popular – after all, the dog coats we make are practical items which need to be easy to wear and easy to wash.``
Most of the coats received are knitted, but crocheted canine fashion is also welcome.
If you like to knit small things, why not contact your local maternity ward? BLISS , the premature baby charity, will be happy to provide details of the nearest neonatal unit. Traditional simple designs in soft colours and natural fibres are preferred for these tiny, delicate wearers.
The scope is there to help others, while working on the craft you enjoy. Cat rescue centres run by the RSPCA (General Enquries – 0870 333 5599) use small blankets (approximately 40 cm square) for the animals in their care. When a cat is re-homed, the blanket goes with it, giving familiarity at a time of change. This means, of course, that they are always looking for more blankets. Here is a great chance to try out that new stitch or yarn, to see how it looks and feels before putting it into a garment, or why not make a patchwork of your tension swatches?
Your charitable knitting could be as simple as making a garment, and donating it to your favourite charity shop, but however you chose to knit and give, you will know that your work is appreciated.
Top Tips:
- This is an opportunity to try new patterns, stitches and yarns. Think beyond your normal knitting.
- Don’t forget to keep your standards high. The garments made will be well used, so should be finished to the best of your ability
- Patterns are available on the charity’s websites, in magazines, and through websites such as Knitting Pattern Central where many patterns are offered for personal and charity use only.
Cat Blanket
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