Knitting for Charity

Want to knit for a good cause? Maybe the only place you heard of knitting for is Oxfam? Oxfam are no longer accepting knitted tops to send abroad, but if you want to knit blankets they will accept them and sell them at events such as Glastonbury, where they raise much needed money and are very popular.

There are lots of other ways that you can click your needles for a good cause.

Sands
Sands need knitted baby blankets for their Precious Memory Boxes. A pattern is available on their website. They also require donations of white DK yarn.

The Jenny Chant Appeal
Jenny Chant is a breast cancer survivior who is attempting to knit the world's longest pink scarf to raise awareness of the importance of self examination and regular mammograms. She is asking you to knit a 2 metre scarf (the pattern is on her website) and she will sew them all together to make a record breaker! When the appeal closes the scarves will be auctioned off to raise funds, the remaining scarves will be either used as scarves or sewn together to make blankets, to warm and comfort those who need them most.

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.

Save the Children
Knit a hat and send it to Save the Children who will send your hat to mothers and babies in developing countries who desperately need your help. This year they are also asking you to include a message to Gordon Brown to raise awareness of saving children's lives.

Knitting for Operation Christmas Child
Samaritan’s Purse is a charity committed to meeting the needs of under-privileged people through the delivery of practical every day items and necessities. Each Christmas they send shoeboxs of gifts to children and have some patterns for hand puppets or hats for you to include in your box.

The Sailors' Society
UK registered charity that cares for the world's seafarers. They distribute 10,000 Woolly Hats every year to seafarers, knitted by volunteers, and there is always a need for more. They hold an annual Woolly Hat Week and you can get a pattern from their website.

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.

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.

Bonnie Babies
Sends premature baby outfits and blankets to special care baby units around the UK and to parents who need support.

Feed the Children
Feed The Children is a UK charity who have their own knitting pattern for a jumper suitable for children of all ages. They are also looking for knitted hats, gloves and scarfs.

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.

Artists Helping Children
This US charity need some creative knitters! They are filling up bags full of art supplies and cuddly animals to ship off to very ill children in hospitals. They are looking for canvas, cloth, or knitted bags to put the art supplies and cuddly animals in. They are also looking for handmade knitted, crocheted, and sewn cuddly animals, dolls, puppets, and other handmade toys.

Friends to Seniors
Organisation who make blankets to give to elderly people in residential homes or who live alone in both the UK and US. You can also nominate someone to recieve a gift online.

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.

Knit-a-Square
South African charity that asks you to knit squares which they will then sew together into blankets for children, particularly in Africa.

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.

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..

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.

Please let us know about any charity knitting events or campaigns and we will be pleased to list them here. Contact Us

Great Knitting Books

Knitting Kit Gifts For Kids
Get the kids knitting with these cute knitting kits. They all consist of small, quick to complete items which will maintain a young child's interest right through to the end of the project. Great fun for grown-ups too!