Knitting for Charity: Easy, Fun and Gratifying

Charity Knitting for Upon Butterfly Wings Helps Grieving Parents

2012-01-31T14:38:37Z

Losing a child is a true tragedy, and it is many parents' worst nightmare. When a child is lost before or shortly after birth, a potential lifetime of dreams and memories is shattered. When a child is lost any time after that, there is the additional heartache of losing that relationship with a beloved member of the family.

While nothing can make up for the tragic loss of life, as human beings we can help bereaved parents by reaching out to them, letting them know they are not alone, and offering our own condolences and comfort. As knitters, we can do this through our charity knitting. The founders of Upon Butterfly Wings can help us to do this through their nonprofit organization.

The Web's Best Sources of Free Knitting Patterns

2012-01-24T16:53:44Z

If you love free knitting patterns, you've probably found yourself overwhelmed by the selection at some point. There are literally thousands of websites that claim to offer free knitting patterns, but many of them require you to sign up for dozens of obnoxious newsletters, or try to sell you things along the way.

So if you're looking for real free knitting patterns -- good ones, I mean, with a lot of variety and interest -- look no further: here's the best of the web!

Free Afghan Knitting Patterns

2012-01-17T16:59:00Z

If you're looking for fun and creative free afghan knitting patterns, you've come to the right place. Forget boring old squares stitched together -- you could figure out how to do that on your own. Check out these ideas for unusual, creative, and always warm and cozy patterns.

Support People Fighting Cancer Through Halos for Hope

2012-01-13T12:18:53Z

Today Is Make a Difference Monday...

Cancer is an equal opportunity illness. That is to say, it doesn't seem to care about age, gender, ethnicity, or skin color. It can strike anyone at any time and is terribly unforgiving. Currently cancer has no cure, though it can be treated and sent into remission.

Free Easy Knitting Patterns for Beginners

2012-01-10T17:06:56Z

There are a lot of free easy knitting patterns on the Web, but most of them seem to be for dishcloths and scarves. Let's be honest: there are only so many times you can knit a long (or square) chunk of wool before you start to get bored with the craft. What usually happens next is, you go onto a more difficult pattern, get frustrated, and give up altogether.

So let's skip that step, shall we? Here are some great free easy knitting patterns that won't make you bite your nails with boredom!

Find Free Patterns for Knitting Things Children Will Love

2012-01-02T17:12:13Z

It can be a lot of fun to find free patterns for knitting and making children's items. Unlike many adults, children appreciate a handmade item, and they often treasure it for years to come. You may be crafting a family keepsake, especially if you make a toy.

Children's pattern's are fun in other ways, too -- they're quick, easy, and don't cost a lot since they don't involve a lot of yarn or other materials. So if you've always wanted to try knitting some kids' stuff, give these ones a try.

Unique Free Knitting Patterns

2011-12-26T17:17:27Z

There are literally thousands of free knitting patterns on the web, but all too often, they tend to be cut from the same mold. In other words, they're boring! So what's the creative-minded knitter to do?

Why, branch out, of course. There are more interesting free knitting patterns out there. You just have to be willing to find them. Or, if scouring the web doesn't pique your interest, you could start here with our pre-screened knitting patterns for the fun and creative knitter.

Not Your Grandma's Cardigan Knitting Pattern

2011-12-19T16:56:34Z

For the longest time, I avoided every cardigan knitting pattern. The very word cardigan triggered a lot of negative images: the huge, bulky sweaters my grandmother used to wear, or those awful holiday-themed sweaters you see on kindergarten teachers. I figured I might be getting old, but I'm not THAT old!

Suddenly one day I realized, though, that I actually have quite a few cardigans in my wardrobe. I just call them 'sweaters' instead. And they're fantastic: fitted, slim, pretty pieces perfect for both keeping warm and layering.

How to Keep From Losing Your Mind With Charity Knitting

2011-12-12T16:44:56Z

No matter how much you love charity knitting, it's possible to get overwhelmed. It happens to me all the time. I wind up with a hundred different charities I want to help, a thousand knitting patterns I want to try, and three angry family members who want to eat supper.

Does any of that sound familiar? When I first discovered knitting for charity, it consumed my life. There were so many charities, so many amazing people dedicating their times and talents to helping others, so many in need... how could I possibly spend my time on anything but charity knitting?

Flower Knitting Patterns Dress Up Your Work

2011-12-05T16:38:53Z

With fall and winter on their way, it might seem strange to talk about flower knitting patterns. But actually, this is the time of year I most want to embellish my work. Summer knitting patterns are lacy, beautiful works of art that stand up all by themselves. Come cooler months, though, I find myself knitting a lot of scarves, hats, and gloves -- and after a while, they all start to look the same.

A knit flower pattern can change all that. Flower knitting patterns are very easy, very fast, and very fun. You can do them in different colors and different styles, and they dress up any piece of work perfectly. Better yet, you can make them into brooches with pins, and then you can change them around. Instead of a plain gray hat, or even a gray hat with a pink flower, you can have a new flower for every day of the week.

These are incredibly easy knitting patterns. If you can knit a scarf or a hat, you can knit one of these.

Free Knitting Patterns Teach You How to Knit Fun and Unusual Items

2011-12-01T15:00:13Z

I'm always looking for instructions on how to knit something out of the ordinary. When you knit as much as I do, you get bored with afghans and sweaters, and you start to experiment. In the past I've knit nightcaps (no one wanted to wear them), bath towels (distinct failure), and underwear (shouldn't have used real wool). Needless to say, none of these were resounding successes.

Funky Knitting Patterns for Any Age

2011-11-28T16:33:41Z

You probably already know that I love funky knitting patterns. They're not great for every day, of course -- there are only so many weird things you can make before people start to look at you funny. But with so many free knitting patterns on the net, you're bound to find something cool and weird now and then. When I do, I stockpile it until I have enough great ideas to share with you.

These funky knitting patterns are not only quick, easy, and fun, they make excellent gifts, and they're great novelties for a charity fundraiser or garage sale. I hope you enjoy exploring them as much as I did, and if not, well, remember: any free knitted pattern is a good knitted pattern.

Find the Perfect Knit Shrug Pattern

2011-11-21T16:28:34Z

If you've never made a knit shrug pattern, you're missing out. Shrugs are mini cardigans. They come in all sorts of colors and styles, they look great with just about anything, they're warm without being too warm... need I go on? If your wardrobe is missing this staple, it's time you fixed that problem.

The nice thing about a shrug knitting pattern is that it works up fast, offers a lot of choice in style and color, and works for almost any season. A shrug is the perfect accessory to dress up anything from jeans and a T-shirt to an out of season sleeveless dress. Don't pay a bunch of money for them in stores, though -- make your own with these free knitting patterns.

Knitting Stitches To Liven Up Your Knitting

2011-11-21T16:25:51Z

There's nothing like new types of knitting stitches to liven up a simple project, from scarves to dishcloths. The same old stitches can get pretty boring, so every now and then I hit the Internet, old magazines, the library, and even my friends (well, I don't actually hit them, but you get the idea!) to build up my library of knit stitches.

And you all know how I love to share, so here are some new knitting stitches you can use for all your projects this fall!

My Favorite Knitting Websites

2011-11-14T16:18:20Z

Love knitting websites? You're here, so I'm going to assume the answer is yes! I used to read knitting magazines, but I have to admit that knitting websites have pretty much replaced magazines for me (and apparently many others) these days. They're free, they contain awesome information, and there are so many to choose from you could almost go crazy.

I've spent years browsing knitting sites, and wasted a lot of time (at least according to my husband). So to save you the same time and energy, I've compiled a list of my very favorites: sites containing great information, friendly communities, and most importantly of all, tons of free knitting patterns!