Knitting Charities -- Let Your Love Shine Through
Make your knitting count by joining knitting charities
Knitting charities that make a difference -- isn't that what we all want? No? Actually, when most people start knitting they haven't given any thought to making a difference. That's okay -- it's natural. When you first start knitting, you're engrossed in learning technique, stitches and dreaming about all the beautiful things you can make yourself.
But that changes...
Making a Difference
When Jessica started knitting, she was like the rest of us and knit for fun, friends, and family. This all changed after she read No Idle Hands: The Social History of American Knitting. Jessica believes this book should be a 'must read' for all knitters and was particularly inspired by the chapter 'Oh Say Can You Knit - for Sammy?'
This chapter gave the history of knitting during American wars and told of some wonderful knitters. For example, seventy-two-year-old Mrs. Mitt Osgood knit 18 pairs of socks in twenty day and knit 120 pairs between February and September!
'Ninety-one-year-old Hannah Eilenberger knit 11 pairs of socks and complained that the twelfth pair was unfinished because her dislocated shoulder slowed her down.'
A 78- and 84-year-old each knit 124 pairs of socks and a lady named Grandma Parker knit 27 pairs of socks, three sweaters, two helmets and seven pairs of wristlets.
You can see why these ladies and this book inspired Jessica. Instead of sitting around doing nothing, Jessica decided that her knitting should make a difference too. She promptly started Knitting and Giving.
Knitting and Giving is dedicated to charity knitting. Jessica runs that site and coordinates donations to several charities. Knitting and Giving doesn't accept any money donations but is happy to accept donations of yarn for knitters and your hand-knit items.
This charity accepts hats, scarves, mittens, baby items and adult items like sweaters, vests, cardigans etc. Jessica has plenty of free charity knitting patterns on her site and appreciates any items you donate. For pictures of past donated items, visit the site.
To get the mailing address for Jessica, email her at knittinggiving@hotmail.com
After reading Idle Hands, Jessica discovered what most knitters eventually discover -- knitting for charity is fun, satisfying and gratifying. Let your knitting count and start helping by joining this charity or other knitting charities.
