Whether you live in Texas or New Hampshire, From the Heart of Texas provides a great opportunity for charity knitting

Like so many other groups of charitable knitters, From the Heart of Texas started out with a group of friends having coffee. These women met to crochet, knit, and sew for charity, enjoying one another's company and their shared mission.

However, before long a corner of Houston wasn't enough for these ambitious ladies, and they moved their organization online. Now From the Heart of Texas reaches charities across the world and has dozens of members in their online group.

Continue reading "From the Heart of Texas to a Child's Hands" »

Posted by Nellie at 10:40 AM | Permalink

Share your joy in creating with impoverished families with Afghans for Amigos

Jimmie Lu boasts that Afghans for Amigos can find a home for anything you might make -- and challenges you to try that boast! She and her husband, both ordained ministers, practice short term mission trips where they travel to various places to lend help and support. Their most common destinations? Mexico and Native American reservations in South Dakota.

Continue reading "Afghans for Amigos Carries Knitting Donations to Mexico" »

Posted by Nellie at 10:33 AM | Permalink

Use your knitting powers for the American Brittany Rescue and its volunteers.

The American Brittany Rescue focuses on a rarely mentioned area of animal need: abandoned purebreds! Unfortunately, many people continue to breed dogs irresponsibly. That can result in purebred dogs (in this case, the specific breed of Brittanys) who wind up in shelters, lost on the streets, or simply tossed aside.

Although many people would prefer that no one breed dogs at all until they'd emptied every shelter, it's not the Brittanys' faults they're here, and the American Brittany Rescue refuses to let their plight go unheeded.

Continue reading "Join the American Brittany Rescue and Save an Animal" »

Posted by Nellie at 3:25 AM | Permalink

Put your needles to work for neglected animals with bunny knits!

When you think of bunny knits, you probably think of, well, knitting bunnies -- in other words, toys for small children. And while that's a worthwhile goal, that's not what we're talking about here! I've written about several charities that accept knitted blankets for dogs and cats -- mostly shelters and SPCA locations. But do you know that hundreds of rabbits are abused, mistreated, and abandoned every single year?

Continue reading "Bunny Knits Might Mean More Than You Think" »

Posted by Nellie at 3:17 AM | Permalink

Love to knit but don't have a specific charity in mind? Find out the most requested knitting charity items!

If you love knitting for charity, you might wonder how to find the most requested knitting items. Well, look no further: here is a list of the top seven items charities find themselves needing from knitters!

Continue reading "The Most Requested Knitting Items for Charity" »

Posted by Nellie at 4:22 AM | Permalink

Attention knitters and dog lovers: Companion Animal Network needs you!

If you visit the Companion Animal Network site, you won't find a lot of information about knitting. That's because this charity's primary focus doesn't have anything to do with crafts! Instead, they focus on collecting abandoned and homeless dogs and puppies, giving them the medical treatment they need, and providing a foster home while they search for a family who wants to welcome a furry bundle of love.

Continue reading "Companion Animal Network: Reaching out to Animals in Need" »

Posted by Nellie at 4:40 AM | Permalink

Meet the inspiring blurb that will change how you see blankets for charity!

Do you love to knit blankets for charity? So do many other people! Lion Brand yarn has always provided a great forum for free patterns, researching charities, and sharing stories of how knitting has touched your life. One of their more popular sections is the "Your Charity Story" area, where knitters share their experiences with yarn and charity. And that's where I found the story of Ethines.

Continue reading "Knitting Meets Generosity: Giving Blankets for Charity" »

Posted by Nellie at 9:32 PM | Permalink

Make a difference in a child's life: use knitted baby blanket patterns to make them smile!

The abundance of charities with knitted baby blanket patterns shows you how great the need is. It's incredibly sad to think of children -- infants, in fact -- who don't even have a warm blanket. Can you imagine being that parent, staring down at your precious child and knowing you can't even afford to keep them warm?

Continue reading "Find Knitted Baby Blanket Patterns for Charity" »

Posted by Nellie at 6:24 PM | Permalink

If you want to try your hand at knitting something different, Angel Dogs, is the place for you.

If you love animals, especially dogs, then you'll fall for Angel Dogs! It's always disturbing when we see an animal treated abusively -- like children, animals can't defend themselves and depend on others to care for them. Unfortunately, shelters and pounds are full of dogs who come from abusive homes or simply have no place else to go.

Continue reading "Share Your Knitting With Animals At Angel Dogs, Inc." »

Posted by Nellie at 5:53 PM | Permalink

Practice new types of knitting stitches on afghan squares!

If you're interested in learning new types of knitting stitches but don't want to botch an entire project, practice on afghan squares. It's fun, quick, and an easy way to learn new types of knitting stitches: after all, you'll never have more than a couple inches to unravel!

Continue reading "Strange and Scary Types of Knitting Stitches Made Easy!" »

Posted by Nellie at 10:20 AM | Permalink

Knitting blanket squares is fun whether you're trying to learn how to knit or you've been doing it for years.

Do you want to learn how to knit and help others at the same time? Many charities accept simple blanket squares, the perfect projects to help you learn how to knit! Blanket squares whip up easily and simply, and once you learn how to knit more proficiently, you can get creative with different colors, styles, and patterns.

Continue reading "Learn How to Knit for Charity With These Easy Squares!" »

Posted by Nellie at 10:14 AM | Permalink

Life can be hard in a Russian orphanage, but a hat or vest from Warm Woolies gives kids something to smile about!

Warm Woolies works in some of the harshest climates in the world, delivering cozy vests, mittens, hats, and slippers to orphans in Russia and other disadvantaged countries. Their goal is to make 6,000 pieces of warm clothing to protect children from the winter cold!

Continue reading "Warm Woolies: Making Winter Warmer for Orphaned Children" »

Posted by Nellie at 4:27 AM | Permalink

There's nothing harder than seeing your children homeless, but Warming Families is there to provide blankets for those in need.

Warming Families is one part of a larger charity called One Heart Foundation. Their goal is to strengthen and help families in need through everyone's favorite activity: knitting! Warming Families does so much more than just hand out blankets. It gives hope to families in need and provides fun, educational projects for knitters and their families!

Continue reading "Warming Families: Help Keep a Family Cozy This Winter!" »

Posted by Nellie at 4:22 AM | Permalink

Project H.A.N.D.S. links the elderly and the very young, providing homeless children with knitted items.

Project H.A.N.D.S is the brainchild of residents from the Retirement Housing Foundation, who wanted a way to give back to the community. Their initial efforts have expanded, and they now provide homeless children everywhere with hats, scarves, and toys.

Continue reading "Project H.A.N.D.S. Builds Friendships and Helps Those in Need" »

Posted by Nellie at 4:18 AM | Permalink

Magic Mittens and Mufflers for Mongolian Children makes magic out of yarn, needles, and thread!

You don't hear much about Mongolia in the news, but Magic Mittens and Mufflers for Mongolian Children is determined to change all that by providing warm, handmade objects to Mongolian children in need.

Continue reading "Magic Mittens and Mufflers for Mongolian Children: Spreading Love and Hope Around the Globe!" »

Posted by Nellie at 4:14 AM | Permalink

Among their many projects to help children in need, Life 2 Orphans has set out to knit a hat for every orphan in Ukraine!

Life 2 Orphans works with some of the neediest children in the world: those trapped in orphanages in Ukraine. The statistics are frightening: within a year of leaving the orphanage, 15% of Ukrainian orphans commit suicide. Those who don't usually move on to jail. But Life 2 Orphans aims to change all that through gifts of love and hope!

Continue reading "Life 2 Orphans Brings new Life to Ukrainian Orphanages" »

Posted by Nellie at 3:34 AM | Permalink

Bonnie Babies is there when grieving or frightened parents need to know someone cares.

There's nothing as hard as watching a premature baby struggle to survive. Bonnie Babies makes that struggle just a bit easier by providing blankets and other items to show families they're not alone!

Continue reading "Bonnie Babies: Helping to Nurture Premature Children" »

Posted by Nellie at 3:21 AM | Permalink

Afghans of Honor reminds men and women who have stood in harm's way in defense of their country that they are appreciated and remembered!

Afghans of Honor knows that war is a controversial subject, but they're not out to discuss politics, beliefs, and creeds. Afghans of Honor has only one goal in mind: to honor those who have been injured in the defense of their country through a warm, loving, handmade gift!

Continue reading "Afghans of Honor Reaches out to Wounded Soldiers" »

Posted by Nellie at 4:15 AM | Permalink

The Adoption Center of Washington is determined to improve the lives of all orphans, not just adopted children.

The Adoption Center of Washington does far more than connect hopeful parents with children. It also provides medication and clothing to help improve lives in overseas orphanages. In addition to helping families with their new children, the Adoption Center of Washington is determined to improve the lives of orphans worldwide.

Continue reading "The Adoption Center of Washington: Bringing Families and Orphans Together" »

Posted by Nellie at 4:04 AM | Permalink

Project Angel Kisses aims to knit tiny kisses of joy for families with preemie babes!

Project Angel Kisses aims to make sure that every parent of a premature child knows that someone is thinking about them and praying for their child. They do this by sending individualized hats, booties, and blankets to premature babies!

Continue reading "Project Angel Kisses Gives Hope to Families With Premature Babies" »

Posted by Nellie at 3:34 AM | Permalink

Premature babies have enough strikes against them, so Stitches from the Heart does its best to send them home with comfy knitted goodies.

Knitters, here's your next case: Stitches from the Heart. This California-based non-profit distributes tiny knitted blankets and clothing to precious premature infants in hospitals all over the country. Along with their handmade items, they make sure to send along a lot of love, too.

Continue reading "Clothing Babies with Stitches from the Heart" »

Posted by Nellie at 4:19 AM | Permalink

New socks are always welcome in any wartime situation, which is why Socks for Soldiers wants to knit a pair for every soldier fighting the War on Terror.

All soldiers yearn for care packages from home, and Socks for Soldiers is one of the organizations currently answering that yearning. Their specialty is providing sturdy, comfortable knitted socks to replace or supplement standard issue for soldiers engaged in our current War on Terror.

While the military does its best, it has to clothe millions of people as inexpensively as it can. Sadly, the acrylic and nylon socks modern soldiers get wear out quickly and can cause blisters. That's not the case with Big Black Socks knitted by Socks for Soldiers.

Continue reading "Socks for Soldiers Puts Socks on the Wartime Feet" »

Posted by Nellie at 3:43 AM | Permalink

Premature and newborn babies have a champion in Newborns in Need, which provides everything our littlest ones require, included knitted clothing.

Newborns in Need is a most deserving charity, dedicated as it is to fulfilling the needs of premature and newborn babies all over the country.

Although their craft charity makes up only a small part of the wide range of services Newborns in Need offers, it's an active one that provides garments to thousands of needy children every year. Volunteers don't just knit -- they also sew and crochet these much-needed items.

Continue reading "Nurturing Newborns in Need" »

Posted by Nellie at 3:59 AM | Permalink

During World War II, volunteer knitters were crucial to the war effort. Now they're back at it.

Knit Your Bit may be one of the youngest knitting charities out there, but it has a sterling pedigree: its founders patterned it after a program championed by the Red Cross back in World War II. Today's incarnation provides simple but cozy scarves for veterans all across the country, many of whom benefited from the original program more than 50 years ago.

Continue reading "Bringing History Alive with Knit Your Bit" »

Posted by Nellie at 4:20 AM | Permalink

Few things are more crushing than the death of a child, especially an infant. But when you need them, Heavenly Angels in Need is there to help shoulder the burden.

Some knitting charities touch the heart more than others, and Heavenly Angels in Need is one of them. Although no one likes to think about such things, the reality is that HAIN's craft charity fills an important need: the provision of tiny burial and memorial items for little angels who die far too young.

Continue reading "Heavenly Angels in Need: Help for Grieving Parents" »

Posted by Nellie at 4:01 AM | Permalink

It's bad enough to be homeless, and not having warm clothes just adds injury to insult. That's why Hats for the Homeless provides warm knitted items to the homeless of New York City.

Think, for a moment, how cold you get in the winter. Then think about how much colder you'd be if you lived outside all the time. Then think about getting out your knitting needles and putting together a hat, a pair of mittens or socks, or a shawl for the Hats for the Homeless, which helps clothe homeless New Yorkers.

Continue reading "Hats for the Homeless: Keeping NYC Warm" »

Posted by Nellie at 11:22 AM | Permalink

Homeless kids don't have much to smile about, but Cubs for Kids is out to change that with an army of cute bear cubs, each outfitted in a unique knitted suit.

For many of us, a teddy bear was the most beloved toy of our childhood, acting as confidant, buddy, and security blanket all in one. Cubs for Kids remembers what it was like to be a kid, and how much a quiet little helper can mean to a worried kid. That's why their mission is to distribute cutely dressed teddy bears to kids aged 3-6 in homeless shelters all over the USA.

Continue reading "Cubs for Kids: Providing Homeless Kids with Well-Dressed Buddies" »

Posted by Nellie at 7:23 PM | Permalink

Working on ocean-going vessels is hard, dangerous work, and it's doubly hard in the winter. But Christmas at Sea doesn't let our merchant mariners go forgotten.

Christmas at Sea might sound like the title of a lost "Love Boat" episode, but it's actually a charity dedicated to bringing "hospitality and love" to ocean and river sailors in the form of knitted items like socks, mittens, gloves, scarves, and caps. Okay, so maybe there are some similarities here, but I don't remember Captain Stubing or Gopher ever knitting a scarf for any of the guys who did the real work.

Continue reading "How Christmas at Sea Helps Mariners Stay Warm" »

Posted by Nellie at 2:42 PM | Permalink

Thanks to Blankets for Canada, thousands of people can now face the harsh Canadian winter with the kind of protection they need.

Even a great nation has its disadvantaged people, and that's why Blankets for Canada started delivering toasty knitted blankets to Canadians in need in 1998.

Canadian winters can be some of the harshest on Earth. Meanwhile, the costs of utilities continue to rise, especially for such essentials has natural gas and heating oil. Something as simple as a knitted blanket can make the difference between surviving a cold northern winter -- or not.

Continue reading "Blankets for Canada: Warming Canadians Since 1998" »

Posted by Nellie at 4:36 AM | Permalink

An all-too-common result of cancer treatment is hair loss, so cancer victims can always use the warm hats that Chemo Caps delivers.

Cancer can hit you hard, so the only option is to hit it back even harder. But aggressive treatment often causes cancer patients to lose their hair, which can be a hard psychological blow on top of everything else.

A knitted cap can't replace a healthy head of hair, but it can help soothe the emotions that result from the loss -- and if nothing else, it'll keep the patient's head warm until her hair grows back in. That's why Chemo Caps volunteers have been busily knitting for seven years now.

Continue reading "Keeping Cancer Victims Warm With Chemo Caps" »

Posted by Nellie at 4:50 AM | Permalink

From the humblest of origins, Warm Up America! has matured into the best known and largest of American knitting charities.

If you can knit a square, you can knit for Warm Up America! It's as simple as that. Maybe that's why Warm Up America! has evolved into what's been called "the mother" of all American knitting charities. They make it so easy to help the homeless that it seems a shame not to try.

Continue reading "Let's Warm Up America! One Square at a Time" »

Posted by Nellie at 3:48 AM | Permalink

Wherever American soldiers are stationed in the War on Terror, the Ships Project is there with comfortable knitted items to lift their spirits.

It can be hard for a soldier to serve overseas, wondering if anyone back home appreciates what they do. While the volunteers of The Ships Project can't get hand-knitted goods to every soldier that deserves them, they're doing all they can to show Americas troops that we really are grateful for their sacrifices.

Admittedly, the name is a little misleading these days. Although some of the slippers, hats, mittens, and other knitted goodies do go to ship-based personnel, their land-based colleagues get them too, especially those who are based in the Middle East.

Continue reading "The Ships Project: Remembering the Troops Far From Home" »

Posted by Nellie at 9:42 AM | Permalink

As the American death toll in the Iraq War continues to climb, a charity called Red Sweaters documents the soldier's ultimate sacrifice, one little red sweater at a time.

Red Sweaters is one knitting charity that, unlike most, everyone will be happy to see come to an end. That's because every little red sweater added to the project represents an American soldier who has died in the Iraq War since its beginning in March 2003.

Each sweater is sized to fit a G.I. Joe doll, but it represents the ultimate sacrifice that any person can give for their fellow human beings. It exists, in the words of Rudyard Kipling, "lest we forget -- lest we forget."

Continue reading "Remembering American Soldiers With Little Red Sweaters" »

Posted by Nellie at 9:35 AM | Permalink

Eastern Europe can be a bleak place for orphans, but Children in Common is working to build them a brighter future.

When your whole world has fallen apart, a warm sweater, a hat, or a pair of knitted socks can make a big difference. That's why Children in Common distributes its gifts in orphanages in Russia and Lithuania, where conditions are especially dire.

Continue reading "Children in Common: Helping Orphans Face Life" »

Posted by Nellie at 9:29 AM | Permalink

Care Wear gives the tiniest newborns a "head" start with knitted caps made just for them.

Have you ever tried knitting a hat for a head the size of a lime? That's one of the challenges faced daily by Care Wear volunteers, who create snug caps for premature babies to wear during their first few weeks of life.

In addition to warming them and reducing stress on their fragile circulatory systems, the adorable Care Wear caps soften the sterile hospital environment where these babies have to live, and bring psychological comfort to worried parents.

Continue reading "Care Wear Helps Welcome Preemies into the World" »

Posted by Nellie at 9:19 AM | Permalink

Even as HIV/AIDS ravages South Africa, the Mother Bear Project is there to brighten the lives of sad children with hand-knitted bears.

Anyone who doubts that knitting can make the world a better place should take a good, long look at the Mother Bear Project. This knitter's charity targets needy children in South Africa, providing them with tiny, hand-knit teddy bears when all hope seems lost.

Most of the children helped by the Mother Bear Project are victims of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in one way or another. Some have the disease; others are orphans because of it. Sometimes their Mother Bears are all they have left.

Continue reading "Mother Bear Project to the Rescue" »

Posted by Nellie at 9:15 AM | Permalink

The goal of Binky Patrol is to give every needy child their own security blanket -- no matter who they are, or what they're going through.

Break out those needles, folks, it's time to knit a Binky or two. And just what the heck is a Binky, you ask? Why, a Binky's anything that brings comfort to a little kid. You probably had one yourself when you were little.

For me, a Binky was a pacifier. (Okay, so I'm a little weird). For most kids, though, a Binky is a beloved security blanket. Blanky = binky, get it? Think of the character Linus in the Peanuts comic strip, and you'll understand.

Continue reading "How Binky Patrol Brings Hope to Suffering Kids" »

Posted by Nellie at 7:41 AM | Permalink

Want to Help Knit a War-torn Country Back Together? Here's How Afghans for Afghans Helps

The knitting community has always reached out to those in need, and if there's anywhere that really needs our help these days, it's Afghanistan. This small Muslim nation has faced trouble of one kind or another for more than 30 years.

First they had to deal with a Soviet invasion that took years of guerilla fighting to repel. Then the Taliban took over, forcing Afghanistan into cultural and economic stagnation.

Since 2001, Afghanistan has been a major battlefield in the global War on Terror. Today, Afghan society is a patchwork of hunger, poverty, oppression, and low-level conflict. All that, and they still have to face brutal winters, often without enough shelter and warm clothing. But determined knitters can help fix that.

Continue reading "Afghans for Afghans: Winning the Hearts and Minds of a Proud People" »

Posted by Nellie at 3:05 PM | Permalink

Easy knitting patterns for every project

Finding easy knitting patterns is important if you are knitting for charity -- who wants to spend a lot of time learning new patterns, or sweating over complicated instructions, when you are knitting for charity?

Continue reading "6 Easy Knitting Patterns for Charity Knitting" »

Posted by Nellie at 7:09 AM | Permalink

Why more than 1,347,720 knit baby blanket patterns have been used for the Linus Project

Well, okay, there haven't actually been that many knit baby blanket PATTERNS, but there HAVE been that many knit baby blankets donated through this organization to children in all 50 states- an average of 350 a month!

Continue reading "The Linus Project: Love, Comfort and Security for Children in Need" »

Posted by Nellie at 5:16 PM | Permalink

You can learn how to knit for charity - in 20 minutes!

Do you knit already? If not, would you like to knit? You can learn to knit SO easily, and so quickly, you won't believe it! Whoever thought of putting together 'two sticks and a string' to 'knit' together something that could be useful was a genius, don't you think?

Continue reading "Knit Like a Pro - In 20 Minutes" »

Posted by Nellie at 10:04 AM | Permalink

5 charities that will take your knit Christmas ornaments

Want to knit Christmas ornaments? There's lots of great knit Christmas ornaments you can make - easily and inexpensively - for charitable organizations. And what a great thing to do when you're in the 'Christmas spirit.'

Continue reading "Knit Christmas Ornaments for Charity" »

Posted by Nellie at 9:47 PM | Permalink

Knitting history shows a long line of charity knitting

Knitting history is pretty interesting stuff! For one thing, there was a time that knitting was performed solely by men, for men …

"The brimless 'acorn' style cap was worn by men in northern Europe throughout the second half of the fifteenth-century. Although the height of the crown varied depending on the social class of the wearer and the current fashion, the basic style itself changed very little from the late 1440s to the 1490s."
- From a knitting history website -

Continue reading "Charity has Always Been a Part of Knitting History" »

Posted by Nellie at 3:19 PM | Permalink

Knitting help for frightened abandoned pets

Knitting help is needed for so many charitable organizations, it's hard to know where to start sometimes, but helping frightened abandoned pets seems like a pretty good cause to me.

Continue reading "Abandoned Pets Can Use Your Knitting Help..." »

Posted by Nellie at 2:31 PM | Permalink

7 charity knitting projects to use up your acrylic yarns

Acrylic yarns are 'man-made' -- in other words, they are not 'natural fibers, like wool or silk or cotton. Because they are manufactured for durability, acrylic yarns are ideal for lots of different charity projects. Another plus is that acrylic yarns are washable and dryable!

Many knitters, after they get some experience, prefer to switch from acrylic yarns to the natural fibers, which often leaves them with a stash of acrylic yarns that might be wasted.

Continue reading "Acrylic Yarns Are Perfect for Charity Knitting" »

Posted by Nellie at 8:07 AM | Permalink