Knitting For Charity When Every Stitch is a Battle
We all know how much I love knitting for charity. I think I inherited that love from my mother, who was also a knitting pro. I was knitting for years before I ever considered knitting for charity, but when the idea popped into my head, I'm sure it was Mom who put it there.
Recently, though, my mother's lifelong love affair with yarn came to an end when the arthritis in her hands became too painful to allow her to knit any longer. I was devastated for her -- not just for all the things she wouldn't be able to do, but because I knew how fulfilling she found it to knit for others.
But what was my mom's response? "Not to worry, dear!" Before I knew it, my mom was back in the knitting for charity game. And if you're like my mom and, for whatever reason, can't knit very well yourself anymore, you might find her ideas as inspirational as I do.
Nellie's Mom's Tips for Knitting without Knitting
1. Become a teacher
Even though Mom can't knit herself anymore, she can handle a few stitches. That's why she took it upon herself to volunteer some time at the local children's hospital, teaching patients to knit. The kids absolutely love it, and Mom does too.
2. Do the organizing thing
Mom can't knit blanket squares anymore, so she's volunteered her house as a collection point for them. A few times a week someone pops over and drops off a bag of knitted squares, and once a month Mom's old knitting for charity circle comes by and stitches them into blankets. Mom, of course, provides coffee, tea, treats, and conversation.
3. Donate money or materials
If you review the many charities I've mentioned on this site, you'll find that almost all of them are happy to accept financial donations. And even if you don't have a lot of money, you can donate knitting supplies. My mother had about eight bags full of yarn in her basement and probably a hundred pairs of needles. She let me take what I wanted, and she donated the rest!
So never think you're down for the count! Just because you can't knit doesn't mean you can't help the charities you love. I learned that from my mom -- the knitting for charity champ who doesn't knit a single stitch.
