Knitting

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Destatsh for a Good Cause: Knitting for Charity

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stash bustingIf you have yarn that you like but there’s just too much of it for you to knit it all for yourself and those friends and family members who who be grateful (because, let’s face it, not everyone in our lives deserves our knitting), the next option would be to knit things with an eye toward donating them to charity.

There are all sorts of charitable organizations out there that accept handknits, though the requirements and items accepted vary widely. You can find places to donate blankets for animals in shelters, sweaters and hats for homeless people of all ages, chemo caps and hats for preemies, even burial gowns for infants who didn’t make it out of the hospital. And that’s just the beginning.

I like to urge people who are interested in knitting for charity to look locally first. Is there a local homeless shelter that would accept knit hats or socks? A prayer shawl ministry you can support? Or even an affiliate of a larger group like Project Linus or Warm Up America.

If that’s not something that appeals to you, check out the Lion Brand Charity Finder, my list of charity knitting sites at About, or just do a web search for knitting charities maybe with some qualifiers about what you’d like to knit or for whom (as in, children’s hat charity knitting, for instance).

Most of all, check with the charity or group you intend to knit for and make sure you’re clear on what their needs are in terms of item type, sizes and fiber content of yarn before you get started. We want to knit things that will actually be useful, right?

If you have a favorite knitting charity that you’ve worked with in the past, I’d love to hear about it!

Looking for more Chemo supplies, Check out these Chemo friendly low irritant body products Gentle on the skin

This chemo cap is knitted in the round  and has a roller brim, This chemo cap is knitted in the round and is ridged with a small rim. We have some other patterns for knitted chemo caps too, check them out here.

One Ball Knitted Chemo Cap beanie

Rolled brim Chemo Cap

Visit our charity crafts page for listings of groups in your area who collect and donate these knitted items to charity.

Comments

  1. I have been working on using up my stash. Two blankets, several hats.

    Now I am working on hats for newborns, and hats, blankets and gloves for the homeless.

  2. I knit up a stash of scarves and hats, put them in my car, and when I meet a squad car that is not in an emergency situation, I visit with the officers and give them the bags of hats and scarves for them to give to needy people when they come across them. The need has been REALLY great this year.

  5. I have done squares for Warm Up Canada. One of my dear friend, he along with his family goes to Honduras to set up schools and homes. I donate some of my teddy bears to them to pass along to the children.

Have you read?

Vintage Bed Socks Knitting Pattern – A Cozy Little Gift Project With Old-Fashioned Charm

There is something wonderfully nostalgic about a pair of handmade bed socks, isn’t there? They are practical, pretty, and just the sort of project that feels like it belongs beside a cup of tea, a good film, and a basket of wool that is pretending not to be overflowing.

This vintage Bed Socks knitting pattern is one of those sweet little patterns that still feels useful today. Originally from the Jaeger Hand-Knit Series No. 44, the design features a simple garter-stitch foot, a ribbed cuff, eyelet holes, a crochet chain tie, and little tassel-style pom-poms at the front. The original pattern even describes them as “a very acceptable present,” and honestly, I don’t think much has changed there.

These would make a lovely handmade gift for someone who is always cold, someone recovering or resting, or anyone who appreciates a bit of old-fashioned comfort. They would also be beautiful as a Mother’s Day gift, a winter birthday present, a Christmas stocking filler, or a “just because you deserve cozy feet” project.

The pattern itself is delightfully simple in construction. The socks are knitted flat, beginning at the lower edge, with the foot worked in garter stitch before moving into the ribbed upper section. The decorative eyelet row allows for a crochet chain cord to be threaded through, and the finishing tassels give the socks that charming vintage look. The top edge is finished with a row of double crochet, which adds a neat handmade touch.

The original measurements list the socks as approximately 10½ inches from the top to the lower edge of the heel, with a 9¾ inch foot length, and the pattern notes that the size can be adapted. As with many vintage knitting patterns, modern knitters will want to check gauge carefully and choose a soft yarn that feels comfortable against the skin. A cozy wool blend, soft acrylic, or washable yarn would all work depending on whether you are making these for everyday use or as a special gift.

I especially love that this pattern has that “giftable” quality without being a massive project. It is small enough to feel achievable, but still special enough that the finished pair looks thoughtful. And let’s be honest, handmade socks with pom-poms are always going to beat a last-minute candle from the supermarket.

The PDF version has been cleaned up and formatted for easier reading while keeping the original vintage design intact. It also includes a modern pink mockup image and the original vintage scan, so you get both the historical charm and a fresh idea of how the finished socks could look today.

If you enjoy vintage knitting patterns, cozy handmade gifts, or quick projects that feel useful rather than just decorative, this sweet little bed socks pattern is a lovely one to add to your collection.

You can find the Vintage Bed Socks Knitting Pattern PDF in the CraftGossip Etsy store.

For supplies, this is also a nice stash-friendly project. A soft yarn from Mary Maxim or Amazon would work well, and if you make pom-poms regularly, a small pom-pom maker is one of those inexpensive tools that saves a surprising amount of fiddling.