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Crocheting for Charity

findingwhimsy by findingwhimsy

Crocheting for Charity Organizations and Patterns

Crocheting for charity is a wonderful gift both for the crafter and the recipients. Anyone who has been crocheting for very long knows how easy it is to run out of people to crochet for. I prefer smaller projects for their portability and instant gratification factor, but there are only so many hats, pot holders, and scarves you can make for the people you know. That's why crocheting for charity can be a welcome creative outlet.

Organizations, like homeless and women's shelters, and people, including foster kids and premature infants, can use your crocheted goods to fill very real needs. In our modern, technology-filled world, I think It's a great feeling to use your hands to benefit people who really need it. Crocheting is just one of the many ways to do that!

Photo used under Creative Commons from Aine D.

What is Needed?

What should you crochet for charity?

Ripple AfghanWhen crocheting for charity, there is no limit to the opportunities to make a difference. You can crochet baby hats, booties, and blankets for newborns born to low income families, hats and scarves for soldiers overseas, and blankets and potholders for domestic abuse victims just to name a few.

If there is something you enjoy crocheting, chances are there is someone who can use what you create.

Photo used under Creative Commons from kpwerker.

Where to Donate Crocheted Items

Crocheted Baby HatThere are lots of places to donate your crocheted items! If you would prefer not to mail your donations to any of the organizations suggested below, you can always look for opportunities to donate in your own community.

Try calling your local hospital's neonatal unit and asking if they could use crocheted baby items. You could also ask about needs at churches and synagogues, homeless shelters and other non-profits.

Look for one-time needs in your community, for example, victims of floods, hurricanes or other natural disasters. Maybe you know a family that just lost their home in a house fire. These are just a few of the local places and people who could benefit from your crocheted items.

Photo used under Creative Commons from FreckledPast.

Organizations That Accept Your Crochet Donations

Here's a list of organizations and non-profits that accept crochet donations. Most of these organizations also provide crochet patterns for charity use on their websites to get you started.
Friends of Pine Ridge Reservation
The Pine Ridge Reservation, located in South Dakota, has an 80% unemployment rate among its population of around 40,000. Local charities accept crocheted, sewn, and knit items to hand out to those in need.
Afghans for Afghans
An organization that sends hand-knit and crocheted sweaters, blankets, hats, vests, socks and mittens to the people of Afghanistan.
Care Wear Volunteers
A national group of volunteers that crochet, knit and sew for hospitals. Site features patterns and a listing of hospitals needing your donations by state.
Newborns in Need
This non-profit is a national organization with local chapters. They accept donations of crocheted baby items to give to babies who would otherwise go without. Contact your local branch for details on their specific needs.
The Ships Project
An organization that supports our troops by sending donations of crocheted and knit hats and slippers, among other items. Due to security concerns, you will need to join their Yahoo group to get the mailing address.
Head Huggers
A group donating crocheted, knit and sewn hats to people who have lost their hair due to chemotherapy, brain surgery, burns, etc.
Knit a Square
This organization accepts donations of knit and crochet squares which are assembled into blankets for AIDS orphans in Africa.

Short on time? Make a difference while clearing out clutter! Many of the organizations listed above also accept donations of yarn and crochet supplies.

Crochet for Charity Patterns

Here is a small sample of the many free crocheting patterns available online. Most of the patterns listed below are intended for charity and/or personal use only. Please do not use these patterns for profit without the permission of the author. Don't forget to check the websites of the organizations above since most of them also have free patterns.
Bev's Country Cottage Patterns
A large list of links to charity crochet patterns on the web. Crochet patterns are marked with a (C).
Lion Brand Yarn Pattern Finder
A large selection of free crochet patterns from this well known yarn company. Just type in what kind of pattern you're looking for. Requires free registration.
Crochet Pattern Central
A great resource for hat, preemie, and afghan crochet patterns, with patterns for many other items as well.
Caron Yarn Free Patterns
Nice selection of free crochet patterns for a variety of skill levels.
About.com's Free Crochet Patterns
An A-Z list of About.com's free crochet patterns, including hats, afghans, and fingerless gloves.
AllCrafts Free Crochet Patterns
Lots of free crocheting patterns, organized into helpful categories like crochet patterns for afghans, hats, scarves, gloves, etc.
Simple Hat Pattern
A simple crochet hat pattern worked in single crochet in the round.

Craft Hope

Craft HopeCraft Hope is an inspiring book about all the ways you can use your craft skills to make a difference!

It has over 30 projects, each with a suggested charity to send your completed craft item to and suggestions for finding local places to give your creations. So, if you like to do lots of different types of crafts, this book would be a great place to start learning how to make a difference with your hobbies.

The author, Jade Sims, also has a website called Craft Hope, where she leads volunteers in monthly crafting for charity projects. Past projects have included sewing pillowcases for children with cancer and knitting/crocheting scarves for foster teens. Even if you can only contribute one crafted item a month, your donation can make a major impact when it is combined with the efforts of other crafters!
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What if I Don't Crochet?

Crocheting for charity is just one way to help those in need. You can use whatever skills you may have, including knitting, sewing, etc - it all helps! But if you want to learn how to crochet for charity, family, friends or even profit, here are some resources to get you started.
How to Crochet
An article by Stacie Naczelnik full of images and easy instructions.
Lion Brand - How to Crochet
Simple directions for learning to crochet with both diagram and video versions. No registration required.
Art of Crochet by Theresa
A list of easy to understand and helpful videos by Theresa that walk you through the process of crocheting.

Learn How to Crochet Books

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Comments and Suggestions

Do you crochet, knit or sew for charity? Or volunteer at a local soup kitchen - donate used items to the local thrift store? What's your favorite way to give back? Do you know of an organization or resource that should be listed here?

  • EclecticNana May 27, 2012 @ 6:04 am | delete
    I would love to tell you about my group Outreach to Appalachia! Our website is here: http://outreachtoappalachia.webs.com We make and donate items to the people in McDowell County, WV. McDowell County is the poorest county in the state and have been hit by several disasters lately.
  • Lynn Zuniga May 24, 2012 @ 10:17 am | delete
    Aubrey’s Angels

    https://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/192813870824207/

    A ministry of Angels devoted to making homemade items to be donated to hospitals in the San Antonio area. You dont have to live close to participate!
    Our Angels crochet, sew, craft, and knit preemie, baby and adult items such as blankets, afghans, and caps to be donated. we also make burial sets and parent bags for moms and dads whoii spend an enormous amount of time in the hospital waiting room.
    This group has been started in memory of my precious grandaughter, Aubrey Leandra, who left us to be in the arms of Jesus on March 18, 2011 at the age of 9 months.
  • Tipi May 19, 2012 @ 8:20 pm | delete
    Returning to smile at this wonderful idea to crochet for charity, I know those that are on the receiving end are very grateful for the items but also for the thoughtfulness and creativity that is shared.
  • bekat Apr 3, 2012 @ 2:06 pm | delete
    I knit for charity. Kudos for the charity crocheters.
  • survivoryea Mar 16, 2012 @ 1:22 pm | delete
    Love this - what a nice, caring thing to do :>)
  • GoodGirlSEO Mar 16, 2012 @ 10:38 am | delete
    What an awesome idea!
  • leahjsongs Feb 11, 2012 @ 10:03 am | delete
    Kidney Afghans for Kids was started in March 2008 by a kidney transplant survivor who decided to take 6"x6" knitted and crocheted afghan squares, piece them together into afghans, and give them to children on dialysis to keep them warm at the clinics. The project expanded to include Healing Prayer Afghans for any sick person, regardless of age or illness. Visit my kidney-afghans-for-kids lens to learn more!
  • fullofshoes Jan 30, 2012 @ 3:19 pm | delete
    Crocheting was always relaxing for me and I really need to pick it up again. This is a great way to get back to an old hobby. Great lens.
  • waldenthree.net Jan 8, 2012 @ 12:52 pm | delete
    Appreciating your valuable topic. I do community service work and enjoy appreciating skills like crocheting. Making a sweater for someone in the family or friends is wonderful also. Congrads on reaching Squdioo level 55. Going for Level 56 now. Thanks.
  • pianolessongirl Dec 6, 2011 @ 3:12 pm | delete
    Great lens! I'm in a program with my church where we knit and crochet for a hospital. We send blankets for the premies and the stillborn, and shawls for the elderly in the hospital, or in the nursing home affiliated with the hospital. I absolutely love it. :) Thanks for this lens!
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This So Crafty page written by

findingwhimsy

My grandmother taught me how to crochet when I was about 8 years old. Actually she just taught me how to make a chain, but that little lesson stuck with... more »

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