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Story by Vanessa
Published on December 30, 2008 in Craftivism 		Photo by

raquelmasri

Many creative types have kids home during winter break right now — or maybe you're just home by yourself and you're itching to be productive.  You're not alone!  With New Year's resolutions on the horizon, the motivation for craftivism projects should push you over the edge. Below you'll find some inspiration to get crafty and give back. Do you have an idea? Post it in the comments below. Thanks for sharing!


Etsian cloudery told us about her inspiration for starting a new all charity shop:

"I've been running  cMaille for a little over a year. I decided to open Cloudery specifically as a way to give back. I have a dedicated charity that I donate to — FirstBook.org. First Book is (from their website) 'a nonprofit organization with a single mission: to give children from low-income families the opportunity to read and own their first new books. We provide an ongoing supply of new books to children participating in community-based mentoring, tutoring, and family literacy programs.'"

See also the Etsy for Charity Team, to which Cloudery belongs.


 

Linda Permann wrote up this post on Craftstylish.com about Crochet for Charity:

Is your crochet stash uninspiring? Get out of the rut by crocheting for charity.

"Is your crochet stash uninspiring? Get out of the rut by crocheting for charity.

[Photo: Photo by Linda Permann]

Sometimes I look at my growing stash and wonder what I’ll ever make with it all. Despite choosing all of the yarns myself (or at least letting them in my house), some of them just don’t feel like 'me' or there’s very little left of them. Sometimes, I look at all of that yarn and just know that I don’t actually *need* anything crocheted for a while, but I still feel like making something. I’m sure we’ve all been there.

Next time you’re in a crochet rut and just want to start something, why not crochet for charity? It’s a great way to use up all the loose ends, try a new pattern, plus help save the world. If you don’t already have a favorite charity, check out some of these links for some suggestions.

Crochet Guild of America Charity Roundup
About.com Charity List
Crochet ’n’ More Charity Links

As far as what you’ll be making, many yarn companies offer free patterns on their sites specifically for charitable causes, so check your favorites. Here’s a roundup of charity patterns by Lion Brand. And Bev’s Country Cottage has compiled a huge list of patterns in both knit and crochet—just scroll down past the featured pattern to the 'Click for Bev's Pattern Pages' menu.

And if that doesn't suit you, you could always sell your items or your own original patterns on Etsy and donate the proceeds to a worthy cause of your choice, as these crocheters are doing. Or you know, just support them by using their patterns. Your karma will thank you, and so will your stash."

Linda also goes by lindamade and hopeforjasenn on Etsy.

 

From Skye Kilaen on CraftingaGreenWorld.com:

"Sometimes I get rid of fabric.

Shocking, right? Fabric is meant to be hoarded, right? But honestly, though those old pastel celestial prints might be useful for insulating my house or making my fridge run more efficiently, I am so over the stars thing and I am never going to use this stuff.

My local quilt guild takes donations of kid-friendly and soldier-friendly fabrics for various community service projects, but what if you don’t have a guild nearby? And more importantly, is there anything I can do to find a new life for the perfectly good yarn that I often see abandoned in thrift stores and at garage sales?

Here are five organizations that accept donations of craft supplies...

If you’re going to donate supplies, please be thoughtful and make sure what you’re donating is appropriate. Someone in our guild once donated vinyl to the baby quilts project… um, ok… thanks, I guess…

The CUREchief Foundation provides scarves to people with cancer, alopecia, and other conditions which may cause hair loss. These CUREchiefs can be worn on the head, or around the neck. They accept donations of cotton, flannel, and polar fleece for their volunteers to use in making CUREchiefs. For their address, see their Volunteer Page.

Care Wear Volunteers has volunteers nationwide who make and donate handmade baby items to hospitals. Founder Bonnie Hagerman sent me this information about what they need: Care Wear Volunteers appreciates receiving donated yarn, fiberfil, quilt batting, narrow white lace, flannel, broadcloth, and other fabrics suitable for children’s toys, apparel, and blankets/quilts. Donated supplies will be distributed to volunteers who request assistance with their projects that are donated to hospitalized children. Contact: Bonnie Hagerman, Care Wear Volunteers, c/o Hood College, 401 Rosemont Avenue, Frederick, MD 21701

Members of the Charity Craft Volunteer Network in Central Texas craft to help infants, children, breast cancer patients, elders with Alzheimer’s, patients in hospice, and others. They can use fabric, yarn, fiberfill, batting, and thread. You can see the types of items they make. Their Donate Page has the address.

Newborns In Need focuses on helping needy families clothe their babies and keep them warm by providing clothing and blankets to families taking their infants home from the hospital. Appropriate donations of fabric, sewing notions, and patterns are welcome. Donations may be sent to Newborns in Need National Office, 3323 Transou Road, Pfafftown, NC 27040.

You can contact the local chapter coordinator for the Project Linus nearest you to find out whether they need fabric for making kids’ blankets. 'Materials must be new, unused and free of contaminants such as mold, mildew and smoke. They should be cotton or cotton/poly blends.'

The Preemie Project has chapters in Iowa and Michigan that make items for the NICU, PICU, and infant bereavement programs. Their Donate Page is up to date with needed supplies, including flannel, fleece, thread, ribbon, and lace."

 

Beadgirl on Craftster.org had this to share:

"There are lots of local places that would love to have your un-wanted/un-needed craft supplies!   Here are some suggestions on where to check: local schools, retirement centers, boys & girls clubs, day care centers, churches etc...

But if you still can't find anyone to donate your crafty stuff to, here is a list of organizations that need or can use craft supplies. 

If you know of any more just post it here and I'll add it to the list!"

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital - Pick a craft, collect supplies, write out instructions and place everything in a zip loc bag. Crafts are given to patients and adults of all ages through the Happy Cart. Supplies you should avoid: play dough, live feathers, leaves, moss, dirt, glitter, and any food products like pasta or beans.

The Vanessa Behan Crisis Nursery - Bubbles, Pencil cases, Paint, Arts and Crafts supplies - A refuge for young children at risk of abuse and neglect, and a source of support for their parents.


Day of Art - All craft supplies - Assist organizations that aid the elderly, homeless, disabled and at-risk youth by providing informal social and developmental instruction through means of arts and crafts.

Getcrafty.com has a craftivism organizer blog:

See the entries with resources at GetCrafty.com.

 

Share your ideas too! Post in the comments below and on the individual site above!

Tags Beadgirl, charities, charity, cloudery, CraftingaGreenWorld.com, Craftivism, CRAFTIVISM, Craftster.org, Craftstylish.com, crochet, donations, FirstBook.org, Getcrafty.com, good deeds, inspiration, Linda Permann, projects, Quilts, Skye Kilaen
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45 comments     Login to add your own!

Dec. 30, 2008 at 6:05 p.m. BayMoonDesign

Great list of folks that could use our resources.

Dec. 30, 2008 at 6:12 p.m. cutiepiecompany

This is wonderful! Thanks for all the info and the links!

Dec. 30, 2008 at 6:41 p.m. LaveMeSoapCo

lovely ideas!

Dec. 30, 2008 at 6:59 p.m. JanetDavies

I have huge amounts of yarn I would love to crochet or knit into something useful. Thanks for all the great info.

Dec. 30, 2008 at 7:35 p.m. jodieflowers

I love trading fabric scraps with other Etsyians and making things out of them. Many of my fabrics come from other shops and Artists on Etsy. Etsy is so much fun. So many possibilities! ETSY = Everything That Satisfies You!

Dec. 30, 2008 at 7:39 p.m. theRasilisk

I definitely have a surplus of supplies that may never get used by me. Its good to know where I can give them away to someone who will use them well!

Dec. 30, 2008 at 7:43 p.m. StudioCherie

I will use the info in this article as I clean out and reorganize my storage room. Thank you for posting.

Dec. 30, 2008 at 7:52 p.m. okate

Wonderful and inspiring ideas; thank you!!

Dec. 30, 2008 at 7:54 p.m. FablesandFoxes

These are great suggestions!

Dec. 30, 2008 at 8:11 p.m. SeaFindDesigns

So funny.... Miss Em and I made the cutest things today!
She's on Vaca! Emily has a little section in our shop, since the beginning.... every dime she has made has gone to St. Jude!

Dec. 30, 2008 at 8:30 p.m. christinececelia

Great picks!
Good causes!
:)

Dec. 30, 2008 at 9:08 p.m. cloudery

Thank you for writing about Cloudery in The Storque. Offering my drawings on Etsy both fulfills a need to draw and also a desire to increase child literacy. Every child should experience the joy of reading -- and owning -- books.

Dec. 30, 2008 at 9:59 p.m. IcingOnTheCupcake

Great suggestions for good causes...will keep them in mind. Thanks!

Dec. 30, 2008 at 10:12 p.m. KnitzAndFeltz

Great Ideas!

Dec. 30, 2008 at 10:14 p.m. thatspretty

A before spring cleaning is in order I believe!

Dec. 30, 2008 at 10:21 p.m. retrothreadz

great articles, I belong to & help the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society . I love to hear about stories like this.. Yay!!!

Dec. 30, 2008 at 11:31 p.m. NitaMaesGarden

So many wonderful causes to support. It is hard to choose which ones to support when one would like to choose them all. :) Great ideas!

Dec. 30, 2008 at 11:39 p.m. LegendaryTigerHero

Now I'm pumped!!

Dec. 30, 2008 at 11:48 p.m. punkinhead

There is a great website called SpiritJump that matches people with cancer with people who want to send them gifts or cards or whatever to "jump" their spirits. I just sent in my mom's name (she has brain cancer) and also signed up to be a Jumper. It's a GREAT way to use up those little projects that you don't want to sell or have left in your shop. http://www.spiritjump.blogspot.com/

Dec. 31, 2008 at 12:18 a.m. BluCille

Nice gloves. I still need to learn how to knit.

Dec. 31, 2008 at 1:09 a.m. pinkshowercurtain

this was a wonderful and inspiring! :)

Dec. 31, 2008 at 4:20 a.m. EtsyForCharity

Thanks so much for featuring EtsyForCharity!

Our team hopes to help as many charity organisations from the sales proceeds generated from our team store.

It's great to see so many Etsians chipping in to help the community with their crafts.

Dec. 31, 2008 at 4:51 a.m. BabbidgePatch

Such nice supportive activities and a good outlet for creativity to accomplish great things ~~ make it a New Year's Resolution!

Dec. 31, 2008 at 5:04 a.m. mvegan5

Wonderful~! Thanks for including my Zeke cards in Etsy for Charity ;0) My own shop gives 10% to help animal charities, and I founded Etsy for Animals, full of great Etsyians helping animals http://efaartistshelpinganimals.org

Dec. 31, 2008 at 8:26 a.m. mydeepbluec

Thanks for sharing all these !

Dec. 31, 2008 at 9:04 a.m. elizabethwren

wonderful ideas! we knit for a local breakfast program, many kids without warm clothing and I have too much yarn, just a natural fit. our local quilt shop also has a group that makes quilts for the foster care system, much of the "what was I thinking" fabric goes there on a regular basis. so little effort on our part can mean so much to others.

Dec. 31, 2008 at 9:09 a.m. FluteTeacher

Neat article. Good ideas.

Dec. 31, 2008 at 9:38 a.m. metzypants

Such fab ideas!

Dec. 31, 2008 at 9:59 a.m. sugarspicepaperie

I love the one boobie sock monkey! The story on her listing is so cute!

Dec. 31, 2008 at 10:19 a.m. tommymama

This is such a great resource. Thank you for sharing all of these wonderful ideas.

Dec. 31, 2008 at 10:40 a.m. LaireMarie

Can't go wrong with another "crafty" site...

Dec. 31, 2008 at 11:46 a.m. analoukopoulos

Great ideas. :)

Dec. 31, 2008 at 12:07 p.m. LuLusPhotography

very cute items!

Dec. 31, 2008 at 2:19 p.m. stampoutcancer

Thanks for sharing all the great crafters for charity! There are a lot out there, and we all appreciate the exposure.

Dec. 31, 2008 at 3:21 p.m. lindapaloma

I use all of my left-over yarn to knit and crochet blankets for Annie'sBlankets.org. The mission of Annie'sBlankets is to provide comfort to lost and injured companion animals and to promote public awareness regarding the needs of homeless and ailing pets. Over 32,000 blankets and towels have been donated to local animal shelters and vets to date. It takes just one skein of washable yarn and an hour of your time to keep an abandoned or injured animal cozy, warm and stylish!

Dec. 31, 2008 at 4:50 p.m. art2theextreme

This is a great activity for kids of all ages... Marbling with Shaving Cream!
http://art2theextreme.blogspot.com/20...

Dec. 31, 2008 at 6:08 p.m. AnthologiE

THANK YOU for the great ideas and resources for how to make our crafting compulsions useful for charity! I'm all about "living green" whenever possible, but, admittedly, feel a little wasteful when I see un-used piles of crafting supplies I just HAD to have. This year, I took some of those supples to kids on a trip to Ecuador. Again, thanks for the additional links to keep expanding the giving!

Jan. 1, 2009 at 6:19 a.m. swellvintage

I love Madame Fortuna! x

Jan. 1, 2009 at 6:19 p.m. lauraslefthook

Thanks for some ideas. I have made several items for charity in the past, including Afghans for Afghans (not sure if that is still in existence), HeartmadeBlessings, and donations to our local hospital nursery.

I am currently working on a loom knit chemo cap in memory of a dear online friend.

Jan. 1, 2009 at 9:56 p.m. philipvillagran

if you are good with yarn, make blankets for the local homeless. I volunteer at a soup kitchen on thanksgiving, and alot of people are cold, scarfs or blankets would give the less fortunate, comfort in knowing people care, I love helping those who struggle to help themselves. it makes you feel fuzzy inside.

Jan. 1, 2009 at 11:52 p.m. KellyHendersonDesign

I'm there... just listed brooches with my favorite Bead for Life beads. Ten percent of sales will go back to the Bead for Life organization. Everything I make for my shop will have ten percent donated back to a charity/justice cause. All future red designs of mine sold will donate ten percent back to Product RED. So 10% of each different design will be donated to various charities. My New Years resolution!

Jan. 2, 2009 at 4:56 p.m. mamaslittlemonkeys

Great article! Thanks! I personally do several charities. I feature breast cancer and cystic fibrosis flower pens on my shop www.fleurdeink.com
I also in January will be donating 10% of all purchase price in both shops to National MS society!

Charity begins at home--use your artist skills for good not just monetary gain! :)

Jan. 3, 2009 at 12:41 a.m. radicalrags

We're slowly building up the Crafting for a Cause section on the Fabric of Resistance wiki http://radicalcrossstitch.com/wiki/in... There's a few entries there of charities you can craft for. We'd love for people to add other charities you can craft for to the wiki so we can expand the resource. Although it's not for etsy stores that donate a percentage sorry. We might make a category for that in the future though.

Jan. 4, 2009 at 11:11 p.m. GaggleFinder

These are all amazing ideas. It's refreshing to hear about people reaching out in such a creative way. It's inspiring to hear of the inventive ideas listed here. Another group that crafters could focus could be homeless people. The oppotunities for help are endless....Just a suggestion. I not "sew-inclined" myself...but I'm keeping my mind open for all suggestions.

Jan. 5, 2009 at 12:41 a.m. smilingbluedog

There are some really inspiring ideas & links
here!
Thankyou!

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