One Million Pillowcase Challenge

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Make one or more pillowcases and make a difference. Join the One Million Pillowcase Challenge

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Charities that accept the pillowcases

Ten Charity Opportunities

Lion Brand put together a list of 10 charities where you can share your handicrafts, while also changing the world.

As a knitter, crocheter, or quilter, you know the joy of gifting handmade items to those you love. Creating quilts, afghans, sweaters, or socks for those we care about is meaningful. But, did you know there are other ways you can use your talents to bring joy to others? There are actually several charities that welcome handmade treasures from knitters, crocheters and quilters.

Ten Charities for Knitters, Crocheters and Quilters

Red Hats Delivered

red hats delivered to the Sage West Healthcare - Lander
 guild members, dressed in red: Carrie J., Dawna H., Brenda H.
January 2018

The Red Hats for Newborns project (coordinated by Carrie J. - Pingora Yarns) was a resounding success, as over 100 hats were knit/crochet for the project. Approximately 40 hats will be distributed at Sage West Healthcare in Lander, WY, and the rest will be given to Saint John's Hospital in Jackson, WY for distribution.

Babies born in the month of February will be given a hat for the American Heart Association Healthy Heart Month campaign. 

Knitters and crocheters from Lander and Riverton contributed hats for this project. 

Local Project

Warm Up America!

Warm Up America! is a charity that has warmed peoples' lives since 1991. It started in a small Wisconsin town with neighbors knitting and crocheting afghans for neighbors in need. Warm Up America! founder Evie Rosen came up with the idea of having volunteers knit or crochet small sections and then others join them together to create blankets and afghans.

Today, knitted or crocheted rectangles are sent to the Warm Up America! headquarters by people across the nation. Then volunteers sew the colorful rectangles into blankets and afghans that are given those in homeless shelters, teen pregnancy homes, battered women’s shelters, nursing homes, hospitals, hospices, and clinics, and to national nonprofit agencies such as the American Red Cross. 

Why not take a couple of hours and make a 7 x 9 inch rectangle and send it to:

Warm Up America!, 740 N. Josey Lane, Suite 102, Carrollton, TX 75007

If you or someone you know is learning to knit or crochet, why not turn that beginning project into something that will warm another person. 

In addition to the rectangles, the Warm Up America! always accepts these knit and crochet items: 

Finished adult, child, and baby size afghans
Adult hats
Scarves
Baby clothing
7" x 9" knit and crochet sections

Available on the Warm Up America! website are:

Crochet and knit rectangle patterns 

Knit & Crochet Hat patterns

Learn to Knit Lesson plans

Guidelines for yarn and other Frequently Asked Questions

Charity Opportunities

Rachel B. displays the bandage she is knitting
with crochet thread for the
 D.O.V.E. Fund Bandage Brigade Project 

Rachel B. presented a list of potential charity projects to the Guild members during the October meeting.

Local projects:

•  Abba's House in Riverton, WY
accepting handmade baby clothes and blankets of all sizes

•  Wind River Lutheran Mission in Fort Washakie, WY
accepting clothing for adults, teens, children and babies. As winter approaches, warm blankets, quilts, hats, scarves, gloves, and mittens would be greatly appreciated. For more information, call 332-4537

•  Fremont County Public Health - Lander and Riverton, WY
accepting baby hats

•  Other local places that MAY take handcrafted items (please call first for their needs)
Sage West Hospitals - Lander and Riverton
Nursing homes - Lander, Riverton, Fort Washakie
Help for Health Hospice
Center of Hope Detox

•  Quilts of Valor - quilts presented to U.S. Veterans (many given locally)
contact Stephanie Logan (Sheep Camp Quilt Supply off of Burma Road near Riverton) for more details call 856-1468

Wyoming Projects:

•  Project Linus - contact information on website

Rachel holds two wool helmet liners she knit
for the Caps for Soldiers project

National Projects:

•  Quilts of Valor (see link given above)

•  Halos of Hope - hats for cancer patients, patterns and specifics on website

•  For the children of Pine Ridge  (Ravelry link)

•  Caps for Soldiers - accepting hats, lap afghans, etc. see website for patterns and specifics

•  Knitted Knockers - prosthetic alternative for women who have had a mastectomy, patterns on website

International Projects:

•  D.O.V.E. Fund Bandage Brigade - knit or crochet bandages for leprosy clinics in Vietnam

•  Wool-aid - items accepted changes from time to time, check website for details

•  afghans for Afghans - items accepted changes from time to time, check website for details

This list is far from complete. The opportunities to knit, sew, or crochet for charities are plentiful. Please feel free to send other links to the Guild email provided at top right.

Project Linus - Charity Opportunity

Want to give a sick child a lasting hug?  Consider making a blanket for Project Linus.  The blankets for this project must be handmade. While most donated blankets are sewn, they can also be knit or crocheted from washable yarn.

The blankets donated to Project Linus are given to hospitalized children, ages 0 - 18 years of age.

Wyoming has two Project Linus Chapters, but anyone can make and donate a blanket following these guidelines:

•  must be NEW, HANDMADE, and WASHABLE and free on contaminants such as mold, mildew or smoke. They should be cotton or cotton/poly blend fabrics. Cotton or acrylic batting is acceptable and yarns that are washable. Knits, double knits, and other fabrics not appropriate for a child's blanket may not be acceptable. Chapter coordinators can answer questions about acceptable materials.

•  blankets should be free of pet or animal hair, as hospitals will not accept these blankets, and they will probably be discarded.

•  do not add embellishments such as buttons that could be swallowed by a child.

•  since Project Linus donates blankets to children, infants through teens, many sizes are appropriate. Blankets can be as small as 36 inches x 36 inches. The majority of Project Linus blankets are about 40 inches x 60 inches (often called a crib blanket). Blankets can also be as large as twin size for teens.  Chapter coordinators can give more specific information about the size of blankets they commonly issue to children.

Patterns for Project Linus blankets can be found here.

If you have questions, ask a Project Linus Chapter Coordinator. Contact information for Wyoming Chapters can be found here.