'Thoughtful Thursday' Knitting For A good Cause

Knitting for charity is a wonderful thing. Not only does it allow you to knit more than you'd ever want to for your friends and family, you also get the good feeling that comes with helping other people. Charity knitting is a great group knitting activity. If you have a group of friends who knit (or who would like to start) a group knitting project for charity is a fun way to get everyone excited about knitting. An afghan made of simple squares is great even for beginners and will keep someone warm even if it isn't fancy. Even if you don't know the person who is to receive your homemade article, knowing that it is out there in the world is a great feeling. Many knitters love to share their skills by knitting for charitable organizations. Whether they're making blankets for kids in the hospital, chemo caps, teddy bears or sweaters for kids in far away countries, there are many ways to knit for charity. 

photo from knit a square

There are  probably organizations in your town that will need knitted goods for people undergoing  chemo therapy, newborn babies, children in protective custody, children involved in accidents, children in hospitals, veterans in VA hospitals, soldiers, homeless animals, and many others.

You can use a national organization as inspiration or even join a national group that provides charitable knitting by taking  the ideas of a larger knitting charity and focus them where you live
.

Knitting for someone else who has a greater need than yourself often helps put your problems in perspective. Many knitters enjoy knitting for charity, but if you've never done it before you may not know where to start. You could check with your local yarn shop, your local hospital, or shelters to see if they have a need for warm items.

Here's a list of some organisations that would benefit from your knitting or crocheting:


1. Lily- Love In the Language of Yarn https://www.facebook.com/LilyLoveInTheLanguageOfYarn
Need  Squares  to make blankets blankets for Syrian refugees in Turkey.


2. KasCare  Knit a square  http://www.knit-a-square.com and  https://www.facebook.com/Knitasquare
Need squares to make blankets for Aids orphans of South Africa also Slip-Overs, Hats, KASCuddles Jerseys, cardigans, jumpers and baby clothes.


3. Lisas Stars  http://www.lisasstars.org.uk  and
 http:// www.facebook.com/pages/lisas-stars/159738440713941 Need Blankets Hats Booties Cardigans

Angel Pockets Burial Gowns Buntings Sleeping Sacks.

4. Knit with Love  http://www.knitwithlove.org  need scarves, beanies, blankets and other knitted items.

5. RSPCA www.rspca.org.uk  need blankest for dogs.

6. Loving Hands http://www.lovinghands.org.uk/For the elderly:-Hats, Scarves, Mittens, Gloves

Lap Rugs, Blankets, Bed Socks, Jumpers,Cardigans,Bed Jackets,Hot water bottle covers.

7. Strickpate  http://strickpate.wordpress.com/ and www.facebook.com/strickpate need Socks, Gloves, Hats, Scarves, Fingerless / arm warmers, Leg warmers for childrenof all ages.

8. Bridge and Beyond http://homelessbridge.blogspot.com  need Hats, mittens, scarves, and slippers for homeless men, women, and children .

Another thing to keep in mind is that the need for garments or knitted items is all year round and not just in the winter time. Shelters and hospitals are often overwhelmed with donations at the holidays, but still need items throughout the year. There are nunerous international organisations who require knitted items and may have a local Office near  you or a collection point not too far away. 

'Thoughful Thursday' - Strickpate- Knitting for Poor Children in Singen, Germany

Thoughtful Thursday contiues with 'Strickpate' - Knitting for poor children in Singen, Germany.

Silke Stockebrand had a dream and a love of knitting;

The dream was that all poor children in Germany could have nice warm clothing. Clothes, that any child would love.
So she started to knit the clothes she had been dreaming of. Unfortunately the whole of Germany is too big for 1 person to knit for, so she started knitting for the poor children on her own doorstep, in Singen, a small town in the south of Germany close to Lake Constance.
This was the start of a charity founded by Silke Stockebrand in 2010 Called 'Strickpate' which means 'Knitting Godmother' who like all Godparents wants to help with the care of the children.
A local wool store in Singen - 'Creative & Hobby' was so thrilled by the idea, that they jumped in by helping  right from the beginning and are still helping today. The first round of knitting went well, vey well, and the children were excited, thrilled,and very happy about the clothing given to them.

So much so Strickpate did it again in 2011, very successfully, and so are continuing this year in 2012.

“Strickpate – knitting for poor Children in Singen” will be established and become a local constant.

How can knitters help?

Are you’re looking for a way to use up your leftover yarn?

By knitting -Socks, Gloves, Hats, Scarves, Fingerless / arm warmers, Leg warmers
All sizes are needed from babies to teenagers and as children are all ages, size really doesn't matter as there are children of all ages who need warm clothing.

Another thing knitters can do is to donate yarn from their stash that they no longer want or enjoy, knitters tend to attract yarn (we get yarn that others no longer want or from family members) this yarn is great to give to 'Strickpate'.

 If you don’t knit, you can donate yarn and needles to help knit items for these children in need.

Please help 'Strickpate' they need your assistance and support for this project.
You can find them at : http://strickpate.wordpress.com/  and
www.facebook.com/strickpate

Help by spreading the word of “Strickpate”Tell everyone you know about the cause.Tell your friends, neighbors, relatives.

Donations
If you prefer to donate money which will go towards costs, purchasing of wool and other items, it will be greatly appreciated. All donations, however small or grandeur mean so much, as it allows the continuation of helping to keep a child warm.

Please send knitted items, supplies or donations to:
Strickpate
Nachbarschaftstreff Lillje
z.Hd. Silke Stockebrand
Berliner Straße 8
78224 Singen

Email: strickpate@yahoo.de

 Silke Stockebrand  had a dream, to be able to help children in Singen  you can help make that dream  a reality and maybe tomorrow this dream will  help children throughout the whole of Germany!

Here's a Knitting pattern for childs hat and scarf to get you started.

Materials:

• Yarn:  Chunky Type yarn (340 g/12 oz) 1 ball of #87630 (Tangerine Twist) for both Cap and Scarf.
• Knitting Needles: Sizes 4.5 mm (U.S. 7) and 5 mm (U.S. 8) knitting needles or size needed to obtain gauge.

Gauge: 15 sts and 20 rows = 4 ins [10 cm] with larger needles in stocking st.
Sizes:
Cap: To fit child’s head circumference: 17 (19) ins [43 (48) cm].
Scarf: Approx 6 ins [15 cm] wide x 50 ins [127 cm] long.

Instructions:
The instructions are written for smaller size. If changes are necessary for larger size the instructions will be written thus ( ).
CAP
With smaller needles, cast on 62 (70) sts.
**1st row: (RS). *K2. P1. K1. Rep from * to last 2 sts. K2.
2nd row: *P2. K1. P1. Rep from * to last 2 sts. P2.**
Rep last 2 rows of Seed Rib Pat twice more.
Change to larger needles and cont in Seed Rib Pat until work from beg measures 5½ (6) ins [14 (15) cm], ending with 2nd row.
Shape top: 1st row: (RS). *K2. P1. K1. K2tog. P1. K1. Rep from * to last 6 sts. K2. P1. K3. 55 (62) sts.
2nd row: P2. *K2. P2tog. K1. P2. Rep from * to last 4 sts. K1. P3. 48 (54) sts.
3rd row: *K2. K2tog. K1. P1. Rep from * to last 6 sts. K2. K2tog. K2. 40 (45) sts.
4th row: P4. *P2tog. P3. Rep from * to last st. P1. 33 (37) sts.
5th row: (K2tog) 16 (18) times. K1. 17 (19) sts.
6th row: (P2tog) 8 (9) times. P1. 9 (10) sts.
Break yarn leaving a 12 ins [30.5 cm] long end. Draw end through rem sts and fasten securely. Sew back seam.
SCARF
With larger needles, cast on 26 sts.
Work from ** to ** as given for Cap.
Rep last 2 rows of Seed Rib Pat until work from beg measures 50 ins [127 sts], ending with 2nd row. Cast off in pat.
Fringe: Cut yarn 12 ins [30.5 cm] long. Take 3 strands tog, fold in half and knot into fringe ¾ inch [2 cm] apart across ends of scarf. Trim fringe evenly.

Please Help Strickpate if You Can