Knit for charity
Your knitting skills can help many good causes, and we’ve listed some to get you started here.
BIG KNIT
Help food and drink company innocent raise money for Age UK by knitting tiny woollen hats for its special smoothie bottles. 25p is donated for every bottle sold, helping older people to stay well and warm over the colder winter months. Find knitting patterns, hat inspiration and a how-to video on the website. www.thebigknit.co.uk
BLISS
Bliss is a UK charity that supports sick or premature babies and their parents. Its website has a list of hospitals around the country that accept knitted clothes for preemies and notes the styles and sizes that they need. Find patterns for jackets, socks and hats on the website, too. www.bliss.org.uk
CATS PROTECTION
Cats Protection has been running for over 80 years and now has 250 volunteer-run branches and 31 adoption centres in the UK. You can help keep shelter cats happy while they wait to be adopted by knitting them a toy or blanket. Find the pattern for a toy mouse on the website. www.cats.org.uk
CUDDLES
Cuddles distributes knitted and crocheted garments and blankets to hospitals around the country so that stillborn babies can be appropriately dressed. The charity distributes knits to many UK hospitals and a list of needed items can be found on its website. You can join their Yahoo group, where members chat, share ideas and support each other. www.cuddlesuk.wordpress.com
DONKEY SANCTUARY
Knit or crochet cuddly donkeys to be sold in The Donkey Sanctuary’s gift shop and online store. Money raised from the sale of the toys will go towards the charity’s work helping donkeys, and the people who rely on them, all over the world. www.thedonkeysanctuary.org.uk
KNIT A SQUARE
Knit or crochet squares to be part of blankets given to orphans living on the streets in sub-Saharan Africa and help support children’s charities striving to provide the basic need of warmth. The website also has a number of patterns for jumpers, scarves and hats to knit. www.knit-a-square.com