I've been housecleaning my UFOs and WIPs. I've also been housecleaning other's UFOs and WIPs. You would be amazed how many of these things can be repurposed into things for various charities.
From all the things I made as samples for my time teaching at a big box craft store, I have a chest full of things I can donate as is. Hats, fingerless mitts, and scarves are ready to go with little to no modifications. If anything, I need to add length to scarves. This is an easy finish.
A slightly more difficult thing to accomplish is putting together colors. I definitely don't have the colors of the samples from a decade or more ago. Trying to match colors is difficult. Finding complementary colors is easier.
One thing I have that is causing me some head-scratching is the short novelty yarn scarves. I definitely don't have any matching yarn. They definitely don't have a use in today's cold weather wear nor today's fashion wear. I hate to throw them away. It's part of the waste not want not thought process I was raised with. But I've hit a block wall for ideas.
One of the things I do think is great to create, the Guidepost T sweater. These are sent to many 3rd world countries. They go quick because of all the garter stich and very simple shaping.
One of the other patterns that is a great thing is the pillowcase dress. I first saw this on the Sewing with Nancy show on PBS years ago. Here is the little dress. These are for the girls obviously so they can go to school. School for girls was not something that happened. It is slowly becoming more common.
You will have to choose what calls to you. Who do you want to help? How close to home do you want to have your donations? Read this last question as how much do you want to spend on shipping or postage.
The one thing I can't stress enough is to go to the website for your chosen charity and print off the requirements for their donations. Don't send shetland wool to the knitted knockers. Your donations will be tossed. The distribution center people don't have time to send it on to another place where it can be used. The needs have been carefully thought out.
