There is a limit to how many hats, scarves, socks, and shawls a reasonable person should own… after 20 years of knitting, I’ve hit that limit. I don’t like the idea of selling my work so I gift away most of what I make. This year, however, I’ve decided do some knitting for charity.
I’ve always been a little hesitant to knit for charity because it always seemed like the money I’d spend on yarn to knit a scarf for someone experiencing homelessness could probably buy 4 commercially-made scarves (and those would probably also be more practical for the recipient too). So, I usually choose to donate money to the cause instead. When I first heard about Knit the Rainbow, I absolutely fell in love with their mission to provide handknit winter garments to homeless LGBTQ+ youth in New York City and Chicago. I’m still on the fence about how practical my creations might be when compared to commercially produced winter gear (Gore-Tex, anyone?), but I know that many LGBTQ+ youth struggle with their mental health so I decided that something I’ve knitted with love could be practical for reasons other than just warding off the cold. (BTW, I also still donate money to the cause… cash is king!)
I decided to knit some cheery & colorful pieces for this project. In my first shipment, I sent off a teal ear warmer with a flower applique, a bright yellow hat, this black & rainbow-colored hat with a fluffy pompom and some fair isle mittens.
I sincerely hope the young people enjoy these! I was going for warm and loving. ♥
If you’d like to donate items to Knit the Rainbow too, you can find dropoff locations or shipping instructions on their website.
p.s. The enamel rainbow pin in my featured image for this post is an adorable creation by Global Backyard. They included them free in orders during June to celebrate Pride Month, but you can buy one any time here.
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