Knitting for Others

​Over the years, Windy City Knitting Guild members have created many articles for charitable organizations. We have knit, crocheted, sewn, and quilted for people of all ages and walks of life, as well as animals. If you are looking to combine your love of crafts with the satisfaction of giving to others in need, please consider knitting for charity.
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Each year the Windy City Knitting Guild board and its members select local and other organizations that are in need of hand-made items. If you know of an organization which collects knitted or handmade items that would like to be listed below, please feel free to contact us at [email protected].
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A small sample of our Charity Knitting

​Wool-Aid is a community of knitters and crocheters who create warm woolen garments for children who live in the coldest climates and have the least access to resources. Wool-Aid works with organizations that put the human imperative first; that provide aid regardless of the race, creed, or nationality of the recipients; and that do not use aid to further a particular political or religious viewpoint. Priority is given to helping populations where washable items are neither required nor recommended.​ Their mission is to provide the very neediest children with wool socks, sweaters, vests, mittens, hats, and blankets. 
  • Wool-Aid Guidelines for donations
  • Garments should be a minimum of 80% wool, and no thinner than DK weight yarn.   
    • Why 80% wool?  The children they  help live in the very coldest conditions.   ​The children often depend on warmth from open fires. Non-wool fibers are more flammable and may melt onto the skin if they come in contact with fire.  
    • Children have much less protection from the elements. Wool will stay warm even when wet.  The children they help need protection from the wind as well as the cold. Regular wool’s fibers (the ones that allow it to felt) form a denser fiber than non-wool fibers, and denser than superwash wool, too​.
  • Check out their Ravelry group for current needs

The Seamen’s Church Institute (SCI) Christmas at Sea initiative promotes the safety, dignity and improved working environment for the men and women serving in North American and international maritime workplaces. Founded in 1834, the Institute is a voluntary, ecumenical agency affiliated with the Episcopal Church. The Seamen’s Church Institute invites you to knit or crochet hats and scarves to warm mariners’ hearts and heads year-round.
Night Ministry is dedicated to its mission of providing human connection, housing support, and health care to members of our community in Chicago who are unhoused or experiencing poverty. They are accepting donations for knitted and crocheted items for both adults and children.  No restrictions on fiber (as long as it’s not itchy) and no need for additional safety precautions since they have their own protocols in place.  The preferred items are hats, gloves and scarves, but they will take other items including a small amount of children’s clothing.  
Elam Davies Social Services Center- Hats, scarves, mittens and other warm items may be dropped off with reception at Fourth Presbyterian Church (126 E. Chestnut) when the church is open. Check their website for their hours and more information.

Loose Ends is an everyone-is-welcome movement that aims to ease grief, create community, and inspire generosity by matching volunteer handwork finishers with textile projects people have left undone due to death or disability.  Click here to become a finisher.  They also provide this sheet for anyone who anticipates they might leave projects behind in the future.

How to Help Migrants in Chicago​: This Block Club Chicago article is a compilation of several ways Chicagoans can help support newly arrived migrants, especially as the pace of arrivals increases and the temperature drops.  In addition consider knitting for 500 Hats for Refugees and the Welcome Blanket Project.
  • 500 Hats for Refugees- Since 2023, over 17,000 migrants have been transported from Texas to Chicago with more busloads arriving each week with little more than the clothes they are wearing. Over a third of the refugees are children under the age of 10.  All will be facing cold and windy weather for the first time ever.  Please consider making a hat or two (or more!) to be distributed to the shelters. All sizes are needed as there’s sure to be a head that will fit a hat!  
  • Welcome Blanket Project -  Welcome Blanket is a national collective art action to welcome refugees and other immigrants to the United States.  Everyone is welcome to craft a Welcome Blanket. They even have a pattern to try, and some wonderful examples.   Click on Steps for Makers for guidelines and to get involved!

The Cancer Wellness Center is located in Northbrook, IL. On their website, they state, “The center’s mission is to help anyone impacted by a cancer diagnosis connect with a welcoming, empowering community of people; navigate the emotional side of a diagnosis; find targeted, individualized programs; and provide resources and highly credentialed health professionals to smooth the journey through cancer.” We have been asked to knit hats for their patients, using the following guidelines: 
  • Yarn should be soft and machine washable
  • Knit hats for adults (small, medium or large)
  • Use any hat pattern you’d like!
  • All items should be labeled with the fiber content and  directions for cleaning the item
  • Our WCKG Vice President Tina S. is our contact: email her with any questions ([email protected]) and please put "Hats for Cancer Wellness Center" in the subject line of your email

Chicago Street Medicine is a student-run organization at the UIC with the goal of improving the health of Chicagoans experiencing unsheltered homelessness. Health care for the homeless presents a problem on multiple levels, from political and financial to humanitarian, and efforts to deal with these problems are desperately needed. The group’s solution is to develop a student-run street medicine outreach program, where a group of volunteers will deliver basic medical care, health education and social support to those experiencing unsheltered homelessness in Chicago. This solution is doable and has been proven effective in other cities around the world. They are seeking warm knit items to give out to Chicago’s homeless. 
  • Knit hats, mittens, gloves, cowls or scarves (any sort of warm clothing) 
  • No restrictions for fiber content (wool is acceptable) 
  • Knit items for adults (small, medium or large) 
  • Contact them directly for more information and drop-off details

The Snuggles Project provides warmth and comfort to sheltered animals. Snuggles are small blankets that help animals feel more comfortable in an unfamiliar environment as they await adoption.
  • Check their directory to see which shelters near you accept Snuggles donations. 
  • Find free patterns for knit, crochet, sew, and no-sew snuggles here, and their FAQ here.

"Knit the Rainbow was founded in 2020 to help homeless LGBTQ+ youth in New York City survive the brutal winters. All of our handmade garments are made with love by our volunteers across the country and placed right in the hands of those in need. At least 40% of the homeless youth in New York City identify as LGBTQ+. Knit the Rainbow works to empower and protect these youth by providing them with handmade knit & crochet winter clothing accessories. While Knit the Rainbow currently only operates in 4 states, our aim is to expand so we can provide clothing for homeless LGBTQ+ youth across the Nation." 
  • ​Check out their FAQ for needed items and information.
  • Chicagoland yarn shops where you can drop off your donations are Yarnify, Nina Chicago, AriYARN Shop and Studio, and String Theory Yarn Co. (as of May 2026). Check out their nationwide map and free patterns here.
    • If your LYS would like to be a donation drop-off location, they can email the organization directly at [email protected].

The Stitching Ladies meet every Tuesday morning from 9:30-12:00 at Emanuel Congregation in Edgewater to knit and crochet hats, scarves, blankets and all sorts of items for those in need in Chicago. They donate all items made throughout the year each December to various hospitals, schools, and shelters in the city. All yarn and needles/hooks/notions are provided for the volunteers. This is a wonderful in-person volunteering opportunity, and the group has meeting and stitching since WWII!
  • ​They also take yarn donations, so please get in touch if you're looking to de-stash!
  • Contact Sandy P. at [email protected] for more information or if you're interested in attending.

"Knitted Knockers are soft, lightweight breast prosthetics that are very comfortable for women who have undergone mastectomies, lumpectomies and radiation, and/or are undergoing reconstruction. We connect volunteer knitters and crocheters with breast cancer survivors by providing free knitted knockers to any woman who needs them." Their site has lots of great resources and free patterns for knockers, including a list of approved yarns.

Monthly Charity Raffle!
If you are a WCKG member and knit for charity, you can enter into our monthly raffle for a chance to win $25 to a Chicagoland yarn store. See your latest Newsletter for more details!