So much (cheap) yarn to use up!

There is a charity group on facebook ' Hookers & Clickers do it for charity', your wool could be used for all kinds of items.

Another charity knitforpeace.org.uk/knit-for-good/donate-goods/

so already I’ve ordered just a ‘little’ bit more....
???

There is a limit to the number of crochet blankets I can make so I may start knitting some more sweaters for charity now. The DGC don't want them any more
I daren't send for more yarn so they may have to be striped.

I make things for Knit-for-nowt and also Handmade for Dementia. They are both good causes.

Knit-for-nowt have had to close their waiting list for items.

I was impressed with Hermes because I sent a parcel with four worry monsters and hand puppets of police and a nurse and the charge was £3.62 to pick it up from my house and deliver it to the organiser.

I too have lots of oddments which I may never use. When I run out of knitting I put out an appeal on our local Facebook page saying I am happy to knit at no charge but that I would appreciate it if they made a donation to my favourite charity. That usually brings in enough to keep me going. They tend to need a helping hand to get the right wool, one chose a pattern in 4 ply and bought Aran wool!

My daughter told me about a charity called "Woolly Hugs", and I think that there is / or was a facility to donate wool, so that people who cannot afford to buy much, can be given wool to knit the blankets.

This was a while ago, so will have to investigate more.

Witzend, knitting has been a salvation for me, and I now have many jumpers, all so warm and cosy. Keep on knitting!

Local animal shelters are always looking for knitted blankets.

I followed one of those links - thank you - and have just downloaded a few patterns - hats and dolls - there was a ‘particular request’ for black and brown-faced dolls, and I’ve got plenty of oddments for such things - hats may be stripey but will look that much jollier I think.

I can’t alas face knitting masses of blanket squares, so that’s
out.

I find knitting very calming and relaxing - especially if it's a simple pattern. I tend to do it for fun, rather than for the finished article.

So far, this last year, I've made squares (yet to be joined into a blanket), scarves, dog jumpers and many hats, headbands/ear warmers for the GC.

Next, I think cushion covers and slippers - then things for the charity shop!

Oh, and leg warmers - they're brilliant to stop my knees hurting in the cold weather!

I used to attend a local craft club and we did some twiddle muffs a few years ago. We'd had a request from a local care home.

They're for dementia suffers.

knitforpeace.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Twiddlemuff-Pattern.pdf

I’d gathered that twiddle muffs weren’t wanted lately (virus!) but that was the local hospital, where I’ve donated them before.
I really ought to ask the dementia care home where my poor mother was resident for very nearly 8 years until she died at 97. I just wish I’d known about twiddle muffs while they might have been of benefit to her.
Mind you that (very good) care home was like kleptomania central - you could almost guarantee that anything left lying around for 5 - or even 2 - minutes would be squirrelled away by someone. So any I’d made wouldn’t have been hers for very long.

Hats and fingerless wrist warmers are easy and use up odds and ends quickly and St. Johns Church, Harrell Road, Felixstowe was asking for donations recently or night shelters appreciate them. Stripes and bright colours welcome.

Have you thought of doing a "temperature scarf" Witzend? I'm doing one this year. I had several balls of 4-ply left so I'm knitting a scarf with the choice of colours based on the outside temperature every day! There are loads of patterns on Ravelry, but I just basically got started. It will take me a year though....

So you're looking for things where it doesn't matter if you change colours in the middle of a row,and continue with random colours. Or things that are tiny and only take a half a ball of wool......

Hot water bottle covers?
Dolls' blankets?
Cushion covers?
Christmas tree decorations?
Bean bags? (the kind you throw, for indoor games)

That brought back memories Alegrias1. My mother used to make scarves like that and sell them locally and most of the ladies in our village would be wearing them. She gave the money to the local hospice.

Sorry, I had the window open for ages before commenting and in the meantime everybody had contributed many far more useful suggestions.

Alegrias1

Have you thought of doing a "temperature scarf" Witzend? I'm doing one this year. I had several balls of 4-ply left so I'm knitting a scarf with the choice of colours based on the outside temperature every day! There are loads of patterns on Ravelry, but I just basically got started. It will take me a year though....

Could you let me know the pattern for the scarf please? I did ask my mother to write it down but she had dementia so that didn't go well!

Happy to Liz46! Its really simple, I got the pattern from an old book I had of lace stitches and I just thought it would make a nice scarf. Not looking forward to sewing in the ends though!

Cast on 96 sts or a multiple of 12 sts.
For each row, [K5 K2tog K4 Kfb] 8 times

That's it!

Do you crochet? Have a look at this Facebook page www.facebook.com/groups/1668110840157597.

Even if you don't crochet, the techniques described for using up even the tiniest scraps of leftover yarn - how to knot them together and make a ball of varicoloured yarn which you then crochet (or knit) together with a strand of plain yarn. This method makes fabulous, warm blankets, much needed for the elderly in care homes or the homeless.

Thank you Alegrias1. I may try and put some colours together and make a lap blanket for my daughter. She lives in a flat with high ceilings and all the heat goes up!

For children who have just the clothes they stand up in, Buddy Bag Foundation puts together a backpack with pyjamas, toothbrush etc including a teddy. Usually these are kids escaping domestic violence or refugees.

buddybagfoundation.co.uk/ is always keen to receive little teddies and I think they even provide a pattern.

Witzend, I would ADORE someone to knit for my grandson. Very happy to pay too. Can I message you about it?

They're so lovely at that age, Gagajo, all cosy wearing handknits. They go off them when they get a bit older unfortunately.
How's your hand btw? As soon as I posted on that other thread I looked at my little finger and it has a hard white lump on the knuckle.

I thought of knitting a poncho for DD but by the time I finish it, they'll probably be out of fashion again.