A little of yourself goes into every handmade gift.

But I’m also thinking about those in less fortunate circumstances who could also use some holiday cheer. To me, nothing says you care like a handmade gift. That’s why during this season, and periodically through the year as well, I love to knit and crochet items for charity. Not only is it a nice thing to do for your heart, and your soul, but it’s also a practical way to use up some of that yarn that’s been accumulating in your stash over the year.

I just plain like to knit and crochet, but not everyone in my circle of friends can use all the items I make. I like knowing my handcrafted can go to someone who can use them, even if we’ve never met. Many charities recognize the special feeling a handmade item brings and look to knitters and crocheters for help. They need baby items, hats, scarves, blankets and other everyday items that will make another person’s life a little easier.

So how do you find these charities? You may find some spotlighted in knit or crochet pattern magazines, but Bernat Yarns has an online database of charitable organizations called Bernat Cares where you can search by type of item you would like to donate or search by location to find a charity near you.

Here are a few organizations I’ve donated to in the past and plan to do so again:

• Handmade Especially For You (http://www.handmadeespecially.org/home.html)
  This organization distributes handmade scarves to family crisis centers and shelters for abused women. I received a personalized “thank you” note from the program director that really touched my heart.

• Red Scarf Project (http://orphan.org/what-we-do/programs/red-scarf-project/)
  Sponsored by the Orphan Foundation of America, this program distributes red scarves as part of a Valentine’s Day package to OFA students enrolled in college and trade schools. Due to the timing of the care packages, they only accept scarves between Sept 1 and Dec 15. Free patterns are available for inspiration.

• Special Olympics Scarf Project (http://www.scarvesforspecialolympics.org/)
  This program collects knit and crochet scarves made with the official dual blue colors of the Special Olympics games, and distributes them to participants and their supporters as a symbol of “unity, support, compassion and empowerment.” The official colors are available in Red Heart Supersaver skeins, which you can find in most craft and yarn shops, or purchase online. The 2011 website for this program allows you to choose which state you would like to donate to and includes all the detail about the donation process, including the specific yarn color numbers and free patterns.

There’s no entry fee and who knows, you could advance to the final round, where you send in your completed item for judging, and maybe even win a nice gift certificate to Michael’s or a cash prize. The grand prize winner receives a trip to meet Vanna herself!

The four categories (afghan and throws, hats and scarves, baby items, and gifts and crafts) give you a great deal of freedom to be creative. What project couldn’t fit into the gift category, right? The only requirement is that you use Vanna’s line of yarn from Lion Brand. It includes three different types: worsted weight Vanna’s Choice, which comes in a glorious rainbow of colors; Vanna’s Choice Baby, a worsted weight yarn in a selection of  colors popular for baby gifts; and Vanna’s Glamour, a sport weight yarn with metallic thread woven in for just the right amount of sparkle. I’m dying to make a fashion doll dress with this one!

So, what’s stopping you from entering? Even if you don’t win (and there’s always a chance you could), you will still have a handmade item ready for your next gift-giving occasion. Last year, I entered a child’s hat I’d crocheted in red, white and blue (see photo below). Even though I didn’t win the contest, my son loves this hat, and wears it to school every day now the weather’s cold. Maybe I didn’t get the cash prize, but I still feel like a winner.

And yes, I”ve entered Vanna’s contest again this year–twice so far!

Happy stitching!

Patriotic Hat in Vanna's Choice