Crafts for Social Projects 2023 + 2022 + 2021: What are you working on right now?

Dear users, dear authors,
Many of you enjoy working on social projects time and again. If you’d like, you can share your craft projects here in this thread.
Please no links or advertising—thank you.

The dolls and little snow monsters are now going to a friend who’s collecting items for refugee children in Bulgaria—those kids are freezing and have absolutely nothing. I rummaged through my closet and dug out some scarves and hats that I’d knitted but never actually wore, so off they went to be donated. They’ll be put to good use there, and now I have room in my closet for new things.

Akela, that’s great and makes me feel good. There are always people you can make happy with handmade items.

I’ll probably be crocheting and knitting for the animal rescue group again. Let’s see what my yarn has in store for me this spring. Squirrel nests are definitely on the agenda.

Oh wow, Gabriele, that’s a massive project and it looks really pretty. It’s great that you’re doing something like this. I think you knitted that really fast if it only took you 17 days.

Well, I feel bad for the monks. That’s why I hurried. I’m already working on the second scarf.

Wow, you’re really hard at work, Gabriele! 

Great scarf-shawl

Spring is here, and I’ve started crocheting nests for wildlife again.
This is my first one, the largest—it has a diameter of 17 cm. The next ones will be a bit smaller. The edge is folded over.

Now the second nest for wild animals is finished.

Nest No. 3 is also finished

I’ve now finished 4 nests.

And this is No. 5.

I stumbled upon a box of scraps yesterday and started making a nest. I’m still working on it, and there will probably be more than one......

My scrap box looked pretty much the same, Petra. I’m sure you’ll make some lovely, colorful nests out of your yarn. I’m sure you’ll show them to us.

I just took my nest out of the washing machine and I’m already thrilled with how beautiful it turned out. Now it’s drying, and I can start on the next one today.

Monika, your drey is beautiful. You chose great colors. 

I’ve already requested the pattern for a “Hats for Africa” campaign. The hats for newborns are knitted from sock yarn or similar materials and are meant to protect the tiny, often underweight babies from getting cold. However, I probably won’t be able to start knitting until after Easter, since I still have many more urgent projects to tackle. But I’m already looking forward to this wonderful project.

I took part in a campaign in 2016. My little hats went to Eritrea then, including for newborns.

[Image removed]

@Wollbaerli is this a current campaign that you're taking part in? I would be very interested in it. 

Oh, those little hats are so cute. That’s a really great cause, too. I’d need at least 5 pairs of hands—then I could join in, too.

On my swap platform, I just swapped 600 g of really great felting yarn—in brown. It’s perfect for the Kobel, and I’m going to start on it tonight. It’s not as colorful as the first Kobel, but it looks very natural. Maybe I’ll knit in some other yarn in stripes.

So, now the large drey is finished and can soon go into the washing machine for felting.
This is what it looks like now before washing/felting. It’s brown at the bottom and a bit colorful at the top.

I’ve now finished a total of 4 felt dreys and 6 nests. They’re ready to be sent off for injured or orphaned birds or squirrels.

Here are the last 3 dreys and nest No. 6.

How’s it going?

Well, I’ve been supporting the “Christmas in a Shoebox” campaign with my crochet projects for several years now.
Anything that fits in a shoebox is gladly accepted at the collection points. So my whole year is spent sewing and crocheting for Christmas :-)
Since our donations almost always end up in Eastern Europe, it’s very important to me to crochet and sew as many little animals, dolls, scarves, hats, pencil cases, and other items as possible—which I then donate—to bring joy to children who would otherwise have almost no chance of ever receiving a Christmas gift, and to give them hope for a better life.
Unfortunately, fewer and fewer people are willing to participate in this campaign, even though it’s especially important right now during the pandemic that even the poorest aren’t forgotten.
The number of shoeboxes is dwindling, and so is the aid for these poor children. It’s precisely through these shoeboxes that we’re able to give underprivileged children toys, clothing, school supplies, and other useful and lovely items that they could otherwise never afford. And it doesn’t cost much money either. You can create so many wonderful things with just a few scraps of yarn and fabric.
It doesn’t always have to be a fully packed shoebox—any items you can wrap up will do. I wouldn’t even have the capacity to pack enough shoeboxes to fit all my many, many little treasures, so I’m grateful that individual donations are also accepted. :-)

So if you don’t know what to do with your treasures, feel free to join this campaign. :-) The children will be happy.

Best regards :-)

I just finished knitting my first “Hat for Africa” and have started a second one. I’ll post a picture later.

Pinky, who’s behind this initiative? Is it limited to Germany? I think it’s a wonderful idea and would love to learn more about it.

I’m slowly getting started and filling my box with items for our local food bank for children. Today I sewed two pencil cases—I have so many small fabric scraps lying around, and they’re perfect for this.
In the summer, I’ll continue with children’s clothing and so on; I also want to sew some toys.

Best regards, Inge

Pinky, I’d also like to know more about this shoebox drive. That sounds great. Is it happening everywhere? Do you have to send the boxes somewhere, or how does it work? Would you mind telling us more about it? I’m sure there are plenty of others here who’d like to participate.

Hi Monika,
I’m so glad you’re interested in the “Christmas in a Shoebox” campaign.
It’s actually available in all larger towns.
Here you can find more details about this campaign, including collection and drop-off locations:
 Samaritan’s Purse – “Christmas in a
Shoebox” Campaign. I think it’s wonderful that you can put together your own shoebox with items that are important to children, that they’ll enjoy, or that they might need for school or personal use. This page also includes instructions on how to pack the shoeboxes properly and a search function for drop-off locations. Anyone can participate.
It doesn’t have to be just one shoebox, either. As I mentioned earlier,
I crochet and sew all year round, and I also drop off the items I’ve collected at a drop-off location. Of course, I also buy all sorts of things throughout the year whenever I get the chance (toothbrushes, toothpaste, small makeup sets, toys, school supplies, pens), and whatever else I come across—I collect these items in boxes throughout the year so nothing gets damaged.
Donations can usually be dropped off between the end of October and November 15.
Just take a look at the website. Since I unfortunately don’t have children of my own, my rule is always: everything I make that fits in the boxes gets collected and dropped off. And anything that’s too big goes to our local child and youth welfare service.
The main thing is to bring joy to children. :-)
It would be great if even more people would join this campaign. The kids can really use it.

Sending you all a big hug in my thoughts :-)

Warm regards
, Mary (Pinky)

Oh, and Christina, before I forget: no, this campaign isn’t limited to Germany—it’s a global initiative, which I forgot to mention :-)
The recipient countries vary depending on the country. You can find all that information on the Samaritan’s Purse “Christmas in a Shoebox” page—Samaritan’s Purse (die-samariter.org)

And there are other aid campaigns as well, but for me, “Christmas in a Shoebox” was the most wonderful one.

The more people who participate, the more children gain hope and a sense of purpose, because this campaign naturally introduces children to education and religion and helps them realize that they are important members of society.

Hugs and kisses
Mary

That’s a wonderful initiative. I’ve already saved the link. I have quite a few children’s hats in my boxes that I can pack up.

Here, the Evangelical Church used to organize something like this every year. We participated in that, too—collecting food for families in the east. And my husband’s company also launched a similar campaign over the Christmas season, though that one was for children. Last year there was nothing—COVID got in the way. I think it’s nice to put something together to bring joy to a family or a child. 

I’m bumping this thread again.

Image uploaded without the author's permission removed, mod. 

Since I’m crocheting a lot at the moment, I needed someone who needed something. And at the local homeless project they said they often need socks and gloves. So I make gloves every now and then in between. The advantage here is that I can use cheaper acrylic yarn or leftovers. The lady was really patient and answered my 2 million questions about exactly what her clients need.

Since it’s really difficult to crochet something to fit exactly, I mostly make wrist warmers, either the model above or using the pattern by Wolleule on YouTube; for that one you basically only have to crochet rounds, so it’s foolproof. :)

The ones in the picture have a flap that turns the wrist warmers into mittens; they were very popular with the homeless folks. When it gets cold again, I’ll take the collected gloves to the project and they’ll distribute them. Or rather, I also like to keep a pair in my bag, in a zip-lock bag for hygiene. That way I can also offer them to someone sitting on the street who doesn’t have any, without risking infecting them with coronavirus, because the bag can simply be disinfected and I haven’t touched the gloves themselves for a long time. 

The gloves are a really nice idea—and very helpful.

I’ve gathered up some leftover yarn again and am now crocheting a few nests for wild animals that are being cared for. I’m part of a Facebook group where this is organized. That way, I know exactly who’s getting them and can send them directly there. I’ll also knit a little home for small squirrels using my leftover felting yarn.

These were the last felted swings I knitted for the squirrels—and the two new nests:

Oh my gosh, please tell me there are photos of the squirrels in those cute little nests!? That sounds so wonderful!

Yes, Xenaris, photos of the inhabited nests are also posted in the Facebook group. That always moves me deeply. Injured birds in the nests and tiny orphaned squirrels that are being raised and live in the dreys or swings. Sooo cute! Whenever I’m crocheting or knitting these little homes, I always imagine the little animals sitting inside them.

Oh, too bad—I’m a staunch Facebook skeptic... But anyway, I’m sure they’ll provide a good temporary home for lots of little animals. :)

I’ve already received a photo of one of my nests being used. A little wild hare was sitting inside it. I was so happy that the wildlife carer found the time to send me a picture. My nests ended up at a wildlife rescue center. That’s really motivating, of course, to keep crocheting. 

Yes, Petra, I feel the same way as you do. That’s right, I’ve already received a photo of a little bunny in my nest. I’ve also gotten others of occupied nests with birds, as well as of “squirrels in a swing.” That really motivates me, too. By now I’ve already been able to help many carers.

Here are the last three nests—the third one has just been finished. More are still to come.

More?

In January, I crocheted these little nests for a bird rehabilitation center that takes in small birds that have fallen out of their nests.

I’m already getting started again and sewing a few things for our local children’s food bank; the little sleeping sheep is also going into the box for the children’s food bank. By the end of November, I’ll have another huge box full of donations, since my oldest daughter and a few friends are helping me sew and knit for the children’s food bank

Best regards, Inge

How’s it going?

I’m taking a little break for now—I’ve been, or rather was, totally burned out this past week. For me, that’s a sign to slow down a bit, but I’ll be back on track soon.

Best regards, Inge