Tag Archives: charity crochet

Share the Love, Join Us, #WarmUpTogether
by on Mar 18, 2020
A teal box that has white text that says: Warm Up America! Join us! Knit Picks and WeCrochet. The charity that warms peoples' lives. #WarmUpTogether

If you’re longing for connection to community right now, join us! WeCrochet and Knit Picks have partnered with Warm Up America to create afghan and blanket projects to go to seniors and others in need in our communities. If you’re home and looking for something to do, let’s share the love and #WarmUpTogether!

Warm Up America accepts knit and crochet projects and squares made in machine washable yarns. If you would like a full list of washable yarns we offer, scroll to the bottom of this post. Here are the ways you can help . . .

Make a Square to Donate

Warm Up America needs 7×9″ squares in knit or crochet. This is the perfect little project if you have a small amount of yarn at home and need to use it up or if you’re looking for a small craft project to keep the kids engaged. Ship your squares to Warm Up America and they will facilitate getting it to a volunteer who will seam into a blanket for a person in need. Here are 3 free patterns you can use to create your squares (just remember these patterns might need to be slightly altered to reach the required 7×9″ dimensions).

1. Hipacious Houndstooth Dishcloth
This fun dishcloth pattern uses two colors of Dishie yarn, a worsted weight cotton and will work with any worsted weight yarn you have on hand. It’s finished size is 7″ square; simply continue the rows until the square measures 9″ long and is suitable for donation.

A dishcloth crocheted in peach and mint yarn with a houndstooth pattern

2. Fruity Loops Dishcloth
The Fruity Loop Dishcloth uses 7 colors of Dishie or any worsted weight yarn, making it perfect for any yarn leftovers around the house. The finished dimensions listed in the pattern are 5.5″ square. To adjust for Warm Up America, begin with a ch. 27, and repeat the rows until you reach 9″.

A dishcloth crocheted in an interesting stitch, made in bands of rainbow color

3. A Chance of Rain Dishcloth
The Chance of Rain Dishcloth uses Dishie yarn, but any worsted weight yarn will work. The finished dimensions for this cloth are 9″ square. To make this project fit the requirements for Warm Up America, reduce the number of starting chains to 27.

A crocheted gray dishcloth with a crocheted cloud applique and embroidered raindrops

Make an Afghan to Donate

Warm Up America also accepts completed blankets and afghans in most sizes. If you want to launch into a larger project, consider creating from one of these free patterns and donating to Warm Up America!

A floral, rainbow colored crocheted throw on a pink chair
A cream-colored crocheted throw with a textural border, draped on a wicker chair
A gray textural crocheted blanket draped on a white bench
A red and black plaid crocheted blanket draped on a bed, next to hands holding a coffee cup
A model wears A brightly striped blanket on her shoulders

Learn to Crochet

If you’re hoping to learn to crochet, or want to teach your kids to crochet, follow along with all of our learning content. Beginners will love learning these basic stitches. We also have video tutorials to help you get started. The WeCrochet team will work to get more content added to our learning center over the coming weeks so you can work toward making your first project or expanding your crochet knowledge. Reach out with any questions, we’re here to help!

Donate Here:

While Warm Up America has paused accepting samples while their offices are closed, we’re working on our stacks of knit and crochet blocks so we’re ready to send a lovely package when they’re open!

Send finished projects or squares to:

Warm Up America
3740 N Josey Ln Suite #152
Carrollton, TX 75007

Learn more about the organization here:

Warm Up America Website

More to Make

If you’re looking for more patterns geared toward making a difference, be sure to check out all of the free patterns available for download from our book Helping Hands: Made with Love, Given with Heart by Stacey Winklepleck.

Suggested Yarns

All projects donated to Warm Up America should be machine-washable. Most donations are in a medium/worsted weight, but any weight yarn will work. We suggest sticking to acrylic, easy-care cottons, and superwash wools. If you’re familiar with WeCrochet and Knit Picks yarns, here are a few we recommend:

Brava
Chroma
Comfy
CotLin
Dishie
Mighty Stitch
Shine
Stroll
Swish
Wool of the Andes Superwash

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Tags: Crochet Alongs, Inspiration, Staff Projects

Featured Non-Profit Organization: Warm Up America #WarmUpTogether
by on Mar 16, 2020
A teal green box with white text that reads: Warm Up America! Join us! Knit Picks and WeCrochet. The charity that warms peoples' lives. #WarmUpTogether

WeCrochet is teaming up with our sister brand Knit Picks to encourage our community to craft for a cause. We are supporting Warm Up America! (WUA), the charity that warms peoples’ lives, and encouraging donations to this important organization. To participate, knit or crochet any of the following:

  • 7″ x 9″ rectangle (any gauge, any stitch)
  • Finished blankets, from throw and lapghan size and larger
  • Or choose from WUA’s list of current needs

Then send your finished donations to Warm Up America!

Warm Up America
3740 N Josey Ln Suite #152
Carrollton, TX 75007

Learn more about Warm Up America!

On the left, A picture of volunteers holding up an afghan made of various knitted and crochet squares. On the right, hats hang on a tree, with a tag that says "take me, I'm yours."

In 1992, Evie Rosen had an idea. 

How Warm Up America! was founded

A yarn shop owner who made blankets for homeless people, Rosen spent her spare time knitting afghans for her local shelter. “I can’t knit them fast enough to fill the need,” she said. “But I have an idea: What if we break down the task of making blankets to manageable parts so we can involve lots more people?” Warm Up America! was born. 

Warm Up America! Foundation (WUA!) is a non-profit organization that donates knit and crochet blankets and accessories to a variety of people in need. They train volunteers to work together to craft blanket panels, join them, organize them, and ship them to people who need them. The organization that started as one woman’s small vision has grown into more than she ever could have imagined.

On the left: Volunteers from the Warm Up America Makers Group sit with afghans on their laps. On the right: colorful knitted rectangles.

Warm Up America’s 7″ x 9″ rectangle panels

One key component of Rosen’s original plan was to encourage yarn crafters to make 7” x 9” knit or crochet panels. Rosen chose this very specific size because the panels could be joined together to make afghans in various sizes as needed. 

With a small panel size, the pieces could be completed quickly by crafters of nearly any skill level, and in any stitch, color, or gauge they liked, provided it met the final measurements. The small sections could then be joined all at once by volunteers and made into useful blankets. People loved this idea and she quickly had more donations than she could handle on her own.

With support from The National NeedleArts Association and Craft Yarn Council (CYC), the program became a national success, and the CYC now runs the foundation as their primary charitable organization.

How to get involved with WUA! or donate

Hundreds of thousands of people in need have received donations from WUA! over the years. The foundation receives requests from a variety of social service agencies, including homeless shelters, battered women’s shelters, American Red Cross chapters, veterans homes, senior centers, hospices, and religious organizations serving families and individuals in communities around the country. 

Text: Warm Up America! always accepts these knit and crochet items: Finished adult, child, and baby size blankets and lapghans for wheelchairs, adult hats, scarves, baby clothing, 7" x 9" knit and crochet sections.

Volunteers for WUA! can join their Facebook group, where crafters can share tips and tricks, and each Tuesday at noon central time the WUA! office does a live video unboxing in the group, sharing some of the donations that have arrived.

If you’d like to get involved, you can donate completed knit or crochet blankets, hats, scarves, gloves, and baby clothing, as well as the 7” x 9” blanket panels that WUA! is most known for. They also accept (and need) monetary donations (which have the added benefit of being tax-deductible). 

Find out more about WUA! and how to make, donate, and share at their website: Warm Up America!

About this Article

WeCrochet Magazine cover - Issue 1

This article was originally printed in Issue 1 of WeCrochet Magazine.

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Tags: Crochet Alongs, Crochet Interviews