If you’re ready to try knitting for charity or crochet to help others, find out where to donate baby hats to charity, how to make sure your hats for charity will be accepted and how to get started!
So many of my lovely readers email me and tell me that they love to use my baby hat knitting patterns to knit for charity both during the holidays and all year round. This makes me so so happy to hear. If that’s you, thank you for contributing your time, and energy and craft to making the world a better place. Using creativity to spread kindness is such a wonderful thing.
I thought today, that some of you might also wish you could start knitting for charity or doing crochet for charity. But maybe you don’t know where to start? Maybe you don’t know where to donate baby hats to charity?
I know, it’s so overwhelming! So I’ve done some research and I’m ready to get you all started crocheting or knitting baby hats for hospitals and other charities. And don’t worry, my list of groups that accept hats for charity includes the US, Canada, the UK and Australia!
What to know before you start making baby hats for charity…
When you’re crocheting or knitting for charity, it might be tempting to just knit or crochet whatever you want and send it off. But I discovered that many places that accept baby hat donations actually have fairly specific requirements that must be followed for your donated baby hats to be accepted.
As always, check with the specific charity or hospital that you choose to work with, but here are some common requirements and guidelines:
Common Handmade Baby Hat Donation Guidelines
General guidelines for charity knitting or crochet
- Donated handmade crochet or knit baby hats should be from smoke free homes.
- Pet free homes are sometimes required, if not and you do have a pet, be sure to wash your baby hat before donating
- If you pre-wash your baby hat, wash with unscented detergent and do not use fabric softener
Material and yarn guidelines when making baby hats for charity
Here are my recommendations for the best yarns for baby hats!
- No wool yarns!
- Stick to super soft yarns made from acrylic, cotton and bamboo. Alpaca, which is hypoallergenic, is sometimes allowed.
- Yarn MUST be machine washable
- Avoid novelty yarns including eyelash yarn and yarns with sequins or glitter or anything that might be scratchy or shed
- Avoid vintage yarn which can become brittle with age
- Choose a worsted weight or lighter yarn (especially for preemies), bulky, heavy yarns can make hats that are too warm for tiny babies
- Some charities have specific yarn color requests and some do not, so make sure to check before you start, many times you do not have to limit yourself to typical baby pastels!
- Consider choosing a gender neutral color so anyone can use it
Some of my favorite yarns for baby hats are:
- Vanna’s Choice
- Paintbox Simply Aran
- Paintbox Baby DK
- Bernat Softee
- Caron Simply Soft
- Lion Brand Baby Soft
- Red Heart Soft
- Loops & Threads Impeccable
- CoBoo Cotton/Bamboo Blend
Construction guidelines for donating baby hats
- No pom poms, buttons, bows or other embellishments that could come off and become choking hazards
- Be sure to securely weave in all ends
- Avoid bulky seams on the inside that can irritate super sensitive baby skin
- Avoid lace and eyelet patterns for infants because their tiny fingers can get stuck in the holes
- Make sure that your gauge is correct and your baby hat is correctly sized for the needs of the charity you choose. This is especially important if you choose to knit or crochet preemie hats
Where can I find good baby hat knitting patterns for charity?
A great place to start is my Back to Basics series of patterns which all have a free version. These simple patterns can be customized in tons of different ways and are great for knitting for charity! If you want holiday hats for the Christmas season, browse here!
Want a crochet baby hat pattern?
Where should I send my baby hats for charity?
Now that you know what kinds of baby hats to knit or crochet for charity, let’s talk about WHERE to donate baby hats. I know for me, this was the most daunting part of wanting to start knitting for charity.
For many people, the easiest place to donate baby hats is your local hospital. But be sure to call first and ask if they accept baby hat donations and what their needs are.
If you can’t find a hospital in your community that accepts baby hat donations, then I’ve got you covered! Here’s a list of charities that will love your handmade baby hats!
(Please note that while there are tons of other knit and crochet charities out there, this list is specific to those who accept hats for babies and small children. Also, while some of these charities are local, most accept donations by mail so you can help out from anywhere!)
United States
Reading Hospital Knitting Guild
Baby Hats for Bronson Healthcare
Down Syndrome Association through Minnesota Knitters’ Guild
Little Hats, Big Hearts (discontinued)
Canada
Mount Sinai Hospital through Toronto Knitters’ Guild (Canada)
UK
Australia
Life’s Little Treasures (Australia)
The Royal Women’s Hospital (Australia)
If you find anywhere else with clear baby hat donation guidelines, please let me know and I’ll add it to the list!
If you liked this, you may also like some of my other posts…
- Gingerbread House and Gingerbread Man Knitting Patterns - December 13, 2024
- Peppermint Candy Cane Wreath Knitting Pattern - December 9, 2024
- Gingerbread Wreath Knitting Pattern - December 9, 2024
Beth says
I live in Jacksonville, FL. Have knitted baby caps in 3 newborn sizes. Have called local hospitals and charities and they really don’t need them. Can you recommend some places? I would appreciate your help. I can only knit with baby yarn because of arthritis.
Tammy cathers says
I would like to know where i can dinate baby hats i live in warren county nj
Martha Barnett says
Have time on my hands. I would like to crochet hats ,booties, blankets. Just let me know where to mail them.
I’m in Austin, TX
Sonia says
American Heart Association is ending the Little Hats, Big Hearts™ program.
Cassie May says
thanks for letting me know, I’ve updated it!
Jade says
Elijah’s Tropical Sunshine (on facebook) takes donations too! 🙂
Linda Aker, Board President says
Hello,
Would you please remove The Preemie Project as an organization that accepts hats. As of Feb 15, 2021 we will no longer accept hand-made items. We will be focusing solely on purchased items for going home supplies for families. Thanks for sending knitters our way in the past. It has been great! Time to slow down and enjoy retirement
Linda Aker
The Preemie Project Board President
Cassie May says
Hi! I have removed the Preemie Project from the list but I’m going to leave your comment here in case knitters who have previously donated to you are looking for it. 🙂 Thanks for letting us know!
Best, Cassie
Sonia says
Knitting for noggin —
Broken link
< Home
Oops!
We can't seem to find that page.
Cassie May says
found it here, at the bottom of the page:
🙂 https://www.archildrens.org/support-us/volunteer-engagement/donating-toys-and-gifts
jean Whiting says
Where can I donate about thirty knitted hats for babies and small children.
Cassie May says
Hi Jean,
Take a look at the list in this post, there are tons of ideas of places that accepts donations! 🙂
Joan Cardellino says
Care Wear is a US-based nationwide group of volunteers who knit, crochet, and/or sew providing hand made items directly to hospitals and social service agencies. All Care Wear items are distributed by hospital or agency staff free to patients of all ages. I urge you to visit the Care Wear website to list your hospital/agency requests and/or view requests lists that you could fulfill using your crafting skills. The website includes hundreds of patterns and instructions.
Mary says
I am looking to volunteer to make hats and scarves and whatever else is needed a crochet here in Clearwater Florida please help Define it charity that I can volunteer in crochet
Aileen H. Kimel says
Hello…..I am a member of a group in Towson, MD. that meets every Friday at a small maul. We knit or crochet hats for newborn babies. Please look us up on Facebook. We are called the Tiny Toppers of Maryland.com. You will see pictures of our members knitting and special events…like the time we had an Oriole Appreciation Day…where we all wore orange and black and brought with us, that day, all the orange and black hats that would be taken to the 5 hospitals that we are involved with. You can email me and I will fill you in. The only drawback is that you are in Florida, we are in MD. so you would have to mail them to me. The nurses tell us how much our donated hats mean to the families of the newborns, and how fast our hats are used up, and they have to resort to the “hospital” hats.
Peggy says
I am Peggy at pmoorman43Cableone.net
Please send me your address, I have hats I have made for babies & would like to send them to your group. Thank you
Linda Brown says
I have newborn crochet hats I would like to donate approx. 40 white, yellow and pink
Maryvallee says
Hi Cassie
I’m looking to make crochet hats booties and whatever else is needed to charity in my area I live in Clearwater Florida but I noticed a lot of the how hospitals I pretty much all set where can I put my volunteer work to help others I really hope I hear from someone thank you Mary Vallee
Lisa says
‘Knitters for Charity’ is my group in Pasco County FL. Donated 53,000 items since 2010. More than just hats!
Aileen H. Kimel says
Hi Cassie,
Happy Easter!!!
Please add my group: The Tiny Toppers of Maryland to your list of possible donation places. Thanks for telling everyone NO WOOL only soft baby hat yarn…and maybe save the darker colors for fall.
Happy Easter!!! The hats we make are taken to 5 area hospitals for the newborns!!!