Where Can I Get Free Yarn To Use For Crocheting Things For Charity?

I crochet items for nursing homes, hospitals and the aspca. Only I can’t afford to buy all the yarn needed for these projects, So I need to find sources for free yarn to make all these goodies that I hand out through the year.

6 Comments

Pamela S October 16th, 2009 at 11:45 am

Besides talking with your local yarn shops, joining freecycle, and checking at your local thrift stores you could also write a letter to the yarn manufacturers and see if they could donate yarn. I’ve heard them do this in years past, but their donation supplies are limited so you need to keep in touch with them on a regular basis so they keep you in mind.

jennylyn October 16th, 2009 at 12:15 pm

All those ideas above are very good. I had good luck finding a lot of odds and ends at thrift shops. You don’t always get enough for a sweater, but you can make smaller items very easily.
Look for a knitter’s or crochet guild or group in your area. They always have odd lots of left-overs, or no longer wanted yarns to give away. They also do a lot of charity knitting, so you may find you can get yarn and patterns from them, as long as you return the finished item to them.
Many seniors homes get donations of extra yarns and you may get some from them, again if you make something for the home in exchange. All you have to do is ask in your area, and you will find more than enough yarn for all your projects.

hairbend October 16th, 2009 at 1:00 pm

Go to your local craft store and ask for donations? That is all I can think of to do. Personally I just make my rounds at the craft stores every couple of weeks and hit the sales, at hobby lobby I can regularly get skeens for 1.00 that normally go for 6.00. You can also look for online clearance sales, or go to overstock.com

blondiettc 4yrs and counting. October 16th, 2009 at 1:00 pm

Go to craiglist and post a wanted ad.
join freecycle.org in your area and check to see if anyone has any yarn.
Contact local yarn shops and craft stores to see what they do with any yarns they cannot sell and if they are willing to donate.

Nekhtet October 16th, 2009 at 1:42 pm

Salvation Army thrift store? ravel out old out of date sweaters and wash and reblock the yarn then crochet something new.
Any of the thrift stores have stuff you can remake into something new.

Miz Lamb October 16th, 2009 at 2:34 pm

Hi -
Here are some sites that I believe can be of great help to you!

Zen Knitting

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