Shawls for Charity Drive 2024

AllFreeCrochet and AllFreeKnitting love making a difference through knit and crochet. We've hosted a number of different charity drives in the past, and we are excited to announce our next charity initiative -- Shawls for Charity!

From February 1st to March 31st, 2024, we will be collecting your crochet and knit shawls, scarves, and blankets to donate to JourneyCare.

JourneyCare Hospice is the largest provider of palliative, supportive, and end-of-life care in Illinois. JourneyCare works with a broad range of hospitals, senior and assisted-living facilities, nursing homes and clinical practices in the Chicagoland area including Rush University Medical Center, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, University of Chicago Medicine, and more. Read our interview with JourneyCare here!

Our Mission

By crocheting or knitting a shawl for someone in need, you will be helping provide a bit of comfort to those who need it most. The shawls provide patients with warmth and a comforting embrace during difficult times. It lets them know that someone cares and it gives them hope of recovery and peace.

Something so simple can be the brightest thing that has happened to an individual facing a serious illness in some time.

That's where you come in, knitters and crocheters!

We need your help in providing patients at JourneyCare with knit and crochet shawls. Whether you work up a quick and simple one-color shawl or channel all the brightness of a rainbow into your design, think warm thoughts of peace and hope while you do it. Once you finish your design, send it directly to JourneyCare! They will be distributing your knit and crochet shawls to individuals in their care.

Recently a family divided a prayer blanket in four so they could all have a keepsake after their loved one passed. Your donations make a difference!

When Is the Charity Drive?

The 2024 Charity Shawl Drive will take place February 1st through March 31st.

What Are the Requirements?

We really couldn’t have made it easier! Knit or crochet a shawl, scarf, or blanket big enough to comfort someone, and weave a few warm and healing thoughts or prayers into it as you work. Then, box it up and send it to JourneyCare.

A few other things to keep in mind:

Make sure the shawl, scarf, or blanket is big enough to wrap around someone who may be sitting in a wheelchair or lying in a hospital bed.
Please avoid wool and other exotic yarns as these may cause allergic reactions. We recommend cotton or acrylic yarns.
Unisex shawls, scarves, or blankets are great so JourneyCare can give to men as well. Approximately half of JourneyCare's patients are males.
Read about some other nice-to-haves in our interview with JourneyCare here.
Optional -- include a short note with your donation! Many patients like to know who made the shawl for them, so be sure to add your first name and where you're from.

Here's an example of one of the beautiful donations:

An American flag blanket donated to a JourneyCare patient

Where Do I Send My Shawl?

Please send your shawls to:

JourneyCare Hospice
1717 Deerfield Rd
Deerfield, IL 60015
Attn: Chaplain Tim

Help! I've Never Knitted a Shawl Before

Never fear! Watch this video below to learn how to knit a super easy shawl that only takes eight hours to complete and can be done by even the most novice knitter.

Get The Full Pattern Here