January is National Mitten month (with good reason, it’s cold outside), and I thought we might try something a little different to celebrate. This month, AllFreeKnitting will be teaming up with Lion Brand to sponsor a mitten charity drive for Mittens for Detroit. Knitting and crocheting are wonderful skills that allow you to give back to your community. Given the record low temperatures we’ve been experiencing this year, there are plenty of people out there who could really use a new pair of mittens. Mittens for Detroit exists solely to provide new, unused mittens and gloves to those in need – both children and adults – in metro Detroit. By teaming with this wonderful charity, we are hoping to inspire more crafters to give back to the world.
How to Participate:
Our mitten charity drive will run from January 6 until February 14. Once you have finished your mittens, you can send them to the address below. Every pair of mittens will be greatly appreciated. Before shipping the finished mittens off to Detroit, we will select one donor to receive a gift package from Lion Brand Yarn.
Currently, Mittens for Detroit needs donations for adult men the most, but they will accept mittens of any size. If you would like to knit or crochet a pair of mittens for this wonderful charity, please be sure to follow the donation guidelines. If you are unable to create a pair of mittens for our charity drive at this time, please consider telling others about the charity drive to spread the word.
Not sure what pattern to use when you start your pair of mittens? Try out of these printable patterns:
Donation Guidelines:
- Easy-care yarn is the best for Mittens for Detroit. We will take any new, unused mittens, and knitters should keep in mind that some of the recipients may not have easy access to washers/dryers or easy situations for air-drying mittens/gloves. That is why easy-care yarn is the best.
- If mittens are for children under 3 years of age, embellishments should be limited for safety sake.
- Feel free to tuck a little note into your pair, and please attached the gloves together with yarn, not safety pins.
Ship Mittens to:
Prime Publishing
AllFreeKnitting Mitten Drive
3400 Dundee Rd #220
Northbrook, IL 60062
What You Could Win:
Worth over $50, this prize includes seven skeins of some of the most popular yarns created by Lion Brand, and represents only a small part of the company’s charitable activities. In 2013, Lion Brand was able to raise $1 million dollars for St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital. AllFreeKnitting is thrilled to partner with a company so committed to community involvement and support.
Contest Rules:
Contest open to US and Canada residents 18+
One comment/entry per person per blog post.
Contest closes February 14, 2014 at 11:59p CST.
Submit a donation to AllFreeKnitting of one pair of mittens.
One pair of mittens is equal to one entry; donating two mittens will be worth two entries, and so forth.
Winners will be posted on Stitch&Unwind.com and notified by email.
Are you going to make a pair of mittens?
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why not post a men’s size pattern if that is what is needed most?
Thank you for your suggestion! We have updated the post with a knitting pattern that can be made to a child, women, or men’s size.
Happy knitting!
I have some freinds who live up near the great lakes. The people up there definitely will be needing these! I’m making a pair right now ♡♥
Thank you, Samantha! It has been crazy cold so far this winter!
I live about an hour north of Detroit, and yes, we are so cold up here! There was one or two days this month that have been above 20 degrees, and way too many that have been below 0. Our schools have been cancelled more this year than any year since around 1982. It’s been too cold with the windchill for school.
Melissa – You’re not kidding! It has been so cold, and we have been getting mittens and gloves out IMMEDIATELY when we receive them. Stay warm! ~ Wendy, Mittens for Detroit
posting an easy men’s pattern would be great!! How about it?
My husband just died, but I am going to try to crochet at least 1 pair. I live in a city south of Detroit. We’ve just received over a foot of snow & the temps are below zero. My husband’s mother knitted literally hundreds of mittens over the years that were donated to Detroit needy. Not sure whether it was this specific charity, though.
Thank you, Mearla, for your generosity and kindness, especially at this time, with your husband’s passing. Yes, it has been a very difficult winter in Detroit.
Definitely going to make a pair or two/
Thank you, Carol!
I will surely make a pair maybe two. Here in Montréal, Qc, there are no charity drives like that, not that I know of anyway. So I will be glad to make a pair or two for you american people and even if I don’t win I still will be happy.
Merci beaucoup, Linda! Thank you from your Detroit neighbors!
Thank you for your wonderful contest – and thank you in advance to all of the knitters for your kindness and concern. We really appreciate your kindness and generosity.
I have crocheted 35 pairs of mittens this fall that have been donated to the needy in Monroe, Mich. I would love to get a new stash of yarn for the 2014 year.
Thank you, Lucy! Southeast Michigan sure has been frigid this winter – those 35 pairs have made it more bearable for the folks who received them!
Thank you, Lucy! Southeast Michigan sure has been hit hard this winter. The people who received your mittens in Monroe sure were a lot more comfortable because of your kindness!
I will be making some mittens for this worthy cause. I also live in Michigan and it sure is cold here! 🙂
Thank you, Norma! We Michiganders do take good care of each other!
I have already donate some mittens to this charity. They were very courteous, appreciative, and outgoing. I received a personal note . I will plan to knit more for this specfic group.
Hi, Emily! Thank you for your kind words. Your many mittens have been not only well-made and beautiful, they have already been given to Detroiters who I’m sure have had a much easier frozen January because of your kindness. Thank you again!
I have never knitted mittens/gloves, but am definitely going to try. Have wanted to knit, sew, crochet, quilt, whatever I could for charity, hospitals, etc. Am excited to participate in this one, would do it even without a contest. Thank you!!
Hi can people outside USA do mittens? I am in Austeralia .
Hello, Laureena –
Write directly to the contest and they will tell you how to send them directly to Mittens for Detroit. We sure can use all the mittens we can get! Thanks! ~ Wendy, Mittens for Detroit
I am disappointed, why USA and Canada residents only? Surely you would get more if you make this available to UK too!! I am saddened I cannot help
Hi, Sonia!
Write directly to the contest and they will tell you how to send them directly to Mittens for Detroit. We sure can use all the mittens we can get! Thanks! ~ Wendy, Mittens for Detroit
Thank you, Dale! I never made mittens before I became Mittens for Detroit’s executive director… and now I’m addicted to making mittens! I can’t stop! 🙂
Wouldn’t wool mittens be warmer. Is wool felted ok?
Hi, Jeannette –
Thank you for your question. The main reason we ask for other-than-wool is that the people who receive the mittens and gloves we distribute are often homeless or have limited access to the kind of care that wool requires. Wool felted mittens and gloves are great, although they do take longer to dry, especially when they are wet from exposure. Thanks for asking.
Thank you so much for this information. I make a lot of things for the nursing homes here in Ohio but now I have another project to do to help some more people. What a great idea.
Hi, Beverly – It’s great to hear from a neighbor! Thanks!
I will make a pair or maybe two. I run a mitten drive every year at our church to make mittens for children in the area. Has always been a wonderful feeling.
Thank you, Gloria!
I do lots of knitting and crocheting for charities and will definately make some for this mitten drive. So many times mittens are donated at Christmas time but warm mittens are needed through out the winter. I used to live in Michigan
Thank you, Alyce, from one Michigander to another!
I’m in! can definitely knock out a couple pair for y’all. We’ve had some darn cold days even down here in TN, I can only imagine how nasty it must get up Detroit way.
Thank you! While the weather gets nasty here in Detroit, the people sure are wonderful. If you follow the national weather, you may have seen how bitter, bitter cold it has been. We are in another deep freeze this week, so your generosity is greatly appreciated!
I have two pair completed and will get them mailed this week. What a wonderful cause! I have a knitting/crocheting group who meet at my house every week. I am going to tell them about Mittens for Detroit. More mittens will be coming.
Thank you, Alyce!
I was just looking for a place to mail my post Holiday extras!!
Thank you, Deborah!
how do you get entered into the drawing? is it when you sumbmit the mittens to the address listed?
Two pair are on their way.
Thank you!!!!
If anyone would like a 2 needle mitten pattern, infant thru men’s (Jack Frost 1955 book) let me know and I will email direct to you.
Hi, Barbara – People often ask me for 2 needle mitten patterns to make pairs for us, so I would love a copy! Thanks! Wendy@MittensForDetroit.org
Do you accept loom knit mittens? They use two strands of yarn and are very warm
Yes we do, Betty! Thanks!
I live north of Detroit. Can I sew polar fleece mittens if I don’t have time to knit some?
Hello, Neighbor!
You KNOW how cold it has been here – we are still collecting mittens, so please contact the contest directly so she can tell you how to send them! Thanks ~ Wendy, Mittens for Detroit
Mittens are on their way!
Thank you, Joanne!
Thank you to all of the kind and generous knitters who are taking part in this contest! It has been a horrific winter, with bitter cold and extremely dangerous wind chills. Schools have been closed, and those for whom gloves are a luxury have been particularly hard hit. Every pair you knit makes a difference. Thank you for effort and kindness. ~ Wendy, Executive Director, Mittens for Detroit
As always, all you have to do is ask! I find people are pretty terrific and want to help. The problem is we don’t know where the need is. So, thanks for asking. We are all better for helping each other.
Thank YOU, Jean!
I donated about 50 hats to local charities in our area before the holidays. I will try some mittens for Mittens for Detroit. Good luck. We have had a terribly cold winter here also.
Thank you, Evelyn! Stay warm!
This Mitten Drive was just the right thing to get me motivated to learn how to knit mittens! I was so proud of my first pair for a man that I made a second for a woman.
Thank you for the chance to share and I called mine Prayer Mittens!
Thank you so much, Emmie! Mittens for Detroit got me motivated to knit mittens, too! Now I’m addicted! ~ Wendy
I always have some yarn left over from a project, and that yarn ends up in mittens. Am glad to hear there is a place I can share the warmth of mittens and also warmth from my heart.
Will be sending them out soon.
Thank you, Josephine! Your kindness is so very much appreciated! ~ Wendy, Mittens for Detroit
I just found this and I want to participate. Thankfully I still have roughly a week left before this ends. I just crocheted 2 pair for my granddaughter. This will be fun crocheting an adult pair. Thank you for organizing this drive. I keep saying there are people in need in our own country that we need to care for!
Thank you, Susan! I am positive that your participation in this drive will make a difference. We all need to take care of each other! ~ Wendy, Mittens for Detroit
I’ve made my first pair of knitted & crochet mittens for this worthy project. I’ve inserted a message in each pair of mittens.
Is there an entry form available for submitting?
Thank you, Brigida!
I’ve just finished my first pair of mittens and will mail off tomorrow. Living near San Francisco I rarely experience the cold I’m seeing reported in other parts of the country, so hope this helps warm up a small corner. Now I know about this great cause I shall be making more in time for the next cold season.
Thank you, Margaret! You may get the fog… but this cold this year has been brutal. It has honestly been unrelenting since December. We are looking forward to the 3rd weekend in February, when they predict it will reach the low 30s. Thanks so much! ~ Wendy, Mittens for Detroit
Another pair of men’s Mittens for Detroit on their way tomorrow (2/10/14). Happy to help your mitten drive!
Thank you, JOANNE! 🙂 ~ Wendy, Mittens for Detroit
Mailed a pair of mens mittens yesterday.
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Thank you, Deborah! ~ Wendy, Mittens for Detroit
It is too bad that this effort is over for this year. Winter is certainly not over. At the rate Old Man Winter has been pounding the east and northeast, seems like it may certainly last a few more months. GEESH.
Hello, Alyce! You are right – this has been a rough winter in Detroit. Mittens for Detroit is a year-round nonprofit. We actually never stop collecting, although our collection season officially ends on 2/28. This allows us time to gather up all of the gloves and mittens that are being collected at 200 collection sites around Michigan (including 93 Starbucks stores!). Any pairs that are received after we have completed delivering to our 12 partner agencies are sorted and stored to start out next year’s deliveries (to start on 10/1). So, Alyce, if you want to send them to me now that the contest is over, please do! Thanks, Wendy – Mittens for Detroit
I mailed six pairs of mittens on 2/13. Hope it’s not too late for the contest. Regardless, I enjoyed making them and will be keeping the hands of six people warm.
Thank you, Carol! Your kindness and generosity will truly help. Thanks – Wendy, Mittens for Detroit
Are you still accepting mittens even though the contest is closed? I just finished my 1st pair (I just found this mittens for Detroit and wanted to help and I’m not a fast knitter.) Should I save them for another program such as this?
Joan
Hi Joan,
We would be happy to send on any mittens to Mittens for Detroit. You can also send submissions directly to MFD (since our contest is closed):
Mittens for Detroit
Attn: W. Shepherd
PO Box 448
Clawson, MI 48017-0448
Happy Knitting!
Editors of AllFreeKnitting