donate/yarn care

 

🧶 Local (Wichita, Kansas) Donation Options (where nifty crafty corner with yah is based)

1. Wesley Medical Center – NICU / Cancer Center

• They often accept baby blankets, hats, and comfort shawls for patients.

• 📞 Call Volunteer Services first: (316) 962-2100

• Ask if they’re currently accepting handmade donations.

2. Via Christi Hospitals (Ascension)

• Their volunteer office usually takes prayer shawls, chemo caps, and blankets.

• 📞 Volunteer Services: (316) 268-5178

3. Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice

• They welcome comfort shawls, lap blankets, and hats for hospice patients.

• 📞 (316) 265-9441

• 🏠 313 S. Market St, Wichita, KS

4. Union Rescue Mission / Harbor House (Domestic Violence Shelter)

• Accept warm handmade items for men, women, and children in need.

• 📞 (316) 687-4673 (Mission) / (316) 263-6000 (Harbor House)

5. Wichita Children’s Home

• Accepts handmade baby blankets, hats, and comfort items for youth.

• 📞 (316) 684-6581

6. Local Churches

• Many churches have prayer shawl ministries or outreach programs.

• You can ask to donate directly or join their ministry group.

7. Senior Centers / Nursing Homes

• Most appreciate lap blankets and shawls for residents.
  Try:

• Linwood Senior Center (316-263-3703)

• La Familia Senior Center (316-267-1700)

8. Bridget's Cradles 

     * Home - bridgetscradles.com

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🌍 Online & National Programs (You Can Mail To)

1. Project Linus

• Collects handmade blankets for children in hospitals, shelters, or foster care.

• 📦 They have a Wichita Chapter!

  • Email: wichita.ks@projectlinus.net

  • Website: www.projectlinus.org

2. Knots of Love

• Takes chemo caps and NICU blankets.

• Website: www.knotsoflove.org

3. Warm Up America

• Accepts blankets, squares, scarves, and hats mailed in.

• Website: www.warmupamerica.org

4. Operation Gratitude

• Accepts handmade hats and scarves for deployed troops and veterans.

• Website: www.operationgratitude.com/volunteer/handmade-items

5. The Magic Yarn Project

• Makes soft, character-themed wigs for children with cancer.

• You can crochet or knit “bases” and mail them in.

• Website: www.themagicyarnproject.com

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For pets: 

🏠 Local Wichita Pet Shelters & Rescues

🐶 Kansas Humane Society (KHS)

• They love receiving handmade blankets, toys, and pet beds for cats and dogs.

• They use them in kennels to comfort animals waiting for adoption.

• 📞 (316) 524-9196

• 📍 3313 N. Hillside St, Wichita, KS

• Website: kshumane.org

• Tip: Call first to confirm current needs (sometimes they have plenty and pause donations temporarily).

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🐱 Wichita Animal Shelter

• Run by the city; often appreciates blankets and towels for cats and dogs.

• 📞 (316) 350-3366

• 📍 3303 N. Hillside, Wichita, KS

• Ask for the volunteer coordinator or donation office.

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🐕 Beauties and Beasts, Inc.

• A local foster-based rescue for dogs and cats.

• Handmade blankets and soft toys are very welcome for fosters and animals recovering from trauma.

• 📧 contact@beautiesandbeasts.org

• Website: beautiesandbeasts.org

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🐾 Kansas K-9 ResQ

• A foster-based dog rescue; soft blankets are often used for comfort and transport.

• 📧 kansask9resq@ksk9resq.org

• Website: ksk9resq.org

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🌍 National or Mail-In Pet Craft Programs

🧶 Snuggles Project (by Hugs for Homeless Animals)

• One of the original programs that connects crafters with animal shelters needing handmade “snuggle blankets.”

• You can crochet, knit, or sew them and either find a local partner shelter or mail them directly.

• Website: www.snugglesproject.org

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🐾 Comfort for Critters

• Accepts crocheted and knitted blankets for shelters across the U.S.

• You can donate locally (they have partner shelters in Kansas) or mail in blankets.

• Website: www.comfortforcritters.org

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🐕‍🦺 Best Friends Animal Society

• National organization that takes donations for their sanctuary animals and adoption centers.

• Website: bestfriends.org

• They often post donation drives that include handmade blankets or pet beds.

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✨ Tips for Pet Donations

• Use washable yarn — acrylic or cotton are best (no wool, it can felt or irritate).

• Avoid loose loops or embellishments pets could chew on.

• Sizes that work well:

• Small: 12" x 12" (cats, small dogs)

• Medium: 24" x 24"

• Large: 36" x 36" or more

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🧺 Yarn Cleaning & Care Guidelines

🧶 1. Acrylic Yarn

Most common for donations

• ✅ Machine washable & dryable.

• Use warm water, gentle cycle, and low or medium heat in the dryer.

• Avoid high heat (it can make acrylic stiff or melt slightly).

• 💡 Tip: Perfect for blankets, hats, and pet items — durable and easy-care.

Label Example:

Machine wash warm, tumble dry low. Do not iron.

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🐑 2. Wool (and Wool Blends)

• ⚠️ Check the label: “Superwash wool” is machine washable, but regular wool is hand wash only.

• Regular wool:

  • Hand wash in cool water with mild detergent or wool wash.

  • Gently squeeze, don’t wring.

  • Lay flat to dry.

• Superwash wool:

  • Machine wash cold, gentle cycle, dry flat.

Label Example:

Hand wash cold, lay flat to dry. Do not wring or tumble dry.

💡 Note: Avoid wool for pet or hospital donations — it can irritate sensitive skin and isn’t always easily washable.

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🌿 3. Cotton

• ✅ Machine washable, but can shrink or lose shape in high heat.

• Wash in cold or warm water, gentle cycle.

• Tumble dry low or lay flat.

• 💡 Tip: Great for dishcloths, summer hats, or baby items (breathable & soft).

Label Example:

Machine wash cold, tumble dry low or lay flat.

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🐐 4. Alpaca, Angora, Mohair (Luxury Fibers)

• ❌ Not for donation use (too delicate and often not washable).

• Hand wash cold with gentle detergent.

• Do not wring or twist.

• Lay flat to dry, reshape gently.

Label Example:

Hand wash cold, reshape, and lay flat to dry.

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🧵 5. Polyester or Nylon Blends

• ✅ Very durable and easy to wash.

• Machine wash warm, tumble dry low or medium.

• Don’t use high heat (can cause pilling or sheen loss).

Label Example:

Machine wash warm, tumble dry low. Do not bleach.

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🐾 6. Yarn for Pet Items

• Always use machine-washable acrylic or cotton.

• Avoid wool, mohair, and novelty yarns (pets chew and swallow fibers easily).

• Wash and dry on hot if possible (kills fleas or allergens).

Label Example:

Machine wash hot, tumble dry low. Pet-safe yarn.

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🧼 Quick Reference Table

Yarn Type	Wash Temp	Drying Method	Notes
Acrylic	Warm	Tumble dry low	Durable, soft
Cotton	Cold/Warm	Low heat or flat	May shrink
Wool (regular)	Cool	Lay flat	Hand wash only
Superwash Wool	Cold	Flat or gentle dry	Machine safe
Polyester/Nylon	Warm	Low/medium dry	Long-lasting
Alpaca/Mohair	Cold	Lay flat	Delicate
Pet-safe Acrylic	Hot	Low dry	Best for shelters

TAGS: 

🏷️ 1. Simple Care Tag (for any item)

Handmade with Love 💛

Care Instructions:
🧺 Machine wash warm, gentle cycle
🌬️ Tumble dry low
🚫 Do not bleach or iron

Thank you for giving this item a loving home.

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🧶 2. Acrylic Yarn Tag (most common for donations)

Handmade with Love 💛

Yarn Type: 100% Acrylic

Care:
• Machine wash warm, gentle cycle
• Tumble dry low or lay flat
• Do not bleach or iron

Durable, soft, and easy to clean!

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🌿 3. Cotton Yarn Tag

Made Especially for You 🌷

Yarn Type: 100% Cotton

Care:
• Machine wash cold or warm
• Tumble dry low or lay flat to dry
• Do not bleach

Soft, breathable, and washable for everyday comfort.

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🐾 4. Pet Blanket / Toy Tag

Comfort for Critters 🐾

Handmade with love for a furry friend.

Yarn Type: Acrylic (Pet-Safe)

Care:
• Machine wash hot
• Tumble dry low
• No bleach or fabric softener

May this blanket bring warmth, safety, and love.