Finding a Charity

• 1). Check yarn company websites for any links to charities they recommend or support. The Lion Brand Yarn company has a database of charities where you can search by state or area of interest, such as preemie. See Resources for the link.
  
  
• 2). Check knitting magazine websites such as CreativeKnittingMagazine.com, KnitSimpleMag.com or InterweaveKnits.com. These magazines often feature articles about charities and as part of that feature they include links and additional information for contacting the charity on their website.
  
  
• 3). Contact your local hospital to find out what their policies are for accepting handmade gifts.
  
  
• 4). Contact your local social services department to find out if they have any programs that collect hand knit items for preemies in need.
  
  
• 5). Ask your church if they have any charity programs that could use your hand knit preemie items.
  
  

Knitting the Preemie Item

• 1). Browse knitting magazines or knitting magazine websites for preemie patterns to use if you aren't good at designing your own patterns for preemie items.
  
  
• 2). Check yarn company websites for free patterns for preemie items.
  
  
• 3). Check the website for the charity you wish to donate to for any free patterns. Often they have at least one to help donors get started or to serve as inspiration and show knitters what sort of items they need the most.
  
  
• 4). Choose a yarn that will be kind to the delicate skin of preemie babies and is unlikely to cause an allergic reaction. Acrylic or 100% cotton are better choices than wool or another animal fiber, for example.
  
  
• 5). Complete the hand knit preemie item according to the pattern directions.
  
  
• 6). Wrap the item in unscented tissue paper, pack it for shipping and send it to the charity organization of your choice.