Sewing for Charity

Sewing for charity is a wonderful way to give back to the community. Many organizations around the world welcome handmade items, such as quilts, clothing, or accessories. Madam Sew is very proud of the large and very vibrant community we built over the years: the two Facebook groups, our following on Instagram and YouTube. We love to see the interaction and learn from all of you. Among all those sewists and quilters many love to sew for charity.

Because we also want to give and use our knowledge and community for the good cause, we decided to support specific charity organizations and encourage our customers and other sewers and quilters to join us. This year we challenged you all to make pillowcases for Ryan’s Case For Smiles. And you delivered and made a lot of pillowcases for children with life-changing illness! We received 1.258 pillowcases in our PO Box we set up for this challenge!!! Thank you sooo much for this!! You are wonderful!

On top of that Madam Sew donated 1.258 dollars, 1 dollar per received pillowcase, to Ryan’s Case For Smiles. If you take a look on their website you will see that the money they receive is well spent.

In 2021 our community made 3000 sanitary pads for Pachamama, an international organization that fights period poverty for women in refugee situations. My colleague Krista met with someone of the organization in Washington to hand over all the pads that were made by the Madam Sew sewing and quilting community. So heartwarming to see!

Of course you can still support both Ryan’s Case for Smiles and Pachamama by sending them pillowcases and pads directly. Go to their website and find out how to send them what you made.

• What they accept: Handmade pillowcases.
• Who they help: Children with life-changing illnesses.
• Website: Ryan's Case for Smiles

• What they accept: Handmade sanitary pads
• Who they help: Children with life-changing illnesses.
• Website: Pachamama

We listed ten other charity organizations that accept hand sewn goods from volunteers all over the world. Click to the different websites, do some reading and make sure their values align with your own.

• What they accept: Handmade blankets (quilts, afghans, fleece blankets).
• Who they help: Children who are seriously ill, traumatized, or otherwise in need.
• Website: Project Linus, direct link to blanket patterns 

• What they accept: Handmade dresses.
• Who they help: Girls in need around the world, often in impoverished communities.
• Website: Dress a Girl Around the World

• What they accept: Handmade dresses, shorts, and sanitary pads.
• Who they help: Children in Africa and other developing countries.
• Website: Little Dresses for Africa, direct link to dress pattern instructions and printables

• What they accept: Handmade quilts.
• Who they help: Veterans and service members touched by war.
• Website: Quilts of Valor Foundation, quilt patterns and instructions

• What they accept: Reusable feminine hygiene kits (sewn items like pads and holders).
• Who they help: Women and girls in developing countries.
• Website: Days for Girls

• What they accept: Hand-sewn purses.
• Who they help: Schoolgirls in Zambia, helping them manage their menstrual hygiene and stay in school.
• Website: Sew Powerful

• What they accept: Handmade blankets, hats, and other baby items.
• Who they help: Premature infants and their families.
• Website: The Tiny Miracles Foundation

• What they accept: Handmade capes and pillowcases
• Who they help: Children and mothers in shelters
• Website: https://enchantedmakeovers.org/

• What they accept: Handmade pet blankets
• Who they help: Pets in shelters across the US
• Website: https://comfortforcritters.org/

• What they accept: Handmade dolls and bears
• Who they help: Children in crisis situations
• Website: https://www.dollsofhope.org/

The organizations listed above provide patterns, guidelines, and instructions to help you contribute. It's always a good idea to check their specific requirements before starting a project to ensure your handmade items meet their needs.

If you know a specific charity organization that you would like to share with our community, you can share the name and website in the comments below.

And a big thank you for being such a wonderful community of crafters with a big heart!

Love you all! Happy Sewing!

An
Blogging for MadamSew.com