How to Keep From Losing Your Mind With Charity Knitting

Are you feeling a little overwhelmed with charity knitting? If so, here’s some help–you don’t have to quit!

No matter how much you love charity knitting, it’s possible to get overwhelmed.

It happens to me far more often than it should, especially after I’ve been working on this site for any length of time. Suddenly I find myself with a hundred different charities I want to help, a thousand knitting patterns I want to try, and three angry family members who want to eat dinner.

Does any of that sound familiar?

When I first discovered knitting for charity, it consumed my life. There are so many charities, so many amazing people dedicating their times and talents to helping others, so many in need. How, I wondered, could I possibly spend my time on anything but charity knitting?

If you’ve been there, of course, you know that the joy of charity knitting can have limits. When you do nothing but knit for charity, it can lose its appeal. You may also find that you’re facing angry friends and family members!

That’s why, over the years, I’ve developed some strategies for balancing knitting for charity with my own peace of mind. If you’re struggling with this as well, keep reading!

Maintaining Your Balance While Enjoying Charity Knitting

If you have an obsessive personality like I do, this may sound pretty familiar. And even if you don’t–I’ve heard some people can balance their other activities, friends, and overall lives with charity knitting!–some of these tips may apply to you.

Here are some lessons and tips I’ve learned over the years.

1. Remember that you are only one person. You can’t save the world by yourself. What you can do is make yourself part of a network of charity knitters, and together you can make a huge difference. Knitting one scarf won’t change the world, but if a thousand knitters each make a scarf, suddenly there’s a big impact.

Try not to look at your charity knitting activity as if you have to singlehandedly support each charity. Think of it this way instead: you’re part of a group, a team. Even if you’re not part of an actual knitting group, you are part of a network of charity knitters, possibly all over the world! Each of you has a part to play.

2. Focus on what you accomplish rather than what you don’t. I used to get frustrated because I couldn’t contribute to every charity knit organization I supported. Over the years, though, I’ve learned to contribute based on what I knit and who seems to need the most.

Sometimes I also make financial contributions, or donate old yarn. Anything I do helps, and beating myself up over not doing enough is pointless.

3. Take time for yourself and your family. If you’re snapping at everyone because you’re frustrated and exhausted, you’re not doing anyone any favors. Don’t get so caught up in taking care of strangers that you forget to take care of the people closest to you. And that goes for you, too.

4. Don’t forget why you started knitting. Has your knitting stopped being fun? Has it stopped relaxing you? Has it become just another job? If so, it may be time for a break. There’s nothing like knitting for charity, but when those knitting patterns remind you of your tax returns, you’re working too hard.

Sometimes, this can be as simple as setting down the needles for a bit and doing something else you enjoy. Other times, you may need to reevaluate the current project you’re working on; sometimes the project is causing the issue. There’s no point in continuing to knit a project if it’s no longer enjoyable!

Knitters are selfless, giving people–sometimes to a fault! Don’t get caught up in self-recriminations if your knitting isn’t bringing you the joy it once did. Thank yourself for what you do, and learn to love charity knitting all over again.

Are you struggling with overwhelm in your charity knitting? You might want to consider signing up for my free email course, “Getting Started with Charity Knitting.” You’ll learn how to find the joy in your charity knitting–perhaps for the first time. Sign up here!