Charity Update and Crocheting for Myself

Posted on: 2025.11.18 // Tagged: crochet art

"What’s the difference between arts and crafts, one might ask? To me: intention."

Charity Update

As I’ve mentioned before, the charity grind continues until December 1! I’m somewhat tempted to go beyond that date just to use up some odd skeins in my stash and be done with them, but I’ll be honest: I’m burning out on charity stuff. More on that later though.

Recently, I finished a third batch of Camino Beanies.

And to mix things up, I’ve been making some simple, striped scarves with scrap yarn. These are really great to make when you’ve got a lot of small scraps of coordinating colors. The formula is simple:

1. Make a foundation chain that is the desired length of your scarf.
2. Half double crochet (hdc) across. Ch1 and turn.
3. Continue working hdc across each row until desired scarf width is achieved. Change colors at the end of your rows to create stripes.
4. To finish, single crochet (sc) evenly around to make neat, straight edges and corners. Bind off and weave in ends. Done!

Hdc works great for striped scarves because it's an airy stitch that adds drape and is simple enough in texture to let the colors shine. Working a scarf lengthwise like this also feels less tedious, and the final result is more swishy (to me, at least!). If you want to go above and beyond, you can also add pom-poms, tassels, or fringe to the ends, but I skipped that step for these scarves because they’re donate-ables and decorative trim requires more care when washing.

That all said, here is my current tally, including all the stuff I’ve made earlier this year:

• 10 Hats (8 adult hats and 2 child hats)
• 3 Scarves (soon to be 4!)
• 1 Shawl
• 4 Blankets (1 baby blanket, 1 lap blanket, and 2 adult sized blankets)

December and Beyond: Making for Myself and Crochet as Art

I started recording my charity grind when I started this blog in September, but in actuality, this grind has been going since January!

Blankets are my bread-and-butter when it comes to crochet. I love making them, and I love designing them. However, I’m not a blanket person. I’m not the type to have a blanket for every room, every season, or in every color or pattern—not that there’s anything wrong with that! I’m just a minimalist when it comes to housewares. I only want enough. So I have six blankets total, excluding bed comforters, and they all have a specific place and purpose in my home.

But the blankets I make have to go somewhere… so I give them away! I donate them (and any winter garments made from the leftover yarn) to a charity organization, where they find their way to hospitals, retirement communities, shelters, or foster homes. I’ve been doing this since 2022. My mother has fervently insisted that I sell them, but the cost of materials and my months of labor for each blanket would mean an astronomical price tag. More than I think most average folks would be willing to pay for a blanket. And, honestly, I don’t think I have the energy or spirit to manage a business on top of my regular life responsibilities. Your hobbies don’t have to be a hustle.

That said, this is my third year of charity blankets, and I’m feeling a bit exhausted. I’ve enjoyed it, I have no regrets, I feel proud of what I’ve achieved, and I don’t plan on stopping. I do, however, feel like I’m ready for something new. I need a challenge!

I’ve been toying with the idea of exploring crochet as an art form for a couple years now. What’s the difference between arts and crafts, one might ask? To me: intention.

It’s one thing to make something functional, fashionable, or cute, like a blanket, sweater, or plushie. It’s another thing to make something out of pure experimentation and exploration. To me, making art is making something to answer a question. What if I made this out of this? What if I changed this? What if I made this very small? Very big? What if I did this in a completely different way? Or the "wrong" way? You can assign meaning in the end—if at all—but the important part is following your curiousity.

That all said, my plan after December 1 is to crochet for myself. I want to level up my skills. I want to spend more time on complex, difficult projects. I want to try patterns from vintage books and patterns that aren't in English. I want to follow in the footsteps of Alexandria Masse, Lorna and Jill Watt, and Will Chatlosh. I want to explore the medium and pursue some of the questions I've had in my mind for years.

My charity crochet will continue, just not at the pace I've been going over the past three years. I think it's finally time try something new.