Donation Opportunities for Handmade Hats

There are so many great ways to give back by making hats & caps I wanted to share a post just about that! Almost all of these organizations will provide you will free patterns and instructions to work with for your donated items as well.

From their website, 

"Click for Babies is a grassroots initiative to collaborate with knitters and crocheters across North American to make PURPLE caps for babies. 

The initiative is being organized by the National Center on Shaken Baby Syndrome (NCSBS) in partnership with invited organizations in an effort to prevent infant abuse, namely Shaken Baby Syndrome/Abusive Head Trauma and educate caregivers about the Period of PURPLE Crying."

You can also find CLICK on facebook and twitter. 

 From their website,

 "Calvin’s Hats is a non-profit organization that represents volunteers dedicated to bringing healing, comfort, and peace to grieving parents of babies born too early. All supplies and labor are donated and there is no charge to recipients."

 There is also a new facebook page called Healing Heart Headwear concentrating on hats and headbands made for babies born with congenital heart defects.

Another great organization using hats to make a huge difference in the lives of many is Hats for Hunger

They can also be found on facebook.

Additionally, you can check out these other caring organizations,

Hats of Comfort

Caps for a Cure

Chemo Caps

Hats 4 the Homeless

So if you get on a hat making kick, just know, they can be used in a BIG way to make a difference in the lives of others all around the world! 

Oh yea, and Tricia from Busy Mom Designs has a little bonus offering going on over at her facebook page! It's called "Crochet-it-Forward" and if you donate a crocheted hat between now and Sept. 26th for donation she's offering you one of her darling patterns FREE!!!
Get all the details on the Busy Mom facebook page here,

Good Stuff!!!

Softies - Craft Book Month Sewing

Craft Buds is one of my favorite crafty blogs to follow!
They provide lots of great information, fun ideas and link ups, I find myself visiting all throughout the week! This month they are hosting a "Craft Book Month" to encourage you to actually USE all those great crafting books you buy. Yes, you know the ones...the ones stacked neatly covered in dust & thread clippings, somewhere in your crafty space! ;) Additionally, you can enter to win a bunch of great prizes if you take on the challenge. Narrowing down which book and project to do may be a greater challenge though!

Here's my contribution.
THE BOOK: softies - Simple Instructions for 25 Plush Pals
I found this book, complete with all the patterns at my favorite local used bookstore for half price! There are lots of cute projects (and a few really strange ones!) and I'm sure I'll use it again. The kiddos all had a great time picking out which one was their favorite, so perhaps a few softie stocking stuffers on in my future.

THE PROJECT: These darling paper doll dress ornaments!
I love them! My girls always like to decorate their room, their way for Christmas, so I thought this would be the perfect addition to their fun!

THE PROCESS: These were really simple to make and the possibilities are endless! My girls even had these adorable little hangers from one of their Klutz books, so we didn't have to make the hangers. The book includes instructions for making cute, little curly wire hangers that do add a nice touch though, so I probably give them a try next time.

We blinged out each dress just the way we wanted it, then I stitched the sides while we watched a movie last night. Then, the part that makes them qualify for the "softie" title I suppose....we stuffed them with a bit of polyfil to add a little dimension. NOTE: be careful how you stuff or they will all become maternity style paper doll dresses....which is fine if that's what you're going for, but not exactly what we were this time. ;)

THE PRODUCT: A delightful collection of tiny dress ornaments ready for holiday decorating! 

We were very pleased with how they turned out! I'm sure we will make more too!
I imagine these will become a dress shop for their Barbies.

 So, if you have a craft book you've been thinking about using, make sure to visit Craft Buds and get the scoop on how to enter your creation in their fun this month!

Sharing at:
SewHappyGeek
Beneath the Rowan Tree
The Southern Institute
Quiltstory Fabric Tuesday
Someday Crafts 
Decor To Adore 
So Very Creative
Southern Lovely
Sugar & Spice @ 733 
Let's Sew! @Whimsy Couture

Layette - Baby Caps

To top off any layette you need Baby Caps!

I've collected a few free tutorials to share with you, so all you have to do is pick your favorite one....that may not be as easy as it sounds either....LOOK HOW CUTE!!!

 Offers the pattern & tutorial for this precious, easy-to-make Knot Hat.

Offers this sweet & simple knit cap tutorial.

 Offers this perfectly adorable Ruffle Bonnet.

 Or how about this insanely cute crochet option from Busy Mom Designs? 

Oh how she makes me wish I had already mastered the art of crochet!

And of course the ever crafty MarthaStewart.com
offers a variety of fleece hat tutorials.

Have fun!  

Contest to support Dress A Girl!

Check out this fun contest over at Sew Delightful to support Dress a Girl Around the World!

Entries being accepted through October 15th!
A fun way to support a great outreach!

source

Every stitch matters!!!

Lily Bird Studio WINNER!

Thanks to all the entrants in this great giveaway!

It was a lot of fun seeing what everyone's favorite pattern was from Lily Bird Studio, as I have so many favorites from her shop!

Today the random number generator has smiled upon lucky #41 which was hueisei!

Her favorite pattern was the Spring Dress!

Congratulations!

Watch your email (or spam) for a message from me so I can put you in contact with Cecilia so she can send you your free pattern!

Thanks again Lily Bird Studio for offering this giveaway at Hopeful Threads!

I love your designs and was honored to have you!

Special Announcement! Create H.O.P.E. Designs!

I am soooooo very excited to share this news with you!!!!
Create H.O.P.E. Designs now has their first patterns available for purchase
to support China Little Flower!!!

We have been following this project closely, just waiting for the opportunity to share with you!

We also had the unexpected privilege of providing a special PDF tutorial to support this project,
the A+ Art Portfolio!

This creation came to be out of necessity and to be able to share it with Create H.O.P.E. Designs is a real blessing to me!
If you follow Hopeful Threads on facebook, you probably saw me working with this fabric last month. It was a special project for my delightfully artistic daughter's birthday. I had the exact picture of what I wanted to make her to store all of her painting/art supplies, but couldn't find a pattern/tutorial to make it. So....I made one myself!
It has laminate fabric on the inside so her wet brushes won't soil her portfolio.

 With plenty of additional storage pockets and carrying handles so she can take it with her wherever she finds her inspiration!

This easy-to-follow, step-by-step tutorial is packed with colorful pictures to guide you through the entire process. And I am of course here if you have any questions! Just email!
It's ONLY $5 and all the proceeds go to support the amazing work of China Little Flower!

Home sewers are more than welcome to sell products made using the A+ Art Portfolio tutorial as well....if you do, it'd be really great if you could offer a portion of the proceeds back to China Little Flower to show your continued support and gratitude!

So take a minute to hop over to Create H.O.P.E. Designs and check out the first round of patterns available for purchase!

You'll be glad you did!

Each purchase is making a difference in the life of a precious child in need!

Kathy's Lace & Elastic Outlet Giveaway!!!

Oh boy! Oh boy!!! I just love giveaways! :)

And this is a super fun one because it includes SURPRISES!

**GIVEAWAY CLOSED NOW**

Kathy's Lace & Elastic Outlet is giving one lucky Hopeful Threads follower a surprise package full of $30 worth of sewing supplies! That's right! She carries all kinds of great things like lace, fold-over elastic, lingerie elastic, fabric, buttons, zippers...and your package could include any assortment of the goodies she has on hand!

Here's a glimpse at a few of the treasures in her shop right now...

Unique Prints & Colors of Plush Fold-Over Elastics

 Like I used to trim my Kimono Gowns!

Gorgeous Lingerie Lace

Loads of colorful Stretch Lace

  Like I used for my Stretch Lace Headband Tutorial!

Camel Buff Double Sided Minky

Playful Cotton Prints

 You can find Kathy's shops on ebay, etsy and Artfire, so she's got you covered wherever you like to shop! And you will soon see her prices and selection are hard to beat!

All you have to do to enter for your chance at this generous $30 surprise gift is...

•  Be a follower of Hopeful Threads
• Visit any of Kathy's shops listed above and comment on which item(s) you find most interesting!

**ONE ENTRY PER PERSON**

**GIVEAWAY CLOSED NOW**

Giveaway open to US addresses only. Winner will be announced here, Thursday, September 22nd. MAKE SURE TO LEAVE A WAY FOR ME TO CONTACT YOU   

Winner will have 48 hours to respond or an alternate winner will be selected....that's no fun, so please don't make me have to do that. :)

***Please make sure you are following the entry guidelines otherwise your comment will not be counted and will be removed.***

Thanks so much to Kathy's Lace & Elastic Outlet for providing such great products and offering this generous giveaway!

Have fun & good luck!!!

**GIVEAWAY CLOSED NOW**