10 Tips for Raising Money by Sewing for Charity

by Lynne Garner in Philanthropy, April 16, 2009

If you can sew then use this skill to help your favourite good cause. Here are 10 simple tips that will help you help others.

Basically there are two ways your sewing can help a charity. Firstly you could pick a charity that is in need of specific items such as clothing for premature babies or beds for kittens and puppies and sew these items. Alternatively you could make items which can be sold in aid of your favourite charity and raise much needed funds. What follows are a few tips which will help you create items quickly and easily and allow you to have fun at the same time.

Tip one:

Choose an item that is a quick make and takes a limited amount of fabric.

Tip two:

Convert items into other items for example pop along to the local charity/thrift shop and pick up a few shirts and turn into a peg bag or into a stunning cushion cover and sell for a huge profit.

Tip three:

Save yourself time and plan your make perhaps cutting everything out first, then tacking followed by sewing and pressing.

Tip four:

Make an event of it and get together with friends and have a chat as you sew.

Tip five:

When sewing items required by a charity check your chosen charities guidelines first. They may require an item a particular size or made from a certain fabric. For example beds for animals should not be made from looped fabric such as towelling as this may catch claws.

Tip six:

Pick fabrics which are easily washed and will not shrink.

Tip seven:

When making toys for children (or animals) ensure features are either safety or hand embroidered and use a good quality fire retardant filling.

Tip eight:

Finish all raw edges to improve the longevity of your item.

Tip nine:

Put a call out with your family members and close friends for supplies, you’ll be amazed what people will have stashed away and will be willing to donate.