Knit The Rainbow
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Knit The Rainbow is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization based in New York City. At least 40% of the homeless youth in New York City identify as LGBTQ+. Knit the Rainbow works to empower and protect these youth by providing them with handmade knit & crochet winter clothing accessories. Knit the Rainbow (KtR) is the first organization of its kind in the United States, providing thousands of hand-made winter garments a year for homeless LGBTQ+ Youth. Our programs are dedicated to giving these youth a warm and fashionable protective layer of clothing that is imperative to their comfort and survival during harsh winter months.
what are we crafting?
Item Requested | Craft Type | Quantity Requested | Quantity Still Needed |
|---|---|---|---|
Winter Earwarmer | Knit/Crochet | 150 | 54 |
Winter Fingerless Gloves | Knit/Crochet | 100 | 79 |
project must-knows
2023
Begin shipping Sept. 15th
We are excited to help again this year and have a goal to send 200 items. Our focus this year is on wristers (fingerless gloves) and earwarmers as these are the two items that they say are the hardest for them to get and the ones they need the most.
The following information comes directly from Austin Rivers, Founder of KtR. While you are welcome to use any color yarn for your projects, we are not literally "knitting the rainbow". LGBTQIA+ youth living on the streets are trying to blend in. They have been thrown out of their homes for their sexuality or gender identity. They don't want a rainbow on their body to further target them on the streets.
Also, while unsheltered, they have little access to wash their clothing, so dirt shows. We recommend for these two reasons, using darker color yarns that will allow these youth to blend in to their surroundings and also retain dignity by not having dirt show.
Dark greys, dark blue, navy, forest greens, dark purple, black. Variegated yarns in this color family are strongly recommended. While we won't "forbid" yarns of other colors, we hope you can see why we suggest these colors.
Washable wools and acrylic are okay for this project.
While our focus is on fingerless gloves and headbands/earwarmers, they are accepting the following items during their winter collection and we hope you will consider sending in any items you have made:
Hats
Scarves
Socks
Neck Warmers/Cowls
Sweaters
Gloves
Scoodies
Earwarmers+++
Fingerless Gloves+++
+++Our focus this year
You can send a tiny heart with your project, but please don't send seperate tiny hearts.
cowls - scarves - scoodies
fingerless gloves/mittens - earwarmers/headbands
hats and hearts
shipping guidelines
Knit The Rainbow accepts packages anytime you are ready to ship them. We recommend working on multiple items and collecting enough garments at home and putting together a box or poly bag full prior to shipping so you have a full box, winters are long in NYC, there is time!
Okay to ship beginning September 15, 2023!
Ship to:
Knit the Rainbow, Inc.
456 W 167th St
Unit 1D
New York, Ny 10032
If your box will cost you more than $20 to ship, Knit the Rainbow is partnered with Give Back Box to get you a $20 UPS label from Give Back Box and ship up to 50 pounds and 108" in girth. After you receive your label, please immediately email Monika info@givebackbox.com and ask for a "fresh" label with an unused tracking number. You will get a new label in 1-2 days. This is the label you should use.