Knitting is no longer just for grandmothers. According to Betsy Greer, who wrote Knitting for Good, crafts and activism naturally go hand-in-hand. In her book, she discusses how knitting links us to other human beings. It builds communities.

It’s not about who writes the biggest check. It’s  about wanting to help others feel special, cared for, or simply warm.

That’s always nice, right?

In the summer of 2007, one of my former professors stopped teaching Freshman English and started a yarn shop with an emphasis on charitable organizations such as Knitting for Noggins, Warm Up America, Project Linus, and the Prayer Shawl Ministry. Since this time, locals have donated countless hand-knitted goods to people in need throughout the country. And you should too, because I said so.

To learn more about the history of textiles and why making things instead of buying them makes you an awesome person, click here. To learn more about craftivism, click here.