Virtual Knitting Programs

In an effort to provide service to those who are isolated or immunocompromised, Project Knitwell hosts two virtual community initiatives: Knitwell in the Cloud and K2Tog.

Through Knitwell in the Cloud, Project Knitwell instructors teach knitting — one-on-one — to individuals who are affiliated with our program sites (e.g., hospitals & community settings). In this way, we are able to continue our mission of teaching knitting to those in stressful situations, via the Zoom platform. We are teaching patients, program participants, staff, and families. To join Knitwell in the Cloud, please complete our student registration form.

K2Tog are online social knitting groups and workshops for knitters of all abilities, hosted on the Zoom platform. While not an instructional program, Project Knitwell instructors host and participate in the sessions and can answer questions and share tips and ideas. It is a great place for all knitters and serves as a wonderful next program for students who “graduate” from Knitwell in the Cloud. Join our mailing list to get notified of future sessions.

Knitting in Person at Hospital and Community Sites

Project Knitwell volunteers teach a wide, diverse population of adolescents, seniors, cancer patients, caregivers, medical professionals, teachers, refugees, special needs students, and others at various school and community sites. Since 2010, we began knitting at our foundation site at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital (MGUH) and since then have worked in various units to provide knitting instruction for oncology, transplant and dialysis patients, families with children in the pediatric intensive care and neonatal intensive care units, and pregnant moms on bedrest, among others.

We also serve hospital staff and caregivers by offering learn-to-knit classes and kits to provide opportunities to learn knitting as a wellness tool. We participated in a featured research project, which highlighted the importance of reducing stress and compassion fatigue to prevent caregiver burnout.

We provide participants with a complimentary beginner’s kit, which includes yarn, needles, and our Knitting Resource Guide. We offer ongoing instruction, and once knitters are comfortable with basic skills, we give them knitting kits and patterns to make simple projects like hats, scarves, baby booties, fingerless gloves, and more.

We can provide the comfort of knitting: 

For the infusion patient, who needs someone to keep them company during their lonely wait. 

For the caregiver, who is able to keep their hands busy while waiting nervously for their child to come out of heart surgery. 

For the refugee, who desperately needs to connect with their new community and meet others facing the same circumstances. 

For the family member of a deployed active duty service person, who is facing the uncertainty of the next time they will see their partner. 

For the recently incarcerated woman, who needs a creative outlet and opportunity to make gifts for family members.