afghans for Afghans is a humanitarian and educational people-to-people project that sends hand-knit and crocheted blankets and sweaters, vests, hats, mittens, and socks to the beleaguered people of Afghanistan.

This grassroots effort is inspired by Red Cross volunteers who made afghans, socks, slippers, and other items for soldiers and refugees during World Wars I and II and other times of crisis and need. Read about the Red Cross knitting tradition.

From American hands and hearts

Mark Wunderlich, Provincetown, MA

Your gift of a handmade blanket or garment will bring comfort and warmth to Afghan women, men, and children who continue to suffer from oppression, war, hunger, poverty, and sickness. Your lovingly made gifts will send a message of concern and hope to our fellow humans on the other side of the globe. Your participation is important.

Three ways that you can help get the word out

#1 Forward this page to a friend who knits or crochets

#2 Download and print our PDF flyer for posting at your local yarn shop and community places, as well as for sharing with guild members.

#3 Add one of our banners to your site.

	Knit our Fulled Afghan Bag, Tulip Socks, Afghan Mittens, Afghan Socks, Friday Mosque at Herat Sweater, and Men's Vest for your own family.
Your purchase supports afghans for Afghans and women's literacy classes in Kabul. How to purchase patterns

Press

Parliamentarians Get Hand-Knitted Shawls, "ABC Channel 7 Bay Area Evening News," June 15, 2009.

Amidst the Devastation Comes Hope for Little Girls, "Knitch Magazine," April 2009.

Group Shows Appreciation for Afghan Leaders, "ABC Channel 7 Bay Area Evening News," March 18, 2009.

Knitters Make Personal Statement About Peace, Justice, "Anchorage Daily News," May 13, 2008.

Craftypod, January 29, 2008.

The California Report Magazine, KQED Radio, San Francisco, December 14, 2007 (view You Tube excerpt).

Knitters Spread the Warmth, "Toronto Star," November 22, 2007.

Magic Carpet Ride, "Vogue Knitting" magazine, Fall 2007.

Jefferson Award: Knitting Worldwide Friendships, "CBS KPIX San Francisco," August 20, 2007.

Knitting Towards a More Peaceful Afghanistan, "ABC Channel 7 Bay Area Evening News," May 11, 2007 (view news video).

XRX's Knitter of the Year Award, "Knitters Magazine," November 4, 2006.

Charity Knitters Stitch Up the World, "Christian Science Monitor," November 2, 2006.

'The Kite Runner' First Up to Unite Community Through Literature, "San Mateo County Times," San Mateo, CA, June 12, 2006.

Blanket Statement, "Family Circle" magazine, June 2006.

Put Needles to Work Spreading a Little Peace This Season, "Anchorage Daily News," Anchorage, AK, December 27, 2005.

afghans for Afghans Spreads Warmth and Knowledge, "The New Hampshire," Durham, NH, October 21, 2005.

Warm Wishes for Afghan People, "The Sun," Sunnyvale, CA, August 31, 2005.

Knit One, Laugh Two, "Idaho Mountain Express," Sun Valley, ID, August 26, 2005.

City Workers' Hobby Offers a Way to Help, "San Jose Mercury News," San Jose, CA, April 14, 2005.

Volunteer Gerda Carmichael in Letters to the Editor, "New York Times," March 30, 2005.

"Spin Off" magazine, Holiday 2004.

Knitting for a Cause, "Sun Newspapers," Burnsville, MN, September 30, 2004.

How Knitting for Charity Changed My (Knitting) Life, by Candace Key, "Knitty.com," Fall 2004.

Humanitarian Hobby, "The Examiner," Independence, MO, June 21, 2004.

Peace Signs, "Vogue Knitting" magazine, Fall 2004.

Knitting in Wartime, "Family Circle Easy Knitting" magazine, Spring/Summer 2004.

Knitting for Charity, "Knit N Style" magazine, April 2004.

New and Views, "Interweave Knits" magazine, Fall 2003.

Knuts About Knitting, at Stitches West, "Contra Costa Times," February 26, 2003.

Reaching Out With Crochet "Crochet! magazine," July 2002

Knitting Shipped With Care, "Philadelphia Inquirer," April 25, 2002.

Knitters Point and Click to Help Afghan Refugees, "Contra Costa Times," March 27, and "Fort Worth Star-Telegram," April 1, 2002.

Crafty Women Produce Afghans for Afghans, Newhouse News Service story, January 2002.

Sign up for our email announcements to stay on top of project news. We respect your privacy -- your email address will not be used for any other purpose. Must-see photos: Families in Afghanistan receiving our gifts! April Shawl-Tea in Kabul for Women MPs! Campaign Due Date: CURE Hospital campaign ended May 15. Please check back later in June for future needs. Thanks. (Please do not send any items at this time.)

Afghan child wears hat knitted by Missy McIver of Columbia, SC

American Friends Service Committee volunteers loading blankets headed overseas in January 2002

We work with reputable, experienced relief agencies to securely transport and distribute our hand-knit and crocheted blankets and garments to suffering Afghans. Our partners have included Church World Service, Afghans 4 Tomorrow, CURE Hospital, Roots of Peace, Airline Ambassadors, International Orphan Care, Afghan Relief Organization, World Concern, and Mobile Mini Circus for Children. This project is a partnership with the American Friends Service Committee, which has organized humanitarian missions for more than 80 years.

Many thanks

Our appreciation to all who have kindly sent in handmade blankets and garments since December 2001. Please enjoy this letter of acknowledgment from the Afghan Embassy. As an expression of our thanks, please partake of Vanna White's "Vanna's Choice" crochet afghan pattern, a gift to you. The kids say it best ! Thank you for caring and taking action.

Need stash? Enter to win a $50 gift certificate from online yarn store Yarnmarket.com!

Send us your handmade wool mittens by (to be announced) to enter our latest drawing for three $50 gift certificates from Yarnmarket.com. Please include your email address, name, and mail address inside your package. You must have an email address to qualify. Visit Yarnmarket.com to see all their first-class yarns and supplies.

Congratulations to Debbie Lloyd, Marlene Priest, and Bobbie Johnson, winners of our May 15 Yarnmarket.com drawing!

Displaced Afghan family Photo by World Concern

Help support afghans for Afghans

Your support helps sustain this project. The Agape Foundation is our fiscal sponsor. Checks made to the "Agape Foundation/afghans for Afghans" are tax-deductible. Or, for convenience, make a donation online through the Agape Foundation's secure donation page.

Original In-VEST for Peace art by Rosemary Hill
© 2009 afghans for Afghans / All rights reserved

Loading cartons packed with handknits for youth in Church World Service programs, 2008

We love our wool socks! Photo by Marsha MacColl, board member of Afghans 4 Tomorrow, 2007

Purchase our postcard featuring school girls receiving our wool socks!

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