‘Tis the season for crafting and good will — but if you're short on time, I've come up with a few ideas to help you combine the two.

When Leslye Borden retired in 2007, her love of knitting quickly morphed into a non-profit organization that provides comfort and support to victims of abuse.

“After I retired, I started knitting sweaters for my granddaughters,” Borden said. “I loved making the sweaters so much that I decided to knit matching hats, mittens, leggings...you name it, I made it.”

Soon, her granddaughters were at capacity, and Borden knew she needed to find new recipients for her knit creations — ones that truly needed them. She founded a nonprofit called Handmade Especially for You that distributes “comfort scarves” to women's shelters throughout the country.

“The scarves are given to the women when they first arrive at a shelter,” Borden said. “We want to honor their bravery and willingness to leave an abusive situation.”

To make a comfort scarf, visit handmadeespecially.org and click on the volunteer tab. For a small donation, Borden will send you a “magic ball kit,” which includes everything you need to knit or crochet your own comfort scarf, with three different kinds of yarn, knitting needles and patterns. If you want to use your own yarn and needles, simply download one of the organization's free downloadable patterns and start knitting. Then, pop your handmade item in the mail and Borden will ensure it gets delivered to a shelter.

Cindy Kerr knows all too well the devastation caused by cancer. She and her family endured years of uncertainty and frustration after her son Ryan was diagnosed with the horrible disease at age 12.

These experiences inspired her to create Ryan's Case for Smiles, which is dedicated to bringing joy and support to young hospital patients and their families, one pillowcase at a time. Today, the charity has over 120 chapters providing more than 200,000 bright, cheerful pillowcases each year to children in 330 hospitals, hospices, Ronald McDonald Houses and camps across North America.

Interested in making a pillowcase for Ryan's Case for Smiles? Visit caseforsmiles.org to find step-by-step directions, as well as helpful hints, guidelines, drop off locations and community events.

Few things are sweeter than baby clothes. The same could be said for parties. Combine the two by hosting a party where friends and family can decorate baby items for young mothers in need. You could donate the items to Women in Need Growing Stronger — better known as WINGS — which provides integrated services for homeless and abused women and children. The organization works with a number of expecting moms who would surely welcome hand-designed onesies and burp cloths. Lisa Gylling, founder of The Goodwill Gal blog, shared this creative and meaningful activity:

You need:

White baby items (long and short sleeved onesies, baby sized t-shirts and burp cloths)

Scissors

Fabric glue or hot glue gun

Decorative items (felt, fabric in various colors, ribbon, fabric paint, markers, ink and stamps)

Cardboard squares (used to slip inside the onesies or t-shirts to protect the back fabric in case the marker, ink or paint seeps through).

Directions:

Set up your workspace so that guests have access to the craft materials. Gylling suggest creating a “craft buffet,” where guests can pick and choose their own materials. Encourage guests to get as creative as possible by gluing on felt bow ties, flowers or simple fabric hearts. They might also consider using fabric markers to write cute phrases and sayings.

“Even simple statements such as ‘Momma's Girl' or ‘Precious' can make a big statement on a little person,” Gylling said. “Just remember when choosing craft items to make baby safety your number one priority, which means avoid small embellishments such as buttons or rhinestones.”