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I can’t crochet. Can I still make wigs at home?

Unfortunately, since we do not have enough inventory to distribute approved beanies to crafters, we expect all of our Approved Wig-Makers to crochet their own beanies for the base of the wigs they make. Generally speaking, we do not approve wig makers who cannot crochet. You can reach out to our Shipping Coordinators, Shelly or Katie, for details. 

Step 1: Crochet Two Plain Beanies

Use our free basic beanie pattern and Measuring Beanies Tutorial video below to make two beanies. You won’t get these beanies sent back to you, but we’ll make sure they become part of a beautiful wig. Use Caron Simply Soft brand yarn in Black, White, Sunshine, or Harvest Red. Please keep in mind, the beanie approval process is likely the only time you will send plain beanies: Once approved, you will receive access to our patterns and tutorials to send completed character beanies or completed wigs to the donation location closest to you.

Fill out our Approved Magic Maker Contact Form online so we can contact you with feedback.

Print and fill out our paper Feedback Form and include it in your package. Be sure to note the crochet hook size you used and the number of rounds of increase on each beanie.

Send your beanies for approval. Our Beanie Approval Specialist Kelly will partner with you during your initial process, You can contact her at the email address below with questions at any time. Please note that PO Boxes can only receive shipments from USPS.

  • Once you are approved, your donations of completed character beanies or completed wigs will be sent to your local Chapter Leader or your nearest donation shipping location instead of to Kelly.

Step 2: Get Approved and Join the Magic

Watch your email for feedback from our Beanie Approval Specialist. Please be patient and give Kelly plenty of time to respond; all of our leaders and support staff are unpaid volunteers who work out of their homes. If you haven’t heard from her in 3-4 weeks, feel free to reach out at her email address listed above.

If needed, make and send in two more beanies. We may ask you to make adjustments to your stitch tension, hook size, or increases. These are important tweaks that make our wigs wearable and durable for the widest range of children we serve — we appreciate your patience.

Once your work is approved, you’ll receive links to the Guide to Magic (the full pattern library on our website) and our private Facebook group for Approved Magic Makers. We are so excited for you to join this passionate community! All future donations will go to your local leader or nearest donation location.

 

Step 3: Practice Making Character Beanies and Wigs, One Style At a Time

If you plan to only crochet for us rather than making wigs, you may begin submitting your completed character beanies to your local leader or closest donation location any time after you finish your approval process with Kelly.

If you plan to make complete wigs at home, we approve all of our wig makers one wig style at a time. Use the written and video tutorials in the Guide to Magic to make two copies of one character wig. It doesn’t matter which character you start with; just be sure to follow the shopping, assembling, and styling directions for your chosen wig as precisely as you can. You can always ask for advice and help in the Approved Magic Makers Facebook group as you work. Many beginning makers find Aurora, Wonder Woman, or Ariel to be some of the simplest styles to start learning on first.

With these and with all shipments you send us, don’t forget to print and fill out a Feedback Form and include it with your two wigs.

Choose a shipping location. It doesn’t matter which location you choose; select the one least expensive for you to mail to. This is the Magic Yarn leader you’ll work with for the wig approval process and submit your feature donations to. Please note that PO Boxes can only receive shipments from USPS.

Your Magic Yarn leader will be in touch about any needed corrections. Once you are approved to make your selected wig style, you’re welcome to start working on another character. We are so excited for you to join us on your journey. Thank you for making Magic in the lives of the most deserving children!

Frequently Asked Questions

I can’t crochet, but I can knit (or I use a knitting loom). Can you use knit beanies?

The short answer is unfortunately no. Knitting naturally produces a much thinner, stretchier finished material than crocheting does. The weight of the yarn that we attach as “hair” for wigs and the accessories we attach to create character beanies are too much strain for delicate knitwear. If you would like to learn how to crochet, there are many wonderful “knitter to crocheter” video tutorials on Youtube, and our basic beanie pattern is great for beginners. There are also other ways you can craft at home for Magic Yarn beyond just making wigs and beanies.

I’m a beginning crocheter. Can I still craft for Magic Yarn?

Yes! Our basic beanie pattern is simple and easy enough for most beginners. If you are able to count stitches, make consistent half-doubles, and understand working in rows vs. continuous rounds, you are ready to make Magic with us. Once approved, you can move on to our simpler character beanie patterns.

Why do I need to be approved — can’t I just follow your patterns and make things on my own?

Every crocheter knows that working with yarn is just as much art as skill. Some makers crochet very loosely, some very tightly; some may follow British rather than American pattern terms. It’s also easy to let subtle mistakes like working in rows vs. continuous rounds or flipping the work slip in. Partnering with a Feedback Specialist as you begin crafting with us helps save you time and effort, because you can be confident that you’re making the highest-quality pieces from the beginning. We tell parents that our wigs are machine-washable and “play proof,” and with over 50,000 wigs and beanies in distribution, we have found that certain small differences on the production side will make huge differences in durability and longevity for the receiver! We want to share those tips and tweaks as they apply to your individual stitching style.

Do I have to make character beanies? Do I have to make wigs?

Yes. We send anywhere from 400-600 wigs and character beanies every month to children around the world. When a donation is received by one of our leaders. It should be ready for a quality check and magical packaging to send on to a recipient.

Can I donate things in person instead of mailing them?

In a few metro areas in North America, we do have local Magic Yarn representatives called “Chapter Leaders” who are able to accept donations in-person. Chapter Leaders are not authorized to approve Magic Makers to craft at home, but after you have completed the approval process with Katie or Shelly for beanies or for a given wig style, you are welcome to give those finished items to your local Chapter Leader based on her needs.

Once I’m approved to make a wig style, can I teach my friends to make it?

Promising the families who receive our wigs that they are “play-proof” and machine washable means that we have extremely high standards for the construction and visual touches on every wig we distribute. The specific skill set needed to know what small differences will allow a wig to stand the test of time is not something earned after making two or two dozen wigs. We do not accept wigs sent in by makers who have not been through the Approved Magic Maker process individually, unless the wigs were made at a workshop run by a Magic Yarn leader trained in quality control. If you would like to begin the journey toward becoming a Chapter Leader, you can find out more on our Workshops and Chapters page.