Crafting for the troops

[knitter4democracy]

http://www.geocities.com/helmetliner/

There are knitting and crochet patterns for the helmet liners on this site, and there are sewing instructions for the neck coolers that help prevent heat exhaustion.

Then there's Ship Support with their hat and slipper patterns for the troops and Operation Toasty Toes for their crochet and knitted slippers (for the troops on ships that are kept colder than I had realized).

Does anyone know of any more? We just had another DUer's son sent back to Iraq this weekend. We should make sure our DU troops are warm and cared for, let alone all the troops. They won't be home for awhile, sadly, so let's make sure they're warm.

[WolverineDG]

1. What about a DU challenge?

Each knitta & crocheter making a liner or scarf? Thanks for finding the link. I had seen a reference to it on DU before, but misplaced it. I'm off to Michael's now to get some yarn for the scarf.

dg

[knitter4democracy]

2. Hmm. I like that idea.

What if we came up with a list, drew names, and sent care packages with them? That would be nice, too.

[Morgana LaFey]

3. Here are the links I've collected

Knitting for Change
http://www.sheeptoshawl.com/charity/

Body Count Mittens (warning -- this isn't FOR the troops
http://www.stealthissweater.com/patterns/mittenpattern.pdf

The Ships Project with several patterns
http://www.theshipsproject.com/Home.htm

Helmet Liners
http://www.operationhomefront.org/Community/knitters.shtml

Blankets for Recovery (read down)
http://www.flagsacrossthenation.org/projects.php
mail to: Headquarters North Carolina:
FLAGS Across the Nation
P. O. Box 78995
Charlotte, NC 28271-7045
Call: Nationwide phone number 704-654-8529
Email: [e-mail]
[e-mail]

[knitter4democracy]

4. I really like the last one.

Joann's has those fleece blanket kits on sale right now (they were on Saturday, at least), and those are easy and machine-washable. I can't knit afghans for some reason (mental block, I think), but I could do those.

[AllegroRondo]

6. As a former soldier

thank you!

those helmet liners are a godsend! You have no idea how much your head would hurt after wearing a 7 pound kevlar helmet for hours on end. There is a leather/mylar strap device that keeps it suspended on your head, but it doesnt do much, and leaves a lovely "lobotomy line" across your forhead.

and, yes, it does get cold in the desert in the winter. socks and slippers of any kind are VERY appreciated.

[knitter4democracy]

7. I read once that there's no padding in the helmets.

So, there is a thing to keep a bit of cushion, but that's not warm. *shudder* That sound just awful. You'd lose so much heat out of your body that way.

I have got to get knitting. I've got enough yarn for a few more helmetliners. I always get them blessed at church first, too, just for an extra bit of safety.

[Morgana LaFey]

10. IMPORTANT re choice of fiber for knitters & crocheters

I think it's mentioned somewhere in these links, but I don't remember where.

It's important to use wool for helmet liners esp., but also for other items as well because synthetics like acrylic will melt in the heat of an attack, and you do NOT want melted fiber of any kind on your skin if you're getting wounded or having another problem. Cotton or linen would also be okay, I'm sure (as long as they didn't have synthetic components), but wool of course for winter. Also, these natural fibers are breathable (as we all know) whereas acrylic, nylon, etc., definitely are NOT.

[knitter4democracy]

12. Great point. Wool doesn't catch fire easily.

There's no reason to make an injury worse, that's for sure. Cotton is usually very flammable, though, so it's not something I would use.

[Betsy Ross]

5. Quilts of Valor

www.qovf.org Top piecers are paired with longarm quilters to make quilts for troops wounded in Afghanistan and Iraq. I have worked on about 30 quilts over the last two years. Some of mine can be seen at http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/album/344334380SzIAud.

I have worked with many longarmers across the country. I like to do the final binding and labeling myself so I get to see the finished quilting. In this way, I "meet" longarmers from whom I can select for personal projects.

[Morgana LaFey]

9. Absolutely stunning!

Wow. Real art there. Thanks for sharing with us.

[knitter4democracy]

8. I've been asked by a DUer to make a helmet liner for her son.

He's in Kuwait, waiting to go into Iraq. There are 70 guys in his tent, and I'm sure they could all use helmet liners or slipper socks for their feet when off-duty or good socks or whatever. I'm going to send him the one I have on the needles right now that's almost done, if he likes wool, but I'm sure we could all do something for poiuytsister's son and his company.

I'm going to post a request in the vet forum for a list of any DUers we have over there who would like something and then, if anyone wants to make something, we'll have a list to refer to.

[Bjornsdotter]

11. I think this is a

...wonderful idea.

I'll have to go buy some yarn.

Cheers :toast:

[gizmonic]

19. Me too

Time to bust some stash.

[nadinbrzezinski]

13. I don't knitt, but I may even pick u[p some yarn

and do some scarfs, them are simple enough... and I have a gift certificate from michaels

[knitter4democracy]

14. Crochet, knit, sew--they need it all!

One thing I hear a lot that they need are slippers. The crochet-along we're doing happens to be a nice slipper pattern. Scarves are good, too, though--an extra layer is always good, especially since shorter scarves can be tucked in their jackets.

[nadinbrzezinski]

15. I would have to learn how to do this

so first off, I think a scarf is an easeir project for somebody who last took a pair of needles when I was oh 12, been a while.

So tell me brown wool is good? And what is easier, crotchet or needle point?

Bear in mind, I have no idea what I will be doing

;-)

[knitter4democracy]

16. The military colors are black, dk. grey, and brown usually.

Brown would be a good color for a beginning knitter--not too dark to see the stitches and all.

I used to do a short scarf pattern for my beginning students. You cast on 20 stitches in a worsted weight yarn (Michael's sells Patons Classic Merino and the new Lion Brand worsted weight wool, both of which would be fine) and knit every stitch, every row for 10". Then, switch to a simple rib to cuddle around the back of the neck (knit 2 stitches, purl 2 stitches all the way across). Then purl every stitch, every row for the last 10", and bind off.

Leisure Arts has a good Learn to Knit book they sell at Michaels. If you can find it, though, Knitting in Plain English by Maggie Righetti is the best. She really explains everything clearly and has good directions and pictures.

[nadinbrzezinski]

17. Cool this afternoon to Michaels I go

I have not done any knitting since I was 12 and my mom was trying to get me to do "girly" things.

She knitts the most incredible of things... me, will try to do this since the kids need it.

[nadinbrzezinski]

18. So went to Michaels and got some yarn, book and hooks

let me tell you, this is harder than I thought... before I get to a scarf I'd better just get to the point of knitting a small passable peace.

Yep practice, I know

[knitter4democracy]

20. That's fine, but a scarf essentially is a practice piece.

And it hides inside a jacket. I'm sure a well-loved knitted item would be appreciated by a soldier who is cold on night duty.

[nadinbrzezinski]

21. Aftter a little practice got it to the point

that it is doable, so knitting a scarf