Wanted: A Few Good Knitters/Crocheters

Homemade Wool Helmet Liners: the next best thing to a hug!

YOU CAN HELP KEEP A MARINE WARM IN AFGHANISTAN

The parent group supporting the men of the 2nd Battalion 2nd Marines (The 2/2) fondly known as The Warlords, is asking knitters to knit and crocheters to crochet “helmet liners” for the soldiers who are deploying to Afghanistan this October. The climate is extremely cold in the winter, and their helmets provide no warmth or protection from the elements. Government issued helmet liners are ill-fitting, uncomfortable, and not very warm. Marine moms said, “I don’t think so!” and the homemade liner program was started. By following very specific instructions, and using only 100% wool in brown, tans, olive or black, these knitted and crocheted handmade helmet liners will bring comfort and a touch of home to our Marines! (Yes 100% wool, even if you wouldn’t do it for use here.) Please follow all directions carefully. Paton’s 100% wool can be purchased at Michaels Craft Stores. We are trying to buy in bulk, so ask about yarn and request directions: mcmaryv@aol.com or loufarm@aol.com ) If you don’t knit or crochet, and still want to help, you can underwrite the cost of yarn (about $5 per helmet liner) for local use by sending your checks made out to Mary Viegas, c/o P.O. Box 748, Galveston, Texas, 77553 or to Roxanne Robertson, the Care package coordinator (mother of a 2/2 Marine), and mailed to 4649 Haskell Ave Kansas City, KS 66104-3332. Roxanne is purchasing socks, toilet paper and disposable razors, etc., to be shipped with the helmet liners to Afghanistan by the middle of November. It is amazing what basic necessities our soldiers will lack, except for the generosity of people like you! Questions: Contact Mary Viegas (409)744-7387 or mcmaryv@aol.com (mother of PFC. Joey V. in the 2/2). In Galveston, Mary will pick up your finished helmet liners or you may drop them off at the Atrium Information desk at Moody Methodist Church, 53rd and Ave U, entrance on the north side of the building or Farmer’s Marine Copper Works, 1908 Strand, front office. On the mainland, drop-off at Farmer’s Alloy, 210 Banana, La Marque, 409-933-0124 for directions. Outside this area, call Mary for instructions.

The deadline for the first batch of completed helmet liners is November 8th 2009. We will meet to knit and crochet at Moody Church, 53rd and Ave. U in Galveston, Tuesday, 6:30-8:30 PM thru Nov. 24th. There will be a Blessing of the Liners service on Nov. 9th. Details to follow. Please continue knitting and crocheting after the 8th. The liners will be sent directly to the men and women of the 2/2 at their battle stations after that date. Thank you! Your interest and participation mean more than you can ever imagine to the families and the Marines of the 2/2. We are blessed by your caring.

Semper Fidelis : Always Faithful

Beginning Knitter Projects

SCARVES FOR TROOPS KNITTING AND CROCHETING INSTRUCTIONS Materials: Any soft, worsted or bulky weight (100 grams/3.5 ounces) wool yarn (lamb’s wool, alpaca, cashmere or combinations of these are acceptable). Only 100% soft wool yarn will be accepted, because our Armed Forces are not allowed to wear synthetic fibers outside the wire. Wool is: 1. Inherently non-flammable, so it won’t melt against the skin in the event of an accident, and 2. It is a good insulator even when wet. Colors: ONLY black, charcoal, brown, tan, or combinations of these colors. Finished dimensions: approx. 12 in. x 42 in. No fringe, scallops, or holes big enough to put your little finger through, just plain, as these need to be “unisex”. Note: Any stitch EXCEPT stockinette stitch if knitting as it curls, so please do not use it. Cast off. Weave in ends.

KNITTED NECK GATORS Supplies: 1. Soft 100% worsted weight wool yarn in tan, brown, gray, or black. These are the only colors allowed by the military. Only 100% wool is allowed, because it is inherently non-flammable, which is important in the event of an accident. 2. Size 6, 7, or 8 - 16” circular needle Directions: Cast on 112 stitches very loosely. Join (you know the bit about not twisting and such) and rib (knit 1, purl 1 OR knit 2, purl 2) for about 9”. Cast off very loosely. Weave in the ends.

Knitted Helmet Liners (3rd revision Galveston, 11/2009) This pattern is for helmet liners, also known as “wool pulleys,” for soldiers. The original pattern is by Bonnie Long. Knitting Instructions for Wool Helmet Liners for Soldiers: Materials: Worsted weight 100% wool yarn. 100 gm will make one liner. Colors allowed by the military are black, charcoal, brown, tan, and olive drab. Size 8 - 16” circular needles or size to get gauge, same size double pointed needles. Size 6 - 16” circular needles for the ribbings. One stitch marker. Gauge: 4 ! sts/inch in stockinet stitch. Neck: With smaller circular needles, cast 84 stitches loosely. Place marker. Join in round and work in K2, P2 rib for 7 inches. To make hat portion: With larger circular needles, knit 32 stitches off smaller needles. Leave smaller circular needles in remaining stitches. Cast on 59 additional stitches. Place marker to mark beginning of round. Join in round. Knit even for 4 inches. 1st dec. row: *K11, K2 tog,* repeat to end of round. Next row: Knit even. 2nd dec. row: *K10, K2 tog,* repeat to end of round. Next row: Knit even. Change to double pointed needles when necessary. Continue decreases as established until K2, K2 tog. Next row: K1 K2 tog. around (14sts) Next row: K2 tog. around (7 stitches on needles). Cut yarn 8 - 9 inches long, feed through remaining stitches, pull tight, secure end, and weave in. Ribbing around Face: With smaller needles still in neck portion, pick up and knit stitches around face. (Total number of stitches must be divisible by 4.) Join in circle and work in K2, P2 ribbing for 1 inch. On last row of ribbing, decrease 8 times evenly spaced around row by P2 tog . (Two decreases close together in the corners will avoid gaps here.) This will pull the ribbing in close to the soldier’s face. Bind off snugly in ribbing and work in tail.

Compliments of:

7512 Fairmount Avenue 510.525.YARN (9276) www.skeinlane.com El Cerrito, CA 94530 OPEN EVERY DAY skeinlane@aol.com

Support Our Troops… Crochet a Helmet Liner Materials: Size K and H hooks 6 oz. soft worsted weight 100% wool yarn Accepted colors are tan, brown, olive, gray and black (black is preferred) Size: Adult Large Crochet Notes: Made in rounds – that is, do not join and do not turn. Other Notes: The headgear our military issues are usually made of synthetic fibers or blends and our troops in places like Afghanistan, Iraq and Kosovo are still cold. Please use a soft 100% wool worsted weight yarn to keep them warm. Rnd 1 ...........Form a ring around your finger, work 6 sc in ring Rnd 2 ...........2 scs in next 6 sts (12 sts) Rnd 3 ...........(sc in next st, 2 scs in next st) 6 times (18 sts) Rnd 4 ...........(sc in next 2 sts, 2 scs in next st) 6 times (24 sts) Rnd 5 ...........(sc in next 3 sts, 2 scs in next st) 6 times (30 sts) Rnd 6 ...........(sc in next 4 sts, 2 scs in next st) 6 times (36 sts) Rnd 7 ...........(sc in next 5 sts, 2 scs in next st) 6 times (42 sts Rnd 8 ...........(sc in next 6 sts, 2 scs in next st) 6 times (48 sts) Rnd 9 ...........(sc in next 7 sts, 2 scs in next st) 6 times (54 sts) Rnd 10 .........(sc in next 8 sts, 2 scs in next st) 6 times (60 sts) Rnd 11 .........(sc in next 9 sts, 2 scs in next st) 6 times (66 sts) Rnd 12 .........(sc in next 10 sts, 2 scs in next st) 6 times (72 sts) Work over 72 sts until piece measures 7 inches. Chain 22 ,skip 20 sts, continue working around until piece measures 10 more inches. Fasten off and weave in ends. Attach yarn anywhere in face hole and sc around with H hook. Fasten off and weave in all ends. Pattern designed Aunt B © 2005. All rights reserved. Copies may be made only for the purpose of donating helmet liners to our service personnel. For additional patterns and helmet liner project information go to Skein Lane’s community page on

our website or http://www.geocities.com/helmetliner/

Abbreviations: Rnd round Sc, scs single crochet single crochets St, sts stitch, stitches