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 2

Battalion 2

Marines (The 2/2) fondly knownas The Warlords, is asking knitters to knit and crocheters to crochet “helmetliners” for the soldiers who are deploying to Afghanistan this October.The climate is extremely cold in the winter, and their helmets provide nowarmth or protection from the elements.Government issued helmet liners are ill-fitting, uncomfortable, and not verywarm. 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 inbrown, tans, olive or black, these knitted and crocheted handmade helmet liners will bringcomfort and a touch of home to our Marines! (Yes 100% wool, even if you wouldn’t do it for usehere.)

Please follow all directions carefully.

Paton’s 100% wool can be purchased at Michaels CraftStores. We are trying to buy in bulk, so ask about yarn and request directions:mcmaryv@aol.comor loufarm@aol.com) If you don’t knit or crochet, and still want to help, you can underwrite the cost of yarn (about $5per helmet liner) for local use by sending your checks made out to Mary Viegas, c/o P.O. Box748, 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 ispurchasing socks, toilet paper and disposable razors, etc., to be shipped with the helmet linersto Afghanistan by the middle of November.

It is amazing what basic necessities our soldiers will lack, except for the generosity of peoplelike you!

Questions: Contact Mary Viegas (409)744-7387 or mcmaryv@aol.com(mother of PFC. Joey V. inthe 2/2). In Galveston, Mary will pick up your finished helmet liners or you may drop them off atthe Atrium Information desk at Moody Methodist Church, 53

and Ave U, entrance on the northside of the building or Farmer’s Marine Copper Works, 1908 Strand, front office. On themainland, 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 8

2009.We will meet to knit and crochet at Moody Church, 53

and Ave. U in Galveston, Tuesday, 6:30-8:30 PM thru Nov. 24

. There will be a Blessing of the Liners service on Nov. 9

. Details tofollow. Please continue knitting and crocheting after the 8

. The liners will be sent directly tothe men and women of the 2/2 at their battle stations after that date.

Thank you! Your interest and participation mean more than you canever imagine to the families and the Marines of the 2/2.We are blessed by your caring.

Beginning Knitter ProjectsSCARVES FOR TROOPS

KNITTING AND CROCHETING INSTRUCTIONS

Materials:Any soft, worsted or bulky weight (100 grams/3.5 ounces) wool yarn (lamb’swool, alpaca, cashmere or combinations of these are acceptable).Only 100% soft wool yarn will be accepted, because our Armed Forces are notallowed to wear synthetic fibers outside the wire.Wool is:1. Inherently non-flammable, so it won’t melt against the skin in theevent of an accident, and2. 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 bigenough 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 notuse it.Cast off. Weave in ends.

KNITTED NECK GATORS

Supplies:1. Soft 100% worsted weight wool yarn in tan, brown, gray, orblack. These are the only colors allowed by the military. Only100% 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 needleDirections:Cast on 112 stitches very loosely. Join (you know the bit aboutnot 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:

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. Leavesmaller 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.1

dec. row: *K11, K2 tog,* repeat to end of round. Next row: Knit even.2

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, andweave in.

Ribbing around Face:

With smaller needles still in neck portion, pick upand knit stitches around face. (Total number of stitches must be divisible by4.) 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 closetogether 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.