So here's the deal. You all know my boy, Jason, is stuck in that horrible hell-hole called Iraq. He and many, many, many other men and women. Hell-hole. Not here. There. HATE IT. SO, I have resolved to send helmet liners to Jay and his team of 30 soldiers. Presently, they are stationed in Mosul, but talk keeps swirling about that they will be moved even closer to the most intense action -- Bagdhad, and these folks need to know we give a crap, and want them healthy and safe. Now, I can't walk in front of them (ie, Jason) and shield him from every bullet and IED (although I honestly want to -- if I were single, no kids, I swear to you I would. I would! Not b/c I have any affection for this damned war, but b/c I'm his big sis and that is what I am supposed to do dammnit! Yeah, I'm emotional -- tearing up right now. But I won't curse any worse, I promise. Thank goodness for the backspace button.) Anyway, it is cold in Iraq now, especially at night when they are sent on most of their missions, and at the onset of winter, the whole platoon, Jay included, got horribly sick. They need warm stuff, and love, and they need it now. My goal is to collect 30 helmet liners by mid-February to give Jay when he comes home for leave to bring back w/ him to hand out to his "team". (Not sure what their "official" title is, but Jay calls them his "team" w/ me, possibly b/c I am ignorant to the military ways, and also b/c that is what they are -- a team.)
So who is with me? Will you pick up your pointy sticks for this cause?
I am looking for these liners to be knit in superwash wool, so the soldiers have little wash and wear issues (community laundry, remember) and definately wool for the warmth and the fact that it is non-flammable and self extinguishing. Remember -- war zone. Bombs. Bad stuff. Since they are in a desert area w/ desert camo, browns, dusky olive drab, and khaki colored wools are our best bet. I am knitting my first liner in Moda Dea Washable Wool in Ivory and will dye it after knitting. If anyone has a natural worsted superwash they want to use, that is fine -- I'll dye it with mine. The pattern can be found here http://www.geocities.com/helmetliner/.
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!
12 comments:
I'll be happy to knit one for you - all the way from Australia!!
(I think we still have some troops in Iraq.)
Anyway, I'll let you know when I'm done (shipping is 7-10 days).
Heh, this will get quite a few stares while on the needles!
I'm in and I'm working on recruiting Mom and Mom-Sue too!
I'm in too (as soon as I figure out the mysterious section of the crochet instructions)! Great idea Heather. I cannot tell you how pleased I am to FINALLY have a pattern for a crochet version of the helmet liner. THANK YOU! We'll take care of those special guys who are risking themselves to take care of us!
Thank you so much, ladies! I can't even begin to tell you how much this means to me. We also have a few other blogless friends -- Donna, Amanda, and Sara -- who have pledged their help. We are on our way! I'll get a list going in the side bar, as soon as i remember how to do it. Again, THANK YOU!!!
Saw this on Gigi's blog......I'm in too! Picking up the yarn today, I can't wait to start.
Sign me up - I will check the stash tonight.
Cotton is really warm too - under all that gear. And sometimes guys can't wear wool on their heads.
Thanks
Holly
Hey, My friend Erica posted about you needing help with this - I've never knit one but I will give it a shot and see how it turns out...If you can e-mail me with the address where to send and a due date I'll get working on it tonight...
Count me in! Gigi & I worked together for a few years at the bookstore, so I'll hand mine off to her.
Good point, Holly. My only concern would be cotton clothes and burning - how would cotton react? Sara, Erica, thnak you so much as well! I'll get my contact info out to you right away Sara. Jason e-mailed me yesterday tht he would be on his way home for leave on Feb. 2nd and will be here for two weeks, so my goal is to get them all together before he returns to Mosul. You guys all ROCK!
oops! Erica, I'll send YOU my info..lol
This is a wonderful thing that knitters and crocheters do. The LYS I work at occasionally just donated over 150 helmet liners to the Atlanta Knitting Guild. They will be sent overseas and perhaps your brother and his platoon will receive some knitted love from Georgia!
Hey lady! Add one (and possibly two) more knitted liners to your list. My sister is making one for certain and my mom will try it. She is fairly new so it may or may not fly! ;-)
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