Charity in Focus: Helmet Liner Project

There are a number of reasons to love knitting/ crochet: the therapeautic aspect to it, its practicality, or the simple aesthetic quality. (Let's not forget the lbs it can help you lose either! )But one more reason I love it is because of the charitable opportunities it provides. I can't really think of another craft that lends itself so completely to giving to others. Most knitters/ crocheters are constantly "toiling" away on items that are going to be given away as gifts. And many consistently work on items for different charities. I'd like to spotlight these organizations on this blog and contribute to them as well. If you know someone who might be interested in helping, please pass this information on to them.

The first Charity in Focus project was brought to my attention by my sister whose husband served a year recently in Afghanistan. When my brother-in-law was called to duty I was surprised to learn that he had to purchase his own body armor. I naively assumed that everything a soldier needed was just military-issued. This plea for help is for helmet liners for the soldiers, which cost considerably less than body armor, but do require some hours to make.

I was definitely struck by the fact that only 100% wool can be used because the "Armed Forces are not allowed to wear synthetic fibers outside the wire. Wool is inherently nonflammable and won’t melt against the skin in the event of an accident and is warm even when wet. " This really made me think about the person who will be wearing my helmet liner and the difficulties/ danger he/she may encounter. Lately my crochet stitches have started feeling more like prayer beads and my pattern has begun to look like this:

Round 12: (sc in next 10 sts, 2 Our Fathers, 1 Hail Mary, 1 Prayer to St. Michael for protection, 2 scs in  next st) 6 times (72 stiches, 12 Our Fathers, 6 Hail Marys, 6 prayers to St. Michael)

I'm almost finished crocheting mine and will be mailing it off shortly. For complete crochet and knitting instructions Read More after the jump...



KNITTERS AND CROCHETERS

We need 1,000 Helmet Liners made to send to our troops by October 30th.
Please share this information with everyone you know - church, senior centers, libraries, neighbors.
If you don't have these skills you can still help with donations for yarn and postage.
Please take a pattern and make copies for others.

Contact: Barbara "B.J." Lysic - 814-886-7744 or bjlysic@comcast.net with questions or for pick-up of completed items.

Support Our Troops…
Crochet a Helmet Liner
Materials:
Size K and H hooks
6 oz. soft worsted weight 100% wool yarn

NOTE: ONLY tan, brown, black, charcoal, or combinations of these colors are allowed by our Armed Forces. Marines strongly prefer desert tan!

Only 100% soft wool yarn will be accepted, because our Armed Forces are not allowed to wear synthetic fibers outside the wire. Wool is inherently nonflammable and won’t melt against the skin in the event of an accident and is warm even when wet.

Size: Adult Large

Crochet Notes:
Made in rounds – that is, do not join and do not turn.
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.

Copies may be made only for the purpose of donating helmet liners to our service personnel.

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

PLEASE ATTACH YARN LABEL TO COMPLETED PROJECT

SEND TO OR CONTACT:

Barbara “BJ” Lysic
786 Level Road
Lilly, PA 15938

Phone: 814-886-7744

e-mail: bjlysic@comcast.net



HELMET LINER KNITTING INSTRUCTIONS Materials:
Any soft, worsted (100 grams/3.5 ounces) wool yarn that will knit to gauge, such as Cascade 220 or equivalent. (The label should state that for size 7 needle, 5 stitches per 1 inch, and for size 8 needle, 4-1/2 stitches per 1 inch. Approx. 200 yds.)
Only 100% soft wool yarn will be accepted, because our Armed Forces are not allowed to wear synthetic fibers outside the wire. Wool is inherently nonflammable and won’t melt against the skin in the event of an accident and is warm even when wet.

Colors:

ONLY tan, brown, black, charcoal, or combinations of these colors are allowed by our Armed Forces. Marines strongly prefer desert tan!

Size 8 – 16” circular needle and double pointed needles, or size to get gauge
Size 6 – 16” circular needles for the ribbing
1 stitch marker.

Gauge: 4.5 stitches per inch in stockinette stitch with the larger needles

Be sure to check your gauge to ensure the helmet liner will fit properly when worn. Even being off 1/2 stitch per inch will make the helmet liner useless, as it will not fit properly. Helmet liners that do not fit cannot be sent to our troops.
You may need to use a different needle size to get the gauge listed above. If this is the case, use a needle 2 sizes smaller for your ribbing. Please remember that every knitter is different and every yarn is different… Check gauge with your yarn and your needles before you begin to ensure a properly fitting liner.

Abbreviations: k2tog – knit 2 stitches together
p2tog – purl 2 stitches together

Neck Ribbing: With smaller circular needle, cast on 84 stitches loosely. Place marker. Join in round and work in knit 2, purl 2 ribbing for 6 inches.

Cap: With larger circular needle, knit 32 stitches off smaller needle onto the larger size 8 circular needle. Leave smaller circular needle in the rest of the stitches. The smaller circular needle will just act as a stitch holder while you complete the cap portion with the size 8 circular and double-point needles.

Cast on 59 additional stitches, place marker to mark beginning of round, join in round, knit even for 4”. ("Knit even" means to knit every stitch).
1st decrease row: *K 11, k2tog, repeat from * to end of round.
Next row: Knit even.
2nd decrease row: *K10, K2tog, repeat from * to end of round.
Next row: knit even, meaning to knit every stitch. Change to double point (DP) needles when necessary.
Continue decreases as established until k2, k2tog. After this, decrease every row until a total of 7 stitches remain on the double point needles. Cut yarn 8-9” long, run tail through remaining stitches and weave in.

Face Ribbing: With size 6 circular needle that is still in neck portion, pick up and knit the 60 stitches from the cast on edge of the cap portion.
Join in circle and work k2, p2 ribbing for 1 inch.
On the next row: *k2, p2tog, repeat from * to end of round.
Bind off loosely in pattern. Weave in ends.

PLEASE ATTACH YARN LABEL TO COMPLETED PROJECT

SEND TO OR CONTACT:

Barbara “BJ” Lysic
786 Level Road
Lilly, PA 15938

Phone: 814-886-7744

e-mail: bjlysic@comcast.net