Wednesday, October 2, 2013

A Very Special Blog Post -- And a Giveaway!

Most of you know my younger son and blog co-editor, aka My Little Sailor, is a member of the US Navy. He's assigned to the USS George Washington, an aircraft carrier currently underway "somewhere" in the Western Pacific. Although the DH and I are both former US Air Force members, we're all about Navy nowadays.

Which is why I'm writing this Very Special Blog Post.

What's it All About?

A group of knitters join together each year to knit hats for US Navy Sailors.


Here is the description of the group, from Ravelry:
We are providing hand-knitted and crocheted hats for sailors in the US Navy one ship at a time. It all started with Shanti who writes the blog Adventures in Paradise and had the idea to provide a handmade hat to every sailor serving on the ship she would be commanding. Lynne, her mom, made that idea a reality with the help of knitters and crocheters from all over the world. We continue to knit and crochet hats for sailors on other ships. It is cold on the ships and they can wear the hats when they are off duty.
This is the second year I've knit hats for the HFS group. During 2012, I knit 16 hats in 16 days for the Ravellenics challenge:


This year I've knit 20 hats, so I get to put the "20 Hats for Sailors" badge on my Ravelry page.


Our group moderator has put out a call for nominations for ships to receive hats this year. I've nominated the USS Nebraska SSBN-739, a Ballistic Missile Submarine. Submarines are called "the silent service," unsung heroes who keep a lot of bad things from happening. The husband of my niece was formerly assigned to this ship, although he's currently on shore duty.

US Navy photo by PH3 Christian Viera

The Important Part

So far this year, we've only knit about 250 hats. Both crews on the USS Nebraska total more than 300 Sailors (and yes, women can now serve on subs!).

If you're a knitter, won't you consider knitting a hat for a US Navy Sailor?

Hats are fast and easy to knit -- Ravelry.com has lots of free patterns! Here are the guidelines for the hats:
The color and design of the hat are the choice of the knitter/crocheter, but ALL HATS MUST BE 100% WASHABLE WOOL. Both men and women serve on the ships. We have two deadlines each year - Memorial Day and Veteran’s Day. If you have questions about the project or want to know where to send the hats, email us at HatsforSailors@gmail.com. You can also read our blog at Hats for Sailors.

The Giveaway

Since the first comment on this post asks about what yarn to use, I've decided to add a giveaway! The first TEN readers who comment and agree to knit a hat for a sailor will receive a skein of superwash wool from me -- in their choice of colors! You can either send the completed hat back to me, or email HatsforSailors@gmail.com for a mailing address.

I hope you'll knit a hat -- or hats! -- for a Sailor. Even if the Nebraska isn't the receiving ship this year!


From the desk of your auntmartisignature

43 comments:

  1. I really don't know much about wool yarn. What brand do you use? I have thought of doing this before but this is the question that stops me. I knit socks and mittens (usually out of acrylic) so have no idea what to look for to do hats.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. My favorite for Hats for Sailors is Cascade 220 Superwash. It comes in lots of colors and is reasonably priced.

      Delete
    2. So Katy, PM me your mailing address and favorite color and I'll send you some yarn!!

      Delete
    3. Marti ... I also have some super wash I would like to send to some of your readers so they can make Hats for Sailors. Please let me know if you know of someone who would like it.
      Lynne, aka Shanti's Mommy (lengelbert@comcast.net)

      Delete
  2. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. As the weather has gotten cooler I find my fingers reaching for the knitting needles. Would love to make a hat for a sailor. As a civilian DoN employee I have firsthand knowledge of what our men and women are doing for us! Go Navy! Beat Army!

      (had a typo that was bugging me so I deleted, edited and reposted; why does my son say I'm a perfectionist?) :)

      Delete
  3. You are such an awesome girly girl. I guess I will have to get me some time to knit up a hat for you. Especially since I have a kiddo in the Navy too. Lucky for him he is enjoying Australia or at least he was last e-mail I received.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hi! I found your blog through Tami's Amis WIP Wednesday list. I think this is a fabulous idea! Both of my parents were in the Navy, and I love the idea of sending handcrafted hats for all the sailors.

    I have only been knitting for about a year and a half; I can't really add any more knitting projects to my current queue. But I've been crocheting for over 15 years and I know I could whip up a crochet hat or two. Is crochet okay for your giveaway? I wouldn't want to make something you can't use.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Crochet would be awesome JB ... just make sure it is 100% washable wool.

      You don't know me, but I'm the mother of the Navy Commander who started the whole Hats for Sailors idea.

      Shanti's Mommy (AKA, Lynne)

      Delete
    2. JB, crochet is fine, Lynne is the authority! PM me your address at AuntMarti at 52 Quilts dot com and tell me what color!

      Delete
  5. What about those people who are allergic to wool. I would be willing to crochet hats if I can use acrylic, since I'm allergic to wool. If wool is still the only option, I can get a friend to do one for me. Thanks! Victoria

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The Navy won't allow acrylic because it melts if it gets near fire. Should there be a fire near someone wearing an acrylic hat, it could melt onto a sailor's head, causing more injury.

      Delete
    2. That makes sense! Duh!!! I would still be willing to get some hats done if I'm selected as one of the lucky recipients! Thanks for this great opportunity! Victoria

      Delete
    3. Victoria, I'm sorry you won't be able to knit yourself (but I'll sneak in a skein of non-wool yarn just for your personal use!) PM me your mailing address at AuntMarti at 52 Quilts dot com and tell me what color!

      Delete
    4. Your going to think I'm really goofy but what does "PM" mean? Victoria

      Delete
    5. PM = personal message. Thanks for asking, you remind me not to use acronyms without spelling them out on the first usage. Style error, bad journalist!

      Delete
  6. Sounds like a great idea. Sign me up

    ReplyDelete
  7. Sounds like a great idea. Sign me up

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You're in, cupcake! PM me your mailing address at AuntMarti at 52 Quilts dot com and tell me what color!

      Delete
  8. Oh, good idea! Sign me up, too! (My husband is a Navy vet.)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Go Navy! PM me your mailing address to AuntMarti at 52Quilts dot com and tell me if you have a color preference!

      Delete
  9. If you haven't filled all ten spots yet, I can knit a hat. Out of curiousity, why not cotton? Is it the fire thing? I know cotton smolders pretty good, I didn't think it burnt well once spun. (I could be wrong)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Aimee, it is the fire thing. It's a Navy safety reg, and we all know safety is not something that is debatable! PM me your mailing address at AuntMarti at 52Quilts dot com and tell me what color you'd like!

      Delete
  10. I'd like to help too, Marti. I think this is a great idea and we are a Navy family here.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Actually, you're not! There are more than 10 comments, but so far only 9 people have asked for yarn! So send me a message at AuntMarti at 52Quilts dot com with your postal address and color preference. Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  12. I would love to knit hats! Can you just shoot me an email and let me know a brand of washable wool to look for? bevwalks at aol dot com Meantime, I'll look for some. This is a great idea. My Dad was in the Navy and although he has passed I'll be thinking about him on every stitch!

    ReplyDelete
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