I think I should have joined you for your Father's Day celebration instead of the one I went to.

Very, VERY cool.

That is the coolest idea. I donated some calling cards before, but I didn't think about the guys that didn't have any family. I feel like such a schmuck. Thanks for the links!

Thank you, thank you, thank you. Mr. M was in the military during the first Gulf War and although he had me and my family to support him, many do not have that support. Every little bit helps these men and women. Thank you.

I wish I'd known about this -- I would have been there this weekend!

Can we really send handknitted items for soldiers? I didn't see this on their wish list.

Thank you dear Laurie for posting this. My nephew will be going on his 3rd tour to Iraq in August. I will have to look into what I can do for someone without family.

The Ships Project (not just for the Navy anymore!) has patterns and info for donating stuff, too. But why is the only camo yarn I've ever come across either acrylic worsted or Lorna's Laces fingering/sock weight???

Your Dad must be very proud of you.

Thank you for posting about this organization. I spend money and now will sending knitting to Afghans for Afghans, however, I'm putting out the word to friends and fellow knitters in my area about Operation Gratitude. We all know someone involved with the military, this will be a wonderful outlet to help.

Ok! I found some Bernat Camo Yarn and I've got my big ass DPN's ready. Let's make some hats!

What an inspiring, beautiful and selfless post Miss Laurie (*whose very special day is Thursday*)
Although the war is a subject that many of us avoid discussing; I believe we all agree on wholeheartedly supporting the troops.
peace.

hahahaha ... knitters at the ready!

I will find out from Carolyn what, if any, handknits they may need for the winter drive.

It truly was an overwhelming sight, all those boxes for complete strangers doing a job in some far-away place. It was lovely.

What a fabulous idea! How about we get everyone organized to make socks? I'm a firm believer that hand-knit socks will improve any situation, even a war. Not fix, of course, but improve.

Thank you for telling us about this! I know several people who are serving but like the others, I hadn't thought about those men and women who don't have families back home. I love this project. Let us know when you come up with a knitting project. For now, I'm going to go visit her site! :)

P.S. How is your Father faring in the Hurrican Zone?

What a fabulous idea! How about we get everyone organized to make socks? I'm a firm believer that hand-knit socks will improve any situation, even a war. Not fix, of course, but improve.

Laurie,

This is a great idea! I have been looking for a way to get involved with knitting for soldiers and haven't really done much about it. You are such a go-getter knitter! I've been crocheting mini-blankets for the animal shelter (check out the Hugs for Homeless Animals website) and this seems like a great way to be a charitable knitter!

I know there is a group out of Springfield, MO that is making helmet liners for soldiers....Their website is: http://www.operationhomefront.org/Community/knitters.shtml
Maybe we can bombard them with liners for the Winter!

Hi Laurie, Here is a web site that has a pattern for knitted helmet liners for soldiers. They must be in the colors indicated and 100% wool- no synthetics. The directions are clear and they are fun to knit! http://www.operationhomefront.org/Community/knitters.shtml

Enjoy your blog!

I'm ready and willing to knit!

Maybe we could knit a new president? In the meantime, my needles are at attention for any knitting project that is needed.

That's pretty cool!

The wish list does say "Knit Hats and Gloves" It doesn't say "handknit" but I'm sure that was just an oversight. ;)

See, this is what makes our country great. Say what you want about Americans, but where else in this world can you find such giving hearts who pull together to support their troops?

Risha, posting from a local hotel parking lot till I can get net back on at home.

Ha ha - Hi. Me again. Doing a little frenetic commenting.

What about the CAP Brad Pitt/Angelina Jolie knit hat? That would be fab-u-lous in all shades of camo/army green/khaki! And a quickie. We could make LOTS and LOTS!

Way to use your power for good instead of evil!! Thank you for sharing this with us....what a wonderful and worthy cause.

With much love and thanks, Liz

Let's show our awesome volunteer military the full force of knitterly love - Laurie, please do organize something we can all participate in as a group. Jann, you may have an idea there...

That is SO AWESOME!!
I also know a fellow blogger who does this thing with shoe boxes and orphanages.
GREAT IDEA

Awww. Yay you!

As the mom of someone who spent 18 months over there, I am grateful for the people who do these things. My son told me (he was only 20 at the time) that those kinds of things were what got him through the day sometimes.

Great ideas for our soldiers, Laurie! The Red Cross has vintage patterns online for socks, caps, sweaters, etc. People have been knitting for soldiers through all of the wars. Here's the link: http://www.redcross.org/museum/exhibits/knits.asp

My husband is currently over in what we call the sandbox and he gets packages sent to him from people other than me and it makes a huge difference to them. I really appreciate all the support other people give them too.

As a military member, you made me shed a little tear. Not for myself, as I've been on homefront shore duty for a few years now, but I served in Iraq and Afghanistan. I can't even begin to explain the reaction that a care package gets when every day over there starts to seem the same. Not only is it a little piece of home when everything else is unfamiliar, but it is a reminder of what we hope to represent to the rest of the world -- the generous hearts of most Americans and their willingness to help others. Thanks for posting this.

As far as handknit items, I would echo the comments about the hats and gloves, but don't discount socks and felted slippers. They would be great when you take off your boots at the end of the day. A hand knit face cloth would also be useful, if you felt the urge for something quick. (As a female military member, the best care package I ever got when I was deployed was a pedicure kit. A reason to be girly!)

I only learned to knit when I came home from the Iraq war, but most of the guys at work know I do it. Now I even get requests. Wait until I bring my spinning wheel on my next trip!

I would definitely knit something for a soldier (or two or three). Socks are always good. (I'm a Ships Project refugee.)

Weird thing you didn't know about me, I nearly joined the Navy right out of high school. Long story, I'm not in the Navy but I am totally on board for the CAPTALK (Crazy Aunt Purl Troop Assistance League of Knitters).

Anyway, I know Bernat has some great camo yarn. Totally washable and not scratchy.

I like knitting for soldiers too. I'm a Quaker, so that seems to suprise people. I've sent care packages before through anysoldier.com--it's pretty wonderful. Socks and beef jerky and motorcycle magazines! (only one of those items being knit, of course.)

Thank you so much for bringing this organization to my attention. The company I work for does something similar, but even close to this scale! My SIL was in Iraq for 4 months in 2004-05 and thankfully had plenty of us sending her care packages. She's a generous person and shared with others, but unfortunately there are too, too many soldiers with either no family or family that can't afford to send regular packages. (Thanks also to the commentors that included the link to the headwarmers.)

Well said! And a big thanks for brining this to the attention of your readers! My dad was overseas during the first golf war and I was very involved with sending care packages. But he's retired now, and in the hustle and bustle that sort of thing has slipped my mind. Thanks for the reminder and I'll watching other comments for suggestion on what to knit!

What a cool way to celebrate Father's Day! I love the idea of knitting something for our troops. Patons Classic Wool has an olive drab shade. I'm in!

Just another note - remember - dark green is not necessarily the color to use. A nice sandy brown/beige is better.

I would love to do some hats or something and send them. I'll look into it.

You pick the project and I will prepare my needles! What a fabulous idea! I'm in!

I would absolutely LOVE to knit something purely to do something good, esp. for victims of natural disasters. Have I yet? No. But reading this is spurring me to get my buns more actively participating, and I'd love to help out the soldiers too, even if Bush is... well, never mind.

I would absolutely LOVE to knit something purely to do something good, esp. for victims of natural disasters. Have I yet? No. But reading this is spurring me to get my buns more actively participating, and I'd love to help out the soldiers too, even if Bush is... well, never mind.

Argh, sorry for the double!

Knit a new president! Bwah ha ha ha!!!
ahem...

Count me in, I love it when Knitters get together to do some good! If my memory serves me (and it rarely does) I believe it gets downright chilly over there in the winter, so blankets might work as well. I'll await the word and will knit whatever is needed. Except socks. I don't know how to do those yet.

Faith - I almost joined the Navy out of undergrad! And my dad's a career Marine. Laurie, is your friend (Haji-o-matic?)still out for Hell-iburton? I've collected more kids' meal toys. . . And I'm game for knitting anything in desert camo!

Mark me up! I'll gladly do some socks and helmet liners. I may not believe the reasons the jerk in the white house and his faithful buds say we're there (it's only for $$$ - that I know) but I do support the men and women who are there.

There's a new sockknitting group called SOCKFORSOLDIERS (yes, we know it's not spelled right) that is making big black socks, the standard kind for all the services. We hope to have 500 pairs done by the end of October to send through an established distribution channel to reach the troops by Christmas. Check out the yahoo group and think about joining forces.
Nora

Feedback on the acronym? What do y'all think?

CAPSTALK

Crazy Aunt Purl Support Troop Assistance League of Knitters

I have a friend who does something like that on a smaller scale up in the NY state area -- a way for her to feel productive while her husband was in Iraq. Always a great idea.

And I think that all that altruism is doing Carolyn nothing but good -- she's fifty-something? She doesn't look a day over forty!

For knitted items for our troops, visit this website: http://www.theshipsproject.com/Home.htm

Laurie,
You organize it and I will knit!! I am so glad that you brought attention to this effort because it seems like such a wonderful project! I was also thinking brangelina hats, if we did socks they would have to be tube socks but we could also make fuzzy boots. Last winter when we were doing the fuzzy foot along, I knit my husband fuzzy boots, all I did was make the cuff a bazzilion miles long and voila!!
Love You Laurie Girl...
Heidi

That stack of boxes is truly impressive! My sister spent just over a year in Iraq and she told me how much it meant to her to keep going day to day when she got a box of goodies, which she always shared with her fellow soldiers.

On a less serious note, I was thinking of you last night when watching "Entourage". One of the characters was bitching and complaining about going to the Valley because it's so hot and at the very end he decided the Valley wasn't so bad after all.

Laurie,
I have been reading your blog for quite some time now and have never replied, but being the mother of a US Marine I had to thank you for this post.
My son returned from his first tour in Iraq in April. He said that the care packages that he received from strangers were unbelievable and that it was the generosity of those people who made an unbearable place bearable! My son will return to Iraq in September for another 6 month deployment and although we will still worry about him while he is gone, we will worry less knowing that there are people out there who are willing to give of themselves to show a little love and support for our service men and women! God bless you all!

My regards to Roy, Sobakowa, Bob and Frankie!

Wow!! Note to self: Always end day by reading inspirational post and comments!! Thanks, Laurie, for the great post! As Tina said, I also "would absolutely LOVE to knit something purely to do something good"! The cause that is closest to my heart now is different, but the idea is the same. I work a lot with immigrants and refugees (World Refugee Day event in Omaha was Saturday), and I see so many patients in my hospital whose children have no warm clothes to wear in our FREEZING Omaha winters. I have been talking to a few people about maybe starting some kind of group here to knit items for these beautiful little children (being from Africa or Latin America, they are NOT used to winter:-)). So, it's a different cause, but thanks soooo much Laurie for the inspiration today. It gave me quite a bit more encouragement and hope to think that I (one person) could organize something here to help, and even if I were a fraction as successful as Carolyn from "operation Gratitude" it would be great! It's so exciting to read comments from so many people getting excited about helping someone else!! Thanks everyone!

That's an awesome idea! I'll try to send something too.

My needles are ready and waiting! Count me in on CAPTALK! Can't wait to see what we wind up doing.

Here's a link to many, many patterns worthy of consideration.

http://www.bevscountrycottage.com/troops.html

what an awesome woman.
and of course, you with the power of the blog and the Sobokawa's mind meld, you'll have us all knitting stuff for them. Don't know what they'll do with wool in the hundred-plus degrees, but damnit, I'm sure we'll find something to knit them!

LOL

actually...love the idea. Really.

Hey there! As a military wife with my hubby over there as we blog...there are many organizations that help and send knit stuff over there!
The Ships Project (also for ground troops) they also make cool ties(which are great for these super hot months over there!http://www.theshipsproject.com/Home.htm
and Helmet Head , Liners for their kevlar helmets http://groups.yahoo.com/group/helmetheadskal/

However I would be happy to help with whatever you come up with as well!

Ok that was odd, it said it was sent by Yvonne, yet it was what I posted... odd indeed... lil blogger elves at work no doubt!

That is inspiring! I want to help!

I can knit scarves. And only scarves that seem to get wider because of my magic "making of extra stiches" power.

But that's okay....right?

I am so very glad that you use your powers for good and not evil. :-)

I'm in with Shannon and Charlotte and the helmet liners. I was going to post the idea and URL but decided to skim messages first to see if anyone else had already done so.
The liners are easy to make and from what I've heard, purty near mandatory in the cold months there.

Ain't it a shame with all the billions Congress keeps allocating towards this nightmare of a war, that our men and women don't have what they need to stay safe and comfortable there? Good thing our brave and patriotic defense contractors are being well cared for with that money. I'd hate to think some friend of Randall "Duke" Cunningham's might have to fly first class instead of on his own plane.

So long as these poor soldiers are stuck there getting their asses shot at to preserve Halliburton's bottom line - and it makes me sick to know they're forced into this by greedy chickenhawk politicians - this old anti-war, anti- Bush knitter will do what she can for them and will proudly enlist in CAPSTALK too.

Knitted helmet liners are verrrry cool. Wool doesn't burn and great for winter wear and stylin and profiling while on guard duty or in the turret of an up-armored Humvee.
BUT ENOUGH WITH THE FOOT POWDER!! PLEASE....we have enough....now FOOT LOTION is good......

That is a fantastic idea.

What a great idea -- it's a lovely way to make a difference. This was just the post to get me off my duff and find some good volunteer opportunities in my area.

Thank you CAP. I had a tear in my eye. I am a civilian, working with the military here in Afghanistan. I have seen soldiers get giddy with small gifts from the states. I saw a young female wearing a cow washclothe on here badge yesterday. ( a gift from someone) As for what is needed here. In the winter the weather is Colorado like and windy. As for right now its hot, windy, and dusty. Boredom is the worst part of life here. I am on a big base but the same stuff happens everyday. The smaller bases are worse. One cool but very sad thing that happens is when a soldier is killed they line the main street and salute the casket as it goes by. A last goodbye, I always wish for the families to have peace in their hearts.

im chiming in on my two cents and saying thanks for the great post and if CAPTALK is gonna happen, you can count me in. maybe even sending along a couple of phone cards or my old cell phone along with some helmet liners.

alright CAP, you got us all geared up. you'd better direct it at something soon!

If only I could knit...

Alice they do issue helmet liners, they are ugly and not very nice. As a greedy defence contrator, I can tell you most of the guys I've met here are here for one of three reasons, fresh start get out of debt, serve after retirement, and/or a way to help out,or they are from other countries. The first class seat I got was on a plane with mostly military, broken seats about 10 inches between seats and we were in the air off and on the plane for 25 hours. I am former Army and felt like I was too old and fat to fight but I could help by getting them new training and better equipment.

As a mother to an Airman and a Marine, I can't tell you how much these types of care packages mean not only to the serviceman and women but to there families. To those of you who give of your resources, time and hearts THANK YOU!
I sent my Marine off with a couple pair of knitted wool socks. Walking 60 miles a week with a little of home on his feet. Again Thank you.

Here's another link for a helmet liner pattern, along with scarves:

http://www.geocities.com/helmetliner/

It has an address where you can send your finished objects. Cascade 220 is recommended as a wool to use.

CAPSTALKer reporting for duty. I have knit only square stuff so far but I will attempt socks or the helmet liner with some help from my Mom. She and I are headed to Mexico City for a week in July and hopefully she can teach me some new tricks.

I'm ready and willing to able to knit something for soldiers! I think a hand knit washcloth would be fabulous. Something they could use everyday and I know they are going to be softer than the standard issue variety!

-Jody

Wonderful post, Laurie and thank you for helping!! I want to let you all know that there are several other orgs that support our troops as well. You can sign up to adopt a soldier and send him/her letters and packages all year long, get an e-pal and do lots more.

www.soldiersangels.org
www.anysoldier.com

Want some fun? Go to the $1 store and buy lots of water balloons and squirt guns and candy and send it off - it will make you feel like a million bucks!

Hey ya'll, I was at an airbase in SW Iraq this last winter, and care packages really made a difference. Keep in mind that knit caps and scarfs have to be in authorized colors, usually only black or tan. The NCOs love to harass the young airmen for stupid things like not wearing a hat properly. I wanted to scream 'its a warzone, idiot!'

I had an idea... what about ribbed neckwarmers knit in the round kind of like a turtleneck thing they can slip over their neck, but without the dangly part of a scarf, or we could knit them flat and have a button enclosure

Hi! I got one of those boxes while I was deployed last summer! Thanks so much for getting the word out...it is awesome what she does for morale of those who are deployed. :)

I am in. Hate the politics of war and love the men and women who work their asses off as soldiers. What a tough job they have and I have total admiration for each man and woman who gives their time, resources and lives to serve. I am happy to knit up whatever, whenever and in whatever color is needed. Cool idea!!

Just happened to find this site by GOOGLING Qiviut. Just so happens that i found 11lbs of the stuff. Last year i had 6lbs and kept it in the family. This year i will have i made into yarn and offer it for sale. I think it will be around 100oz's when done. Last year made some hats and mitt's out of sport weight and it turned out awsome.Probally be a couple months before i get it back. Please pass the word. I need money for gas for my airplane!

Great post, Laurie! I'm always amazed at the amazing stuff a motivated individual can achieve. Let's get knitting!

do they need hand knitted stuff in that climate? does it get cold at night there? me=clueless

you know, i was all ready to post here and proclaim that i'm all mentally balanced now and things are back on course and read this post and now i'm sitting at my computer bawling. (but thanks for the post anyway.) :)

Sign me up! I'm happy to host a CAPSTALK stitch n bitch (although here in northern cali, we call them knit & wines), and insist that all people who join us knit something for a special soldier. I bet I can get my LYS to host the event! We can probably raise that good woman some money too!!

ok. I have tried to learn the knitting and I just couldn't get it. I have retarded fingers. but for this, as god is my witness, I will learn (had to throw in a little M. Mitchel drama for you.)

and yes, for the anonymous poster asking if it's cold, it can get extremely cold at night in the desert. Hypothermia can be a serious danger.