Knitting with Company

Thursday January 14th 2010

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Read down to get current updates.

If you’re like us your heart is breaking as you watch the reports of the death and devastation that the earthquake has brought to Haiti. One of the poorest countries in the Americas, where people live on less than $2 day, has been hit by another natural disaster.

The American Red Cross is estimating a death toll in excess of 40,000, and the lack of the most basic resources will make that toll rise if help is not immediate.

So here’s a way to help by donating to Doctors without Borders (Médecins Sans Frontières) and in return you gain free access to download the knitting patterns pictured below. For every dollar we raise one of our vendors will be matching (up to a maximum of $50,000). Knitting Fever, who supply us with some of your favorite yarns, including Noro, Louisa Harding and Sirdar have committed to making the match. Now that’s awesome – let’s see if we can max out that offer!

Click on comments below to get latest updates on fund raising.

Doctors without Borders work to provide medical aid in crisis situations – including natural disasters such as the Haiti earthquake. The Haiti disaster needs a rapid response with the specialized medical and logistical help that Doctors without Borders can provide.

A Typical Helmet Liner

Put Tuesday December 29th on your calendar – we (along with lots of other LYSs) are designating that as National Helmet Liner Day. As you may know, some 30,000 service men and women will be deploying to Afghanistan and they need hand-made helmet liners because the ones they are issued with are not close fitting and warm enough.

Our goal is to get 100 liners knit or crocheted by the end of January, and I know we can do it.  We will be here with patterns, yarn at a discount, and hopefully some donated yarn that will work, and lots of encouragement.

I know many of you have made these in the past, so if you have any good tips or advice let us know. We have a wonderful new pattern that seems to be just right, and is available in knitted and crochet versions. They must be made out of 100% wool, worsted weight (Cascade 220, Patons, etc) and need to be in black, brown, tan, olive, dark gray or brown/tan variegated. For the knit version, you will need to have size 8 16″ Circulars and DP’S and size 6 16″ Circulars for the ribbing.

If you can’t come in please make a few and send them to us, and we will send you a little thank you surprise!  Here’s a copy of the helmet liner knitting pattern and the helmet liner crochet pattern.  You can send your completed helmet liners to the address on the pattern, and we’ll make sure that they get delivered.

The spirit of knitting has never been stronger than it is right now, and there is nothing more worthwhile than letting our service men and women know they are cared for, so let’s get it done.