'Thoughful Thursday' The Military Heros Comfort Project

Have you ever stopped to think of just how much our veterans sacrifice for us? I don't do it nearly often enough. But consider what we ask -- if not expect -- them to do: leave their families, their homes, their lives in order to stay in a foreign land, with very little money, precious little in the way of creature comforts, and nonstop uncertainty and unpredictability. Oh, and they don't know when they leave if they'll ever see their families again.

All of this, just to make sure that we still have freedom -- freedom to speak out against the government; freedom to pursue whatever life path we wish; freedom from unjust governmental treatment; freedom to worship in whatever manner we desire; freedom to go about our daily lives without the fear that at any moment we will have bombs falling from the sky.

This is not to say that we will necessarily agree with every military conflict. However, it is to say that the people who have chosen very difficult lives in order to keep us safe and free have made tremendous sacrifices to help millions of people they do not know. That demands not only our respect, but also our appreciation.

As charity knitters, it seems the least we can do to help our men and women in uniform to pick up our needles in support of them. Today's 'thoughful Thursday'  featured charity is dedicated to helping these people know they are loved and supported, as well as their families.The Military Heroes Comfort Project is a group of crafters dedicated to making comfort items for Military cancer patients and their families at Military Hospitals.

 Comfort Items are awarded to local Heroes in recognition of brave service they have given to show appreciation for each service member's sacrifices, their love of country, their bravery, and commend their efforts to make the world a safer place. 

How can you help?


As they face the great battle of fighting the insidious cell called cancer, MH Comfort Project supplies comfort items, and sincerely hope they will be comforted with the hope, grace, gratitude, peace, and love in which these comfort items have been made especially for each of them by the hands of grateful fellow citizens of the United States and members of the Military Heroes Comfort Project team.  
M.H. Comfort are looking for donations of comfort items, no money please. Just items that make our patient, military heroes more comfortable: lap quilts, afghans, hats, slippers, socks, thank you notes, cotton and jersey material, batting for quilts, thread, yarn, hats (of all kinds), certificate paper, etc.

Please send your items to:

Military Heroes Comfort Project
R.J. Davis - President
3327 Nansemond River Drive
Suffolk, VA 23435

You can find all the details at M:H.Comfort on google+ 

M.H.Comfort are a relatively new volunteer group and have managed to donate over 150 comfort items to local military hospitals in Virginia. 

         Please help them if you can!

Here are a couple of free patterns to get you started.

 Family Hat Knitting Pattern

Size

To fit head circumference 35 (40, 45, 50, 55, 60)cm

Age approximately 6 months (12 months, 18 months, teen, woman, man)

Materials
Yarn:

Double knitting type (8 ply) yarn of your choice. Approximate quantities are 140m (160m, 190m, 240m, 270m, 300m)

Needles:

3.25mm and 4mm circular needle, 40cm long.
A set of 4mm dpns

Tension

22sts to 10cm over stocking stitch on 4mm needles

Abbreviations

K2tog = knit 2 sts together

Pattern

Using 3.25mm needles cast on 78, (90, 102, 108, 120, 132)sts, join for circular knitting and work 9.5 (9.5, 12, 14.5, 15.5, 16.5) cm of k1, p1 rib.

Change to 4mm needles and work 8.25 (8.25, 10, 12, 12.75, 14)cm st st (knit every round).

Decrease for crown:

Note: I have written the crown instructions for each size separately for ease of knitting. Follow the instructions for the size hat you are knitting.

Size 35cm K 2 rounds (K11, k2tog) 6 times (72sts) K 2 rounds (K10, k2tog) 6 times (66sts) K 1 round (K9, k2tog) 6 times (60sts) K 1 round (K8, k2tog) 6 times (54sts) K 1 round (K7, k2tog) 6 times (48sts) K 1 round (K6, k2tog) 6 times (42sts) (K5, k2tog) 6 times (36sts) (K4, k2tog) 6 times (30sts) (K3, k2tog) 6 times (24sts) (K2, k2tog) 6 times (18sts) (K1, k2tog) 6 times (12sts) (k2tog) 6 times (6sts)	Size 40cm K2 rounds (K13, k2tog) 6 times (84sts) K 1 round (K12, k2tog) 6 times (78sts) K 1 round (K11, k2tog) 6 times (72sts) K 1 rounds (K10, k2tog) 6 times (66sts) K 1 round (K9, k2tog) 6 times (60sts) K 1 round (K8, k2tog) 6 times (54sts) K 1 round (K7, k2tog) 6 times (48sts) (K6, k2tog) 6 times (42sts) (K5, k2tog) 6 times (36sts) (K4, k2tog) 6 times (30sts) (K3, k2tog) 6 times (24sts) (K2, k2tog) 6 times (18sts) (K1, k2tog) 6 times (12sts) (k2tog) 6 times (6sts)	Size 45cm K 2 rounds (K15, k2tog) 6 times (96sts) K 1 round (K14, k2tog) 6 times (90sts) K 1 round (K13, k2tog) 6 times (84sts) K 1 round (K12, k2tog 6 times (78sts) K 1 round (K11, k2tog) 6 times (72sts) K 1 round (K10, k2tog) 6 times (66sts) K 1 round (K9, k2tog) 6 times (60sts) K 1 round (K8, k2tog) 6 times (54sts) (K7, k2tog) 6 times (48sts) (K6, k2tog) 6 times (42sts) (K5, k2tog) 6 times (36sts) (K4, k2tog) 6 times (30sts) (K3, k2tog) 6 times (24sts) (K2, k2tog) 6 times (18sts) (K1, k2tog) 6 times (12sts) (k2tog) 6 times (6sts)
Size 50cm K 2 rounds (K16, K2tog) 6 times (102sts) K 2 rounds (K15, k2tog) 6 times (96sts) K 2 rounds (K14, k2tog) 6 times (90sts) K 1 round (K13, k2tog) 6 times (84sts) K 1 round (K12, k2tog 6 times (78sts) K 1 round (K11, k2tog) 6 times (72sts) K 1 round (K10, k2tog) 6 times (66sts) K 1 round (K9, k2tog) 6 times (60sts) K 1 round (K8, k2tog) 6 times (54sts) K 1 round (K7, k2tog) 6 times (48sts) (K6, k2tog) 6 times (42sts) (K5, k2tog) 6 times (36sts) (K4, k2tog) 6 times (30sts) (K3, k2tog) 6 times (24sts) (K2, k2tog) 6 times (18sts) (K1, k2tog) 6 times (12sts) (k2tog) 6 times (6sts)	Size 55cm K 2 rounds (K18, k2tog) 6 times (114sts) K 2 rounds (K17, k2tog) 6 times (108sts) K 2 rounds (K16, K2tog) 6 times (102sts) K 2 rounds (K15, k2tog) 6 times (96sts) K 1 round (K14, k2tog) 6 times (90sts) K 1 round (K13, k2tog) 6 times (84sts) K 1 round (K12, k2tog 6 times (78sts) K 1 round (K11, k2tog) 6 times (72sts) K 1 round (K10, k2tog) 6 times (66sts) K 1 round (K9, k2tog) 6 times (60sts) K 1 round (K8, k2tog) 6 times (54sts) (K7, k2tog) 6 times (48sts) (K6, k2tog) 6 times (42sts) (K5, k2tog) 6 times (36sts) (K4, k2tog) 6 times (30sts) (K3, k2tog) 6 times (24sts) (K2, k2tog) 6 times (18sts) (K1, k2tog) 6 times (12sts) (k2tog) 6 times (6sts)	Size 60cm K 2 rounds (K20, k2tog) 6 times (126sts) K 2 rounds (K19, k2tog) 6 times (120sts) K 2 rounds (K18, k2tog) 6 times (114sts) K 1 round (K17, k2tog) 6 times (108sts) K 1 round (K16, K2tog) 6 times (102sts) K 1 round (K15, k2tog) 6 times (96sts) K 1 round (K14, k2tog) 6 times (90sts) K 1 round (K13, k2tog) 6 times (84sts) K 1 round (K12, k2tog 6 times (78sts) K 1 round (K11, k2tog) 6 times (72sts) K 1 round (K10, k2tog) 6 times (66sts) K 1 round (K9, k2tog) 6 times (60sts) K 1 round (K8, k2tog) 6 times (54sts) (K7, k2tog) 6 times (48sts) (K6, k2tog) 6 times (42sts) (K5, k2tog) 6 times (36sts) (K4, k2tog) 6 times (30sts) (K3, k2tog) 6 times (24sts) (K2, k2tog) 6 times (18sts) (K1, k2tog) 6 times (12sts) (k2tog) 6 times (6sts)

Finishing

Cut yarn, thread through remaining stitches and fasten off

Darn in loose ends

Stash Buster afghans

These use up all those leftovers you have from your other projects very quickly. As you can see from the photo you can strand more than one yarn together to get a heathered effect or some special color and texture variations. You can use decorative stitches when making one of these but the color combinations add a lot of interest all on their own.
NOTE: You do need to pay attention to your knitting tension when working with different weight yarns. If you pull too tightly on the thinner yarn this will cause the afghan to buckle where the tension changes. Makes it hard to fold neatly when that happens.

---

Materials

Seven assorted partial or full skeins of yarn in coordinating colours. As you can see from the picture if I run out of one colour that I've chosen, I move on to another partial skein for when that colour comes up in the rotation again. That also adds interest to the colourway of the blanket.
Designate one color as the main colour for the afghan, you will need approximately 4-5 full skeins of that colour.
Knitting needles Size 8  -(4mm) or size that will work with the yarn that you've chosen
Large eye yarn needle

Finished Size

40" x 65" - this makes an excellant size for a recliner blanket or taking a nap on the couch.

Gauge

Totally dependant upon the yarn being used. The pattern is set up for knitting worsted weight yarn.

Afghan pattern

Using the MC loosely cast on 200 sts. Work in Seed Stitch (k1, p1, reverse on the next row) for 5 inches from the beginning of the afghan.
On the next row, work 25 sts in Seed Stich, place marker, knit to the last 25 sts, place marker, work in established pattern in Seed Stitch to finish the row.
On the next row, work the border in Seed Stitch using the MC, attach another color being sure to cross the yarn strands to avoid any holes on the border edge, purl the main body of the afghan to the marker, attach another skein of the MC, finish the row with the Seed Stitch border.
Repeat the previous two rows in pattern until the afghan measures 60 inches from the beginning.
The colourway as per the picture for the Blue Stashbuster Afghan is as follows - 

Colour	# of Rows
Light Blue	5
Main color	2
Green	3
Main color	2
Gray	1
Main color	2
Varigated	3
Main color	2
Dark Blue	5
Main color	2
Purple	3
Main color	2
Neutral/Brown	1
Main color	2
Light Blue	3	The 7 yarn colorway begins again here
Main color	2
Green	5
Main color	2

When the colorway begins again you're at a different point in the row number progression. This helps to add color interest to the afghan instead of having the same colors form the same row repeats throughout.

Continue to work in the established color pattern with the number of rows given above until the afghan measures 60 inches from the beginning.
Use the MC to work the final Knit or Purl row.

Work the remaining 5 inches of the afghan in Seed Stitch using the MC to complete the border. Bind off all stitches loosely.

Finishing:

Weave in all loose ends.

'Thoughtful Thursday' Cure Caps

'Made from the Heart to Cure the Brain'

Cure Caps. Chris Hempel founded this knitting caps charity in November of 2007 after her 5-year-old identical twins, Addi and Cassi, were diagnosed with a rare and fatal brain disease called Niemann Pick Type C. Children with this disease rarely live past the age of twenty -- Chris is literally fighting for the lives of her precious children.

Unfortunately, there are 7,000 known diseases in the world. Major pharmaceutical companies only invest and perform research for 200 or 3.5% of all diseases. Research for Chris' children is almost non-existent. She and her husband Hugh are taking on the battle single-handedly. Raising money for research is key in the battle for their children's lives.

The vision of this knitting charity is to sell hand-knit caps and raise money for collaborative brain research that includes Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, ALS, Fragile X/Autism, and Niemann Pick Type C. 100% of the proceeds go directly for research.

Joined by their friend, Herah Osborne (the mother of twins who suffer from Fragile X/Autism), the Hempels inspire and encourage knitters to hand-knit and donate 100,000 Care Caps. And they actively search for a major sponsor to help market them.

How can knitters help?

So far, Chris and Herah have raised awareness and have received 3,000 caps, but they need many, many more. Please join this very important cause and send your caps to:

The CureCaps Project
c/o Ms. Addi & Cassi Hempel
14125 Saddlebow Drive
Reno, NV 89511
(775) 849-1924

 There is no one pattern that should be followed when making CureCaps.  They want each CureCap to be a unique.  Their tagline is, “Made from the Heart to Cure the Brain.”  and want CureCaps to be designed for kids and adults — each hat represents hope for cures for the brain.  Just send hats — all shapes, sizes, colors and styles!

 Visit Cure caps website. Be sure to watch the touching and informative videos to fully understand the mission of this special knitting charity.

Please join and help the Hempels fight for the lives of their children. If you've ever considered knitting for charity, now is the time! Help and donate caps, contact all the knitting charities you support and share information about Care Caps, and direct knitters you know to this blog for more information. 

Charity knitting has never been more important!

Carnival Earflap Hat

This ear flap hat is attractive and warm to help keep you warm while you are enjoying your outdoor activities. Great for snow sports, camping or anytime you need to keep that chill off. With a matching ball on the top of crown. Closure two matching braided tie strings to close the hat with. I made this to match with the Carnival Scarf and Fingerless gloves.

GAUGE: 17 sts = 4”; 20 rows = 4” in St st.

CHECK YOUR GAUGE. Use any size needles to obtain
the gauge.
Double Pointed Needles: 5mm [US 8].
Circular Knitting Needle: 5mm [US 8] – 16”.
Crochet Hook: 6mm [US J-10].
Stitch marker, yarn needle, pom pom maker.


Circumference: 18 ½”.
Hat fits most women.


EARFLAP (Make 2): With grey double knit, cast on 3 sts using double
pointed needles.
Row 1 (Right Side): Knit.
Row 2 and all even rows: Purl.
Row 3: K1, [M1, K1] twice – 5 sts.
Row 5: K1, M1, K3, M1, K1 – 7 sts.
Row 7: K1, M1, K5, M1, K1 – 9 sts.
Row 9: K1, M1, K7, M1, K1 – 11 sts.
Row 11: K1, M1, K9, M1, K1 – 13 sts.
Row 13: K1, M1, K11, M1, K1 – 15 sts.
Row 14: Purl.
[Knit 1 row. Purl 1 row.] twice. Break yarn.

HAT: With circular needle, cast on 10 sts, with right side facing, Knit across 15 sts of one earflap, turn, cast on 25 sts, turn, with right side facing, Knit across 15 sts of remaining earflap, turn, cast on 10 sts; join to work in the round placing a stitch marker between first and last sts to
mark beginning/end of rnds – 75 sts.

Knit 2 rnds even.
Change to grey eylash and work 2 rnds.
Change to blue double knit and work 8 rnds
Change to blue eyelash and work 2 rnds.
Change to raspberry double knit and work 6 rnds
Change to grey eyelash and work 2 rnds.
Change to grey double knit and work 2 rnds.
Change to grey eyelash and work 2 rnds.
Change to blue double knit and work 14 rnds.
Change to raspberry double knit and work 2 rnds straight (hat measures 7” from beginning).
 Change to double pointed needles while working next rnd, dividing sts onto 3 needles.
Shape Top-Next Rnd: [K2tog] 37 times, K1 – 38 sts.
Next 2 Rnds: Knit.
Next Rnd: [K2tog] 19 times – 19 sts.
Next 2 Rnds: Knit.
Next Rnd: [K2tog] 9 times, K1 – 10 sts.
Break yarn and weave tail through remaining sts; draw up firmly, secure on wrong side.

FINISHING: With right side facing and crochet hook,
attach raspberry double knit at center back; ch 1, sc around lower edge of hat, including earflaps, taking care to keep work flat; join with a slip st in first sc. Fasten off.
Tie: Cut nine 30” strands of A and draw through sts at point of earflap to the mid-point of the strands. Divide the lengths into 3 sections of 6 strands each and braid them for 11”. Knot the end of the braid. Trim ends even. Repeat for other earflap.

Using pom pom maker and A, make one 3” pom pom and secure to top of hat.



SPECIAL ABBREVIATION:
M1 (make one stitch) = Lift running thread before next
stitch onto left needle and knit into the back loop.

The stripe pattern is only a guide, you can change the design to suite or knit in one colour it's up to you - just have fun!

Easy Fun Panda Hat

Isn't this panda hat so cute! does it make you want to knit one for yourself?
To knit this panda hat, you only need basic skills: Cast on, knit,purl,  decreases, bind off.

Sizes 3 years (4-5 years, 6-7 years, Adult)

Finished Measurements
Hat circumference: 16 (18, 20, 201/4)" (40.5 [45.5, 51,51.5 ] cm)
Materials
1 skein white double knitting type yarn
Size 7 (4.5mm) needles
Yarn needle

Small amount of black double knitting yarn for features
Small amount of red double knitting yarn for tongue.

Hat

Cast on 72 (80, 88,97) stitches. Work in stockinette stitch (knit 1 row, purl 1 row) until the piece measures 41⁄2 (5, 51⁄2, 51/2)" (11.5 [12.5, 14, 14]cm) from the beginning.

Shape Crown
Row 1: *K6, k2tog; repeat from * to end-63 (70, 77,84 ) stitches.
Row 2: and all wrong side rows Purl.
Row 3: *K5, k2tog; repeat from * to end-54 (60, 66, 72) stitches.
Row 5: *K4, k2tog; repeat from * to end-45 (50, 55, 60) stitches.
Row 7: *K3, k2tog; repeat from * around-36 (40, 44, 48) stitches.
Row 9: *K2, k2tog; repeat from * around-27 (30, 33, 36) stitches.
Row 11: *K1, k2tog; repeat from * around-18 (20, 22, 24) stitches.
Row 13: K2tog around-9 (10, 11, 12) stitches.
Cut the yarn, leaving a long end. Use the yarn needle to thread the end through the remaining stitches. Draw together tightly and fasten off and sew seam.

Eyes – Make 2
With black, cast on 21 sts loosely. Knit 3 rows. Pass all sts, 1 at a time, over first st. Cut yarn,
leaving a long tail. Thread tail through remaining st; pull to tighten. Embroider whites of eyes and black french knot in centre.

Ears(make 2)
With black cast on 20 stitches.
Row 1: Knit.
Row 2 : Purl
Row 3 :Knit
Row 4 : Purl
Row 5: k2tog, k 6; k2tog; k2tog, k 6 k2tog
Row 6 : k2tog, k4, k2tog, K2tog, K4, k2tog
Row 7: k2tog, k2, k2tog, k2tog, k2,k2tog
Cut the yarn, leaving a long end. Slip 4sts onto a second needle. Hold both needles parallel to each other and use the yarn end to graft the stitches together

NoseWith white, cast on 15 sts. Work in St st for 8 rows.
Next Row (RS) *K2tog; rep from * to last st, k 1 – 8 sts.
Cut yarn, leaving a long tail. Thread tail through remaining sts; pull tightly and secure.
Sew Nose seam.

Tip of nose With black, cast on 5 sts. Knit 2 rows. Purl 1 row.
Next Row K2tog, k 1, k2tog – 3 sts.
Next Row Purl.
Next Row K3tog – 1 st.
Cut yarn, leaving a long tail. Thread tail through remaining st; pull to tighten.
sew Tip to Nose.

Tongue With red, cast on 3 sts. Work 4 rows in St st. K3tog. Thread tail through remaining st; pull
to tighten.
FinishingUsing photo as a guide, sew knit Eyes and Ears in place. Stuff Nose and sew in place.
With black, embroider mouth. Sew Tongue to
mouth.

For those who prefer to knit with circular needles the hat pattern is the same a froggy hat a previous post on this blog. http://dianne-jones.blogspot.com/2012/01/easy-fun-froggy-hat.html