one way to REALLY support the troops: knit or crochet a wool helmet liner

[eShirl]

Sure, it's late August now, but that just means you have plenty of time to make a bunch and send them out so they can arrive before the cold weather sets in. (note: I'm not one of the organizers, I just found this website and thought some other people at DU might be interested)

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

"We currently have more than 200,000 troops in overseas theaters where they are subjected to sub-zero windchills during the winter. Please help us have a warm helmetliner for each one of these troops before next winter. While this is a formidable goal, if everyone knows about the need, we can meet it. People are glad to help our troops if they know what they can do."

[NMDemDist2]

1. i'm pretty bad a crochet, but I may send this info to the ladies who

quilt in our Red little town

thanks for the link!

[ima_sinnic]

2. hey, I'm a knitter looking for a new project, good idea

-- jut kicking myself that I sold a bag of leftover balls of yard a while back, having not knit anything for a few years and wanting to clear out clutter.

I am going to try one and see how quickly it can be done.

[eleny]

3. thrift shops are great for picking up good yarns

[knitter4democracy]

4. Done three, working on the fourth.

I should get my butt moving on that, actually . . . Thanks for the reminder!

[politicat]

5. Does anyone know if these need to be pure wool?

I found a great yarn that's 55% wool, 12% cashmere, and the rest viscose, so it would have the warming and wicking properties of wool but the washability and shape retaining of other materials. Would this work, or should I continue looking for something else?

[photogirl12]

6. Well...

The only thing that you should really stay away from is synthetic fibers. Synthetic fibers can melt onto the skin if the troop wearing it gets burned. The wool, alpaca, or llama will singe away.