Knitting Charity Pimp Post: Covers and Soles

[neadods]

Pimp post for a new charity knitting project: Covers and Soles. Covers and Soles is a new charity that collects hand-knitted hats (covers) and socks (soles) for the troops. I'm attracted to it for two reasons beyond "I get to feel like my knitting has a purpose."

1) The woman running it says "I'm not asking you to agree with why they're fighting or approve of where they are; I'm just asking you to support them as people in a dangerous job." Which is good, because I don't agree and I don't approve, but I do *know soldiers,* I mean, I know *actual individuals* who've been deployed, and that I can't turn my back on.

2) There is a distinct minimum of "Our brave, noble, saint-like troops" or "Do it for Jesus" in this appeal. A paragraph of rah-rah ending "They deserve the best we can give" and "God bless America" show up -- once -- on the brochure and the website. But on the whole, I feel completely welcomed even being your basic commie pinko new deal democrat elitist liberal atheist... and yeah, we did very, very briefly talk about politics before all politely heading off into discussing Doctor Who.

The hat pattern - available for free at the website - dates back to the 1940s, with a slight modernization at the crown to make it fit more snugly under helmets. (I'm doing a test-knit right now; it goes easy and makes good "purse knitting.") Covers and Soles can take only military-approved yarn and colors, listed at the website, for deployable hats and sells kits at cost. (There is apparently a possible need for "undeployable" hats for returning injured veterans; I'm looking into that.)

Covers and Soles has also teamed up with the Delaware-based Stockings for Soldiers, which sends personalized stockings overseas stuffed with goodies. They have a knitting pattern as well, but Firefox has crashed twice when I try to open it, so I can't talk about that. However, SfS also wants gently used DVDs, CDs, and mass market non-romance paperbacks, so if there are any of those you're looking to send to a new home...

(Yes, I name-dropped The Book Thing!)

Stockings for Soldiers has asked Covers and Soles to try to come up with 10,000 hats for them in addition to what C&S is already knitting. So if you're interested, take a look and cast on.

Comments

[harmonyfb.livejournal.com]

Hats and socks? Isn't it like a million degrees over there? Why would they need hats?

[neadods.livejournal.com]

Washable helmet padding, in the same way socks are basically washable boot padding. That's why C&S changed the way the crown of the hat finishes off, so that it lies more smoothly under a helmet.

PS - That's also why they're sticklers about washable wool. Wool won't flame up or melt to the skin if if the wearer is caught in an explosion.

I kinda doubt they wear hats when not in full battle gear. Cause, yeah, desert heat.

[lizvogel.livejournal.com]

I believe it also gets mightily cold in parts of Afghanistan at night. Mountains, y'know.

[neadods.livejournal.com]

True although I have no idea where C&S is sending the hats, if it's somewhere in the mountains or not.

[lizvogel.livejournal.com]

True enough. There's a lot of rough terrain IIRC in the eastern parts, toward Pakistan, though, so the odds are good.