PROJECT HALTED: Knitted Helmet Liners Project (K-HeLP) - 2010

ENDING HELMET LINER PROGRAM AUGUST 31, 2010

I haven't been able to find the exact military order for this announcement but Citizen S.A.M. has excellent connections - far better than I do for this type of information - so Carla and I decided to stop accepting helmet liners as of August 31, 2010. We will mail all we have to our Red Cross Liaision, Susanne, who is currently in Afghanistan. After the August deadline, we suggest that any helmet liners you have left be given to local charities.

We want to thank everyone who has participated and hope that you will continue to help our troops by working on the wounded warrior afghan program that we have started.
http://www.squidoo.com/we-care-afghans-for-wounded-soldiers
http://www.ravelry.com/groups/we-care-stitchers

Hugs and happy stitching,

Kae and Carla

http://www.thestrengthbehindthestrong.com/
Citizen S.A.M Website has the following announcement.
Update: Farewell to Operation Helmetliner

After we profiled Operation Helmetliner in February ("Enlisting All Knitters: Help keep a soldier warm in Afghanistan"), many of our readers stepped up to help. Last week, Citizen S.A.M. - which runs Operation Helmetliner - announced that it is ending its program. Why? The U.S. military is now issuing its own helmet liners.
The Citizen S.A.M. newsletter explains:

As we gear up for Operation Santa, we say goodbye to a wonderful program, Operation Helmetliner. %u2026
The military will no longer be allowed to accept the liners you have so lovingly made.
If anyone has any completed liners ready to send to us, please do so quickly. Citizen S.A.M. will be allowed to ship completed liners until November 1st. These will be distributed by the military as goodwill gestures from the soldiers to the local population. %u2026 After November 1st, we can no longer ship them.

Thank you all for your awesome support of this very wonderful project over the past 5 years. Please use your skills and talents, care and love in other ways to support our troops.

January 2010 - 74 liners collected at Yarn Outlet:
Gayle K. from Tracy, CA mailed in 15
Anna R, Cedar Knolls, NJ mailed in 5

February 2010 - 76 liners collected at Yarn Outlet
Lynda T, Finchville, KY mailed in 5
Lynn M, Cutchogue, NY mailed in 2

HELMET LINERS NO LONGER BEING ACCEPTED. THIS PROJECT IS CANCELLED AT REQUEST OF THE MILITARY.

If you have a personal connection to a soldier you may use the pattern and ship directly to that person but PLEASE don't ship any more to me.

I'm happy to answer any questions you might have.

Hugs and happy stitching. May all the troops stay safe.

Kae

1. Use the pattern and knit 100% wool ONLY helmet liners. The knitted liners are prefered because they stretch more and thus fit better than crocheted is the report I've received.
2. When completed, drop them off at the Yarn Outlet, 416 S. 8th St, Colorado Springs, CO 80905 or mail them to that address with Attn: Carla and she will deliver them to Fort Carson. If you don't want to mail the liners, contact your local American Legion and see if they will deliver them to the nearest Army or Marine base.
3. Email me as to the number of liners you have sent or donated and we will compile a running total. Let's see if we can produce at least 911 by Sept 11, 2009.

IMPORTANCE OF HELMET LINERS:

Our troops need to be as safe and comfortable as possible while they are defending our freedom. The Knitted Helmet Liners Project (K-HeLP) assists in this goal.

These wool knitted helmet liners protect the soldier's head from pressure caused by the helmet, keep the head warm and remind them that someone back home cares for them enough to create a special handcrafted item just for them. Personally I find myself praying and thinking about the person who will be wearing each liner as I'm knitting it.

These liners MUST BE made from 100% wool worsted weight yarn so that excess heat won't melt the yarn into the skin if an accident occurs. Wool also retains its insulating properties even when wet and wicks the moisture away from the skin.

If you think of our troops only being in hot desert areas that is in error. Afghanistan airport at Kabul is over 5000 feet and high mountain ranges surround it. Since it is mountainous and arid terrain the temperatures drop drastically at night. One of my military friends said to think the mountainous area of Colorado and you have the same terrain in Afghanistan - summer is hot during the day and freezing at night.

HOW I GOT STARTED:

I am very grateful for our troops who are defending our country and I wanted to show my support. After a recent move to Colorado Springs (the home of Fort Carson Army Base, Peterson Air Force Base and the Air Force Academy) I came across a knit shop in my neighborhood and went in to explore. They had a foam manikin head with a snug fitting cap on it and a sign that said they had a pattern to knit helmet liners for the troops. In addition, they would take any of the completed liners to Fort Carson if I delivered them to the shop. This sounded like the perfect volunteer project for me while I learned my way around a new town. I asked for a copy of the pattern, purchased a skein of 100% wool yarn and started knitting and praying for the person who will receive the helmet liner.

WARNING!!! Knitting helmet liners is addictive!!! Since I started the first of April I have completed 150 liners as of Aug 28th and am still knitting!

MATERIALS:

YARN: 100% wool yarn ONLY (worsted weight) 1 skein (NO SYNTHETIC'S ACCEPTED) (Moda Dea, Cascade 220, Lion Brand Wool, Paton's Classic Wool, or Lane Borgosesia all work very well.

COLORS: Masculine browns, blues, olives and sage greens, russets and black.

NEEDLES:

Size 7 or 8 - 16-inch circular needles (or size to obtain gauge) AND
Size 7 or 8 double point needles (or size to obtain gauge)
One stitch marker
Optional (row counter)

NOTE: You can use longer circular needles and switch to the double pointed sooner. I used 24-inch very successfully for a while until I finally decided to purchase some 16-inch.

GAUGE: 4.5 stitches per inch in stockinet stitch.

INSTRUCTIONS:

With circular needle, cast on 90 stitches. Being careful not to twist the cast on stitches, place stitch marker and join row together.

Rows 1-3: K1, P1 ribbing.
Row 4: Increasing 1 stitch in first stitch, knit around (91 stitches). Continue knitting every round for 4 inches above ribbing. (Do not include the edge ribbing in the measurement).

Begin Decrease:

Round 1: (K11, k2tog) 7 times - 84 sts
Round 2: Knit
Round 3: (K10, k2tog) 7 times - 77 sts
Round 4: Knit
Round 5: (K9, k2tog) 7 times - 70 sts
Round 6: Knit
Round 7: (K8, k2tog) 7 times - 63 sts
Round 8: Knit
Round 9: (K7, k2tog) 7 times - 56 sts
Round 10: Knit
Round 11: (K6, k2tog) 7 times - 49 sts
Round 12: Knit

(Switch to double pointed needles when rows become tight)

Round 13: (K5, k2tog) 7 times - 42 sts
Round 14: Knit
Round 15: (K4, k2tog) 7 times - 35 sts
Round 16: (K3, k2tog) 7 times - 28 sts
Round 17: (K2, k2tog) 7 times - 21 sts
Round 18: (K1, k2tog) 7 times - 14 sts
Round 19: (K2tog) 7 times - 7 sts

Cut yarn, leaving a 6 inch tail. Thread tail through remaining 7 stitches. Pull tight and secure. Secure cast on tail.

Last week a shop patron arrived carrying a beautiful afghan she had made and donated "especially for a wounded soldier." Since that time we have inquired and discovered that Ft. Carson has a medical facility where the wounded soldiers are sent to recover - often without any of their personal effects - so all afghans and hand crafted items are gratefully accepted for them.

Materials 100% wool
Size 6, 7, or 8 - 16" circular needle or dp needles.

Pattern

Cast on 112 stitches very loosely.
Join (make sure not to twist) and rib (k1 P1 or K2 P2 for 9".
Cast off very loosely.
Weave in the ends.

The final report for 2010: Our total liners knitted and reported were 2,699!!! Way to go folks!!! This is 689 over our target number!!!

2010 HELMET LINERS by JANUARY 1, 2010

Now we need a new challenge. Let's use 2010 by January 1, 2010 and build on the ones already knitted - which would mean we would need to knit 868 more before New Year's. I think that is doeable even with the holidays and the economy so let's give it a go. Our soldier's deserve our meeting this challenge too and if we can double it - so much the better!!!

KNITTING CHALLENGE AND PATTERN - 2010 helmet liners by January 1, 2010.



9/11/09 total is 1,142 plus 1557 gives a final total of 2699 for Jan 1, 2010!!!



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Final total of first challenge of 911 liners by Sept 11, 2009.

FINAL total of completed liners -
5/20/09 to 9/11/09 Total donated is 1,142!!!!!

****************************************************************************

The helmet liner project was started in May, 2010 with the initial challenge of 911 liners by Sept 11, 2010 and we more than exceeded that goal. Since the project was so successful, we decided to extend it with a goal of 2,010 by Jan 1, 2010. We were delighted to exceed that goal as well so we have upped the challenge with a Double our Fun by knitting 4,022 by Jan 1, 2011. We will be posting monthly results so that everyone can measure our progress. Hope you can all participate and spread the word.

Running total from 9/11/09 final of 1,142 plus 1557 = 2699 on 1/1/2010

We need a new challenge so let's use 2010 by January 1, 2010 and build on the ones already knitted - which would mean we would need to knit 868 more before New Year's. I think that is doeable even with the holidays and the economy so let's give it a go. Our soldier's deserve our meeting this challenge too and if we can double it - so much the better!!!

I mailed 21 liners to my nephew in Iraq to share with his fellow soldiers. Here is his reply after the package arrived:

"The liners that Kay (sic) sent went quick. Those who hadn't received
one found out they had arrived and found me. Now we're all good. Getting
quite cold here so lots of use."

I wanted to share the comment since this is what the project is all about.

Kae

EXTRA! EXTRA! Read All About It!

Manahawkin, NJ joining the cause. Currently 5 teachers at Stafford Intermediate School has joined the cause. So far we have knitted 21 helmet liners, with the promise of more. Our helmet liners are being sent to the Jersey Coast Chapter of the American Red Cross 1540 West Park Ave., Tinton Falls, NJ 07724. Their organizer is Maureen Buehl (maureenb@jerseycoast-redcross.org) 732-493-9100.

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We received 6 more helmet liners in the mail on Nov 5, 2009 from Carolyn. Picture follows.

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Last week we received word that 45 liners were donated to the amory in Saginaw, Michigan.

This week, Sally from East Hampton, New York mailed in 8 liners. We were so excited to get them.

Then I received an email from Laurie that she is very eager to participate as her father is a veteran. We are looking forward to having her contributions as well.

Thanks everyone. Keep your needles knitting.

Weeks 15 & 16 - of 2010 challenge: December 31, 2009 Reached my goal of 300 total by today!!! Knitted 12 in the last 2 weeks and my daughter donated one. Also received email from Joan that 282 were donated to the Ft. Dix program. Way to go!!!

Week 14 - of 2010 challenge: December 18, 2009 I knitted 7 this week and my daughter added 1 to the pool.

Week 13 - of 2010 challenge: December 11, 2009 I only managed to knit 6 this week due to trying to knit a new pattern and doing a lot of ripping (aka frogging) since I didn't like how it looked.

Week 12 - of 2010 challenge: December 4, 2009 I knit 10 liners this week and donated them.

Week 11 - of 2010 challenge: November 27, 2009 I knit 9 liners this week and my daughter brought 4 to Thanksgiving gathering for a total of 13 donated to the knit shop this week.

Week 10 - of 2010 challenge: November 20, 2009 My total this week was 7 plus we received 17 in the mail at the knit shop for a total of 24 this week!!! See the pictures below.

Week 9 - B of 2010 challenge: November 13, 2009 - I managed to knit 9 liners this week to add to our total. Every liner helps so thanks to everyone who is contributing.

21 More liners added: Manahawkin, NJ joining the cause. Currently 5 teachers at Stafford Intermediate School has joined the cause. So far we have knitted 21 helmet liners, with the promise of more. Our helmet liners are being sent to the Jersey Coast Chapter of the American Red Cross 1540 West Park Ave., Tinton Falls, NJ 07724. Their organizer is Maureen Buehl (maureenb@jerseycoast-redcross.org) 732-493-9100.

Week 8 of 2010 challenge: November 6, 2009 We received 6 helmet liners in the mail from Carolyn plus the 7 liners I knitted out of donated yarn this week. Used a little more than 3 skeins in these 7 liners all of Knitaly. Have about 2 more liners worth of donated yarn to work up. Thanks to the lovely people who purchased and donated the yarn. Your gift is being put to great use. Carolyn, we are so grateful for your contribution. Thanks for mailing them.

Week 7 of 2010 challenge - Oct 30, 2009 Mailed more liners to my nephew in Iraq - 21 this week - 15 from the knit shop and 6 of mine then I knit 4 more for a personal total of 10 this week. They are delighted with the few they already have and asked for more. :>)))))

Week 6 of 2010 challenge - Oct 23, 2009 Mailed 4 liners to my nephew in Iraq and donated 6 to the knit shop for a total of 10 this week.

Week 5 of 2010 challenge - Oct 18, 2009 This week I knitted 10 liners and donated them to the knit shop. Received a great surprise when I delivered them - a knit shop customer had purchased 4 skeins of yarn for this project which Carla gave me to knit. Even non-knitters can participate and the yarn is greatly appreciated.

Week 4 of 2010 challenge - Oct 5, 2009 - Part 2 of Update I managed to knit 9 liners to take to the knit shop this week. Exciting news when I arrived - Sally had mailed 8 liners to the knit shop so now we have a total of 17 to add to the total.

Week 4 of 2010 challenge - Oct 5, 2009 - Part 1 of Update Talked to a neighbor and discovered her son is in Afghanistan so I gave her a liner to mail to him. This awesome lady raised 7 children by herself because her husband died of a heart attack at age 49. Currently 4 of those 7 children are in the military. She said she was touched by the gift of the liner - I'm very touched by her family and their service to our country.

Week 3 of 2010 challenge - Oct 2, 2009 45 liners donated to the armory in Saginaw, Michigan - GREAT!!! plus the 9 I managed to knit this week for a total of 54.

Week 2 of 2010 challenge - Sept 25, 2009 I donated 14 liners this week due to long waiting times for appointments.

Week 1 of 2010 challenge - Sept 18, 2009 Only 3 liners this week because I worked on another donation project. See my blog for details

We were successful beyond our wildest dream thanks to so many busy knitters. Some of these liners were donated to their local USOs or military bases and some were handed to Carla at the knit shop but all are used to assist our troops. Thanks to everyone!!!

As you can see, we aren't resting our our outstanding success - we are continuing to challenge each other and ourselves with the 2010 by January 1, 2010 project. I hope that we will also exceed that goal but without a goal we won't knit as many or be as dedicated as when we are striving to reach a target number.

Happy knitting everyone. I know our troops appreciate it.

I have completed 8 helmet liners and delivered them to the knit shop today - May 29th. While there I learned that Carla's son has been deployed to Afghanistan and took 30 liners with him. All have been distributed to other soldiers and he even gave his away. He has asked for more and stated that these are wonderful even in hot weather as the wool absorbs the perspiration, wicks it away from the skin and helps keep them cooler.

Here is a picture of the 8 liners I delivered today.

When you mail or deliver your liners to:
Yarn Outlet, 416 S. 8th St, Colorado Springs, CO 80905

Carla will keep a log and we will keep a weekly running total so knit, knit, knit so we can keep our troops as comfortable as possible. Thanks. Kae

If you have questions please email me at: kaeelliott9@gmail.com with the subject as helmet liners and I will try to answer any questions you have about this project or knitting problems you might have.

Week 2 June 5, 2009 - I've slowed down this week on number of liners knitted - only 5 this week. We didn't have as many appointments so my wait/knitting time was reduced. Occasionally I do need to do housework!

Week 3 June 12, 2009 - I've been knitting one a day and this group has a lot more striped ones since I've been using the small pieces left over to make the stripes. Wool is too expensive to throw any away so I've been striping the plain ones. I also decided to try Paton's patterned yarn and it knits up quite nicely. It is more the winter uniform colors but it is still the 100% wool.

Week 4 June 19, 2009 - I'm still on the 'one a day' knitting program and took 7 more over to the knit shop. The running total is now 27. Carla said that so far she hasn't received any from this challenge but she did send 18 to her son now that he is in a fixed location in Afghanistan. Once he receives that package, she will ship more.

Week 5 June 26, 2009 - This week I managed to knit 8 liners!!! Either I'm getting faster or spending more time - I'm not sure which but maybe a little of each. Either way - the total is growing and that is the main mission.

Week 6 July 3, 2009 - I've been goofing off and took a trip this weekend. Will give a full update on July 10th.

Week 7 July 10, 2009 - Last week we went to my husband's 55th hi school reunion. I got lots of yarn skeins made into balls but not as much knitting done so the count for 2 weeks was 12 helmet liners. On the plus side, I created business cards to advertise the project and gave 5 of those away to potential knitters. Hope some liners are added to the total soon. Back to knitting and writing a lens on our side trip to Grand Mesa, Colorado - a beautiful place to visit.

Week 8 July 17, 2009 - This week I've broken my own record and knitted 10 liners that I've donated. Not sure why I managed to do so many but glad I did. Carla, at the knit shop, said that she had 200 donated so we are adding that to the total towards the 911 by 9-11-2009 challenge.

Week 9 July 24, 2009 - Well I'm slipping a little and only knitted 9 this week. Note the comment of one being shipped from Indiana. I can hardly wait for it to arrive!!!

Week 10 July 31, 2009 - This week was high production for me - 14!!! liners. Probably due to the headache I can't shake so I've sat and knitted to blot out the annoyance of the headache. At least some one is benefiting from this headache!! We also received the liner from Indiana for a total this week of 15. Thanks.

Week 11 Aug 7, 2009 - Good News, Bad News - headache is better but production is down - only 9 knitted this week.

Week 12 Aug 14, 2009 - Back to knitting 10 liners this week.

Week 13 Aug 21, 2009 - This week I've donated 10 liners.

Week 14 Aug 28, 2009 - Only 8 donated this week - root canals and knitting don't mix when they give you strong pain meds for the aching tooth!

Week 15 Sept 4, 2009 - 12 liners knitted this week plus 3 I knitted earlier and mailed to my nephew that I hadn't counted before for a total of 15 donated this week. I forgot to take a picture of the 3 that went to my nephew - OOPS!

Week 16 Sept 11, 2009 - I completed 14 liners this week. The knit shop total is 795 for a grand total of 1,142!!! Way to go everyone!!!

I just received word that my step-nephew is being deployed to Iraq so I've mailed 3 liners to him this week. He can either use all of them or share with his buddies. Once he gets situated, I will send more if he requests them.

Carla gave 45 helmet liners to her neighbor who was being deployed to Iraq this week to save on the shipping costs. We would rather put the money into yarn than shipping so she attempts to hand deliver as many liners as possible by sending them with troops being newly deployed.

Carla informed me that she has received 200 helmet liners to add to our total for the 911 by 9-11-2009 Challenge. Her son-in-law in currently in Afghanistan and she ships them to him. He takes them to the activity area and puts them out for the troops who need them to take. He is always begging for more as the soldiers love them. Thanks to all who are reading, knitting and donating.

The picture is just a sample of the liners donated.