Knit Your Bit
"Knit your Bit" This web site was updated on December 20, 2007
If you'd like to knit for a Veteran, please read the press release that was be sent to local press.
Quick answers: You can knit or crochet any color scarf using any pattern. Keep in mind the majority of scarfs are going to men. The deadline for the local (Montgomery County, Radford Virginia) area is January 14, 2008. Drop off is Courtyard by Marriott in Blacksburg, or Asta Productions in Christiansburg. We are planning another Knit Your Bit night in September.
Blacksburg VA ------ Do you like to knit or crochet? Have you ever wanted to honor one of our American Soldiers? Could you knit or crochet a scarf for one of our war hero's? Well the opportunity to do just that is now available with a "Knit Your Bit" night in Blacksburg at the Courtyard by Marriott located just off South Main Street, near Professional Park Drive. On Monday night, December 17 from 6 PM - 10 PM, women (and men) are invited to a knitting/crocheting evening to make a scarf for a veteran. The completed scarfs will be mailed to The National World War II museum located in New Orleans LA. They will send the donated scarfs onto a veteran at a Veterans Center somewhere in the United States.
The National World War II Museum is proud to announce that it launched its own Knit Your Bit campaign last year and had no idea of the huge response that they would receive from dedicated knitters from around the country. Last year the museum received nearly 1, 600 scarfs from amazing knitters (crocheters) nationwide. They prepared a new pattern this year which is up on their web site and available for as a free download (The address is listed below) On their web site is the 2006 and 2007 pattern, however they have stated that they will accept any appropriate scarf.
You can help the Museum honor WWII veterans by Knitting Your Bit- in this case a simple, but cozy, scarf to be donated to a veteran in a Veterans Center somewhere in the United States. VA Centers across the country have expressed their appreciation and are waiting for you to make a difference in veteran's lives this winter.
You can make the scarf ahead of time and drop it off that evening or sit and knit with the ladies in the lobby of the Courtyard by Marriott. The National World War II museum asks that you fold your scarf and attach a paper with your first and last name and your mailing address. They will be mailing you a certificate of participation for your kindness. All of the past donated scarves have made it to veterans throughout the country. The Campaign has generated positive feedback, good will and warm necks. If you'd like to include a card to the Veteran it is going to, put your first name and last initial and the town and state you are from on the envelope. Then put in a nice card, even a St. Valentine's Day card will do! Attach it to the scarf.
The local organizer of the "Knit Your Bit" event , Christina Webb, found out about this program after Veteran's Day, however, Webb feels that local volunteers can make warm scarfs for Winter 2008 and/or St. Valentines Day. Webb said "Veteran's need to be remembered and honored more than once a year on Veteran's Day, how about on St. Valentine's Day too?" Webb has a local knitting/crocheting group that meets at her house once a week to knit their own projects or hat's to warm the heads of underprivileged children in this area. Chris Webb knitted 9 hats for a local event called "Light the Night" an alternative to Halloween. These hats were given to local children in the area. The hats were pumpkin hats and other wild and crazy designs to make the kids feel good while being warm. She also has knitted two hats for her soldier, Robert, in Iraq whom she adopted through the Soldiers Angels organization.
" We hope local women (and of course men) who know how to knit or crochet will come by on December 17 to sit, knit or crochet with us," Webb said in a personal interview "We have extra yarn available for people to choose from and extra knitting needles and crochet hooks for the volunteers to borrow and some even to keep. If they can't finish up that night, they can take home and return it another time, through January 14, 2008"
"I'd like to thank Robyn Snyder, the manager of Courtyard by Marriott for so kindly donating the space to our group so that we can do this to honor our Veterans." Webb said with a big smile on her face. "They have also volunteered light refreshments for the evening. I can't thank them enough for their big heart and generosity. We could really use others to help donate items and sponsor this event because there are costs involved with shipping the scarfs, buying more yarn and knitting needles and crochet hooks. It would be great if someone who has extra yarn or crochet hooks or size 7, 8 or 9 knitting needles and doesn't need them back, could donate these items to us." Webb is a one year cancer survivor and believes that God kept her here with her friends and family so she could organize charitable events like this one. Webb's cancer was in-operable, but through chemotherapy and lots of prayer, she is now in remission. If you have questions about this event, please call her at Asta Productions, 540-381-2294 in Christiansburg.
The National World War II Museum offered this information
as to why they started up their campaign of Knit Your Bit. --On the Home
Front during World War II, knitting served as one more way Americans could
support the war effort. The November 24, 1941 cover story of the popular
weekly magazine Life explained “How To Knit.” Along with basic instructions
and a pattern for a simple knitted vest, the article advised, “To the great
American question ‘What can I do to help the war effort?’ the commonest answer
yet found is ‘Knit.’” Thousands of Americans picked up their needles to knit
socks, mufflers, and sweaters to keep American soldiers warm and provide them
with a home-made reminder of home.
Many of those knitting items for soldiers during World War II had Knit for
Victory as children or young adults during World War I. Knitting provided
warmth and comfort for the soldier and therapeutic distraction and a sense of
civic participation for the knitters. First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt was often
photographed knitting for the war effort or at least carrying her voluminous
knitting bag. In the evening listening to war news on the radio, idle hands
were turned to service as Americans once again knit for victory.
The Red Cross supplied patterns for sweaters, socks, mufflers, fingerless
mitts (which allowed soldiers to keep their hands warm while shooting), toe
covers (for use with a cast), stump covers, and other garments. Cold, wet,
sore feet were also the enemy as surely as the Enemies were to the troops.
Socks wore out much faster than sweaters, and needed changing many times more
frequently. These were to be knitted in olive drab or navy blue wool yarn.
Surviving patterns show that these knitting patterns were typed and retyped
with carbon-paper copies and shared among the knitters. Many knitters chose to
knit the same item in the same size again and again so that they could
memorize the pattern and produce pieces more quickly.
“The Navy needs men, but it also needs knitters” newspapers cried. Church
basements, school lunchrooms, and members-only societies all had knitters
busily clicking their needles. Their handiwork was destined to warm and
protect, and fated to suffer with the soldiers. After the war, some knitters
dropped their needles for good. Others kept on knitting throughout their lives
in a wide variety of colors – any color, but many swore off Army-issued
khaki or olive drab colors.
The WWII Museum offers Answers to Many Frequently Asked Questions.
Does my scarf have to
follow the pattern?
The pattern is merely a reference. Some prefer knitting on the pattern, and
others will enjoy varying their stitches and such. Feel free to create. You
have two patterns to choose from the three-stripe and the V for victory, but
again, it’s only a suggestion. I’ll gladly distribute your scarves, no matter
what they look like!
Can I use other yarn?
You may use any yarn, any color. Please keep in mind that the overwhelming
majority of scarves will go to male vets when you are choosing your yarn.
Is there a deadline?
The project is ongoing and I will be making distributions as scarves come in.
So keep knitting, and your scarf will certainly make it to a veteran!
Can I enclose a note to the veterans who will receive my scarves?
Absolutely! Just mark the note, “Dear Veteran” or some way so that I know it’s
meant for them and not for me! Again, if you hope to correspond with the
veteran who receives your scarf, include a note or card specifically for
them. Also send an address label separate from the card so I know where to
send your deserved certificate.
How should I package my scarves?
The easiest way for me to receive your scarves and then send them on to
veterans is if you fold them up and place them in any large envelope that you
want or a large see through plastic bag. I will then include a card stating
your first name, last initial and where you are from. For example, my scarf
says: Lauren H. New Orleans, LA.
My knitting/crochet group wants to participate. Anything I should know?
For the group leaders out there: Firstly, thank you for making this a true
community effort! If you mail all of your scarves together, make sure you send
the names of each participant so I can make a certificate and letter for each
person who creates a scarf. Additionally, I would be thrilled if you could
snap a picture of your group in action and either email it to me, if a digital
camera, or put it in the box with your scarves.
