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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.   

htttp://www.nationalww2museum.org/education/knitting.html 

    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 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.