Wooley Pulley/Helmet Liner Update

I wanted to learn to knit so that I could volunteer my knitting projects. My first donations went to our troops. I recently sent an email to verify that the information I had was current.  Linda was kind enough to respond.
As of November 7th, this is the latest:

1. Update on "Operation Helmetliner": We transferred Operation Helmetliner to Citizen S.A.M. in Peoria, IL a few years ago, which apparently isn't doing much with that program. Citizen S.A.M. put out a notice stating that our military would no longer accept the hand-knitted helmetliners (wooly pulley/ski mask). This is totally untrue. It has and continues to be up to the individual commanders as to whether or not they allow non-military issued gear to be worn with uniforms. It was and still is our practice to check with each commander prior to shipping. This prevents our investment of time and money from going to waste for those who aren't allowed to wear the helmetliners and helps to ensure that those commanders who do allow them receive enough for their groups so no one is left out. 

2. "Sewing for Troops": This is the name of the corporation for our small "factory" of volunteers. Unfortunately, "Sewing for Troops" hasn't had the years of media coverage that "Operation Helmetliner" has had. The downside is we haven't received the donations to buy the materials for these volunteers to make coverlets/neck coolers/neck gators and to pay the shipping to the war zones for their products. They sew red/white/blue coverlets for our Wounded Heroes who arrive at their first medical treatment facility from the battlefield. In addition, they sew cotton neck coolers for hot weather and wool neck gators for cold weather for our troops on missions outside the wire. 

3. "Helmetliners": To answer your question about the current shipping address, it is "Sewing for Troops", P.O. Box 104, Dahlgren, IL 62828-0104. HOWEVER, we will accept helmetliners and scarves for our troops on a couple of conditions: (Sorry.) Because of our lack of funds, we need to receive donations (Checks may be made payable to "Sewing for Troops"). to cover costs and please ask your readers to make sure they follow the pattern exactly with a couple of updates. 1) ONLY black, dark brown or dark beige colors are allowed. 2) No "super wash" wool, as it is flammable. The treatment to make wool washable makes it flammable. We ship to our troops who are in remote, austere conditions, i.e. firebases, where explosions are a possibility. We don't want to increase their risk of injuries by using synthetics or sueprwash wool. Please attach the yarn label to EACH piece.

We have contacts in Afghanistan who will accept every helmetliner/scarf that is made and get it to our ground troops who are in the worst of the worst this winter. One of our contacts is in the Marine Corps, who pushes the helmetliners to our Marines/Sailors who are sleeping in the dirt. Another contact flies the planes that do the low-cost, low-altitude drops to our troops in remote, austere firebases in Afghanistan. 

Thanks, Kathy, for checking with us for updates and thanks to your readers for their long-standing support of our military in the war zones. Please let me know if you or your readers have any additional questions.

You can contact Linda at helmetliner@gmail.com if you have further questions.

KNITTING INSTRUCTIONS FOR WOOL HELMET LINERS FOR SOLDIERS

"HELMETLINER" KNITTING INSTRUCTIONS

(Known as a "Wooly Pulleys" or "Ski Masks" by our Armed Forces)

Materials:

Any soft, worsted (100 grams/3.5 ounces) wool yarn that will knit to gauge, such as Cascade 220 or equivalent. The label should state that for size 7 needle, 5 stitches per 1 inch, and for size 8 needle, 4-1/2 stitches per 1 inch. Approx. 175 yds. 

Only 100% soft wool yarn will be accepted, because our Armed Forces are not allowed to wear synthetic fibers outside the wire. Wool is inherently non-flammable and won’t melt against the skin in the event of an accident and is warm even when wet.

Do NOT use "super wash" wool, as the characteristics that make it non-flammable are removed when it is treated to be washable.

Color: ONLY black or coyote brown 

Size 8 – 16” circular needle, or size to get gauge

Size 8 - Double point needles

Size 6 - 16” circular needles for the ribbings

1 stitch marker.

Gauge: 4.5 stitches per inch in stockinette stitch

Be sure to check your gauge to ensure the helmetliner will fit properly when worn. 

Neck Ribbing: With smaller circular needle, cast on 84 stitches loosely. Place marker. Join in round and knit in 2x2 (meaning knit 2, purl 2) ribbing for 6 inches.

Cap: With larger circular needle, knit 32 stitches off smaller needle onto the larger size 8 circular needle. Leave smaller circular needle in the rest of the stitches. The smaller circular needle will just act as a stitch holder while you complete the cap portion with the size 8 circular and double-point needles. 

Cast on 59 additional stitches, place marker to mark beginning of round, join in round, knit even for 4”. ("Knit even" means to knit every stitch). 

Be sure to check your gauge. Even being off 1/2 stitch per inch will make the helmetliner useless, as it will not fit properly.

1^st decrease row: *Knit 11, Knit 2 together,* repeat to end of round.

Next row: Knit even.

2^nd decrease row: *K10, K2 together,* repeat to end. 

Next row: knit even, meaning to knit every stitch. Change to double point (DP) needles when necessary.

Continue decreases as established until knit 2, knit 2 together. After this, decrease every row until a total of 7 stitches remain on the double point needles. Cut yarn 8-9” long, feed through remaining stitches and weave in.

Face Ribbing: With size 6 circular needle that is still in neck portion, pick up the 59 stitches that you cast on when starting the cap portion. Join in circle and do Knit 2, Purl 2 ribbing for 1 inch. On last row of ribbing, decrease about 4 stitches by purl 2 together in 4 locations around the face. You may need to increase or decrease the number of times you decrease (purl 2 together) so that it isn't too tight or too loose in the face ribbing. This keeps the wind from whipping underneath it.

Cast off. Weave in ends. 

(The original pattern was designed by Bonnie Long, Knit Wits, 3419 Chatham Rd. Springfield, IL 62704. 217-698-6100. Revised 1-19-05. All rights reserved. Copies may be made only for the purpose of donating helmets to our active service personnel. In any case design attribution must remain. Operation Helmetliner, Inc. has made changes to the original pattern for clarity and to incorporate suggestions from our Armed Forces).

SCARVES FOR TROOPS

Scarves need to be made of soft, 100% wool (No Superwash, as it is flammable), alpaca or cashmere yarn or blends of these yarns, either medium weight, worsted or bulky weight. Using medium or worsted weight yarn, 4 - 50g., or 2 - 100g. balls will make a crocheted scarf. Knitting should use a little less yarn. Scarves can be knitted, crocheted (lengthwise is easier), or sewn from fabric. Finished dimensions: approx. 12 " x 42 " No fringe or scallops, just plain stitches.  THE ONLY COLORS ALLOWED ARE:  dark beige, dark brown and black or combinations thereof.  NO BLUE ! 

If knitting, please don't use stockinette stitch, as the edges will curl.

Using the Herschnners yarn, dark beige, I find that crocheting is faster. I use an H hook.  We have always done the scarves starting with a lengthwise chain that is 42". We find that this is even faster. I usually use sc for the first row, then a half double for the whole scarf.  It makes a sturdy piece with no holes. It takes 4-50gm skeins, or 2-100 gm skeins to make one. I am able to sc around the entire scarf, also.

By Donna Rose

November 2011