Wednesday, October 11, 2006

Helmet Liners for our troops

*Update to Post*
This is a picture of me and my mom Audrey, holding our helmet liners.
Mom's is knit with some fancy ribbing, both are made of wool.



Helmet Liners for our Troops

http://www.geocities.com/helmetliner/

I felt this overwhelming need to add to my charity work (my main one is Warm Up America www.warmupamerica.com ) so my Mom and I decided to make a few of the helmet liners for our troops. My Mom knits, I crochet, and both patterns on that site need some refining. I emailed the organization for the helmet liners, but the lady who answered my email cannot crochet and she had no updates or changes to the crochet pattern. I ended up finishing it, adjusting the pattern a bit.

Here is a picture of my very simple helmet liner, nothing fancy, but for the military folks facing harsh winters across the world, I don’t think they want scalloped edges, cables or fancy embellishments. I need to say I DO NOT SUPPORT WAR but I DO support our troops.
Here is the pattern; I did not test it, anyone interested in testing this pattern for me?

Materials:
Size K/10 ½ (6.5mm) crochet hook and 100% wool yarn, I used Patons Classic Wool Merino in Deep Olive, approx. 1 ¼ skeins, (each skein is 223 yards, so approx. 279 yards)

NOTE from the website: The headgear our military issues are made of synthetic fibers and our troops are still cold. Use soft 100% worsted weight wool yarn, wool wicks away moisture and is non-flammable. The temperatures they endure are below zero in Iraq, Afghanistan, S. Korea and Kosovo.

Round 1: with yarn, form a ring around your finger, work 6 scs in ring then pull tail to tighten circle (note: there is no turning ch and no joining rounds)
Round 2: 2 scs in each of the next 6 sts (12 total sts)
Round 3: *sc in next st, 2 scs in next st* repeat * to * 6 times (18 total sts)
Round 4: *sc in next 2 sts, 2 scs in next st* repeat * to * 6 times (24 total sts)
Round 5: *sc in next 3 sts, 2 scs in next st* repeat * to * 6 times (30 total sts)
Round 6: *sc in next 4 sts, 2 scs in next st* repeat * to * 6 times (36 total sts)
Round 7: *sc in next 5 sts, 2 scs in next st* repeat * to * 6 times (42 total sts)
Round 8: *sc in next 6 sts, 2 scs in next st* repeat * to * 6 times (48 total sts)
Round 9: *sc in next 7 sts, 2 scs in next st* repeat * to * 6 times (54 total sts)
Round 10: *sc in next 8 sts, 2 scs in next st* repeat * to * 6 times (60 total sts)
Round 11: *sc in next 9 sts, 2 scs in next st* repeat * to * 6 times (66 total sts)
Round 12: *sc in next 10 sts, 2 scs in next st* repeat * to * 6 times (72 total sts)
This is the flat top of the helmet liner, measures approx. 7” across.
Rounds 13–25: sc in each st working in rounds, no turning chain and no joining. This is the side of the helmet liner, measures approx. 4” down from the top.
Round 26: for eye hole, measure at least 7 inches in front, place a marker/pin, count the stitches you will skip which is approx 25 sts, then chain 27, attach chain to marker/pin at 7” mark and sc each st, then cont. to Round 27.
Rounds 27-34:
continue sc each st, remember no turning ch, no joining (which sometimes can get hard to tell what round your on, so have stitch markers handy if you'd like.)
Rounds 35-37:
sc until you reach the middle of the helmet liner, decrease 2 times, by working 2 sctog twice (this is for chin) in the middle of front of hat, then cont. sc each st (sorry this is so vague, use your tape measure to find the middle.)
Rounds 38 – 56: Continue sc around until piece measures 9 inches from eye hole to bottom of helmet liner. Fasten off and weave in ends.

Please note, I did not test this pattern, anyone interested in testing this pattern for me?

Send completed helmet liners to:

Helmetliner
P.O. Box 236
Auburn, IL 62615