BellaOnline Forums Hobbies and Crafts Crochet I adopted an Army troop

My son has a little friend that he has just been wanting to go play with but he lives several blocks away from us (too far for a 7 year old to go along) so I received a note from the Mother with their phone number and address asking me to call to set up a play date of sorts, and then it said this week isn't good because my other son is here visiting from Iraq. I thought nothing of it really , took Nick over met the parents all went well. Then ding ding ding I thought I will adopt their troop, make slippers, hats and cooldanas. thought it was the least I could do for someone from my town, so I called the Mom and she is thrilled. I'm on my 7th pair of slippers and working hard at it. I did tell the Mom that I won't be making cookies and that they were much better off because I can't cook all that great.

Eva, you are so sweet to do something like that.

I've heard of organizations/websites that make needlework articles for the troops. Those things you mentioned are perhaps beyond my skill level, but I expect you may get others to participate if you want.

Of course then it would be another job and might be too much to handle as a practical matter.

You would think with all the government resources, that those items would be supplied to the armed forces. It's still a nice personal gesture though. Good luck! <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

A very neat idea <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

My husband came home from Iraq a few months ago, so I asked him what else soldiers could use of a crocheted variety. The thing he thought might be most useful is scarves for night patrols--even in the summer, it gets pretty cold at night. Brown and tan are the best colors for that sort of thing, since those colors blend in best with the uniforms. Small items like this are good, because they travel with so much--they will work to keep these things with them and safe, because it means so much on deployments. This is a lovely gesture, Eva. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Thank You, I am going to put together a good package for them and it is going to include:

1 pair of crocheted slippers
2 cooldanas
some gum or hard candy

I figure by the time I get all the slippers and cooldanas done, a winter beanie or scarf won't be needed but this give me time to surprise them by next winter with the beanie and scarf.

Sounds like a great idea. What's a cooldana? :rolling:

I made knitted socks for the Navy. They need them on the submarines. They don't wear shoes because of the static. The guild I belong is making teddy bear outfits for the police and fire dept. Just in case the find a child you could use or need a teddy bear in emergercy situations. We heard about a Mom that was badly hurt in a car accident and the only way the could get the child out of the chair seat was to give the child a bear that calmed the child down so they could help the mom who was injured. Anne

Hi Anne, yes the teddy bear does work. When my 7 year old was about 10 months old he had a Fiberle seizure and was taken by ambulance to the hospital (we were in a grocery store). They would not let me ride in the back with him so he was just crying, I'm crying, then they brought out this little bear and it certainly worked wonders for both of us :love:

Shawn: Do you have a particular pattern, yarn requirement, needle info, for the scarfs? Where do you mail them? Thank, Puddy <img src="/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

Sorry, haven't had the chance to look in awhile. <img src="/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />
I don't have a particular pattern in mind--there are so many and I wouldn't want to completely limit your creativity--but something that is simple, plain and sturdy is the way to go (I didn't make one for my hubby; he told me not to send anything I made to him, as he didn't want to risk something I had made being lost or damaged. A few years ago, I made some dishscrubber cloths that to this day he won't use because he doesn't want to mess up something I made <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> ). The color that's best would be a tan that's close to the desert camo colors of the uniforms (something that blends in and won't be noticeable). It's got to stand up well to all the wear and tear that comes with being in the field, as well as good hand-scrubbings. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> I would suggest a sturdy yarn like Lion Brand Kitchen Cotton (think it's called Lion Cotton now), though I'm not sure what colors that comes in.
There is not a centralized process for sending out things like this. All units have a family support group, so if you know someone in the military or a family member of a service member, they can put you in touch with their support group. Packages received that are not specifically addressed probably won't make it, for security reasons, so they need to be addressed, for example, to the unit commander with a note to please hand out. If you don't know anyone involved in the military, you can contact the nearest Army or Marine Corps base; each post has a family services building that should be able to help. It might be a tedious process, so I'd advise trying to go through either military people you know, or even a church group (many are putting together care packages). The Red Cross is a great option to go through as well. I will be on the lookout for a particular pattern that looks good.

WHEEEEWWW, I finished 24 pairs of slippers, 24 cool ties in the brown khaki, getting ready to cut the and make the cool ties in the green khaki, begged and pleaded for 24 packs of gum & got them. I think they will be pleased when they get their unexpected surprise. I was told that the service men & women really appreciate anything that is sent to them.