Knitted Helmet Liner
Materials
Cascade 220 or any soft wool yarn that will knit to gauge. Approx. 175 yards. (5 hanks of 220 will make six hats) The reason the pattern calls for 100% wool yarn is because the headgear the military issues is made of synthetic fiber, which is not as warm as wool. Our troops who are subjected to sub-zero wind chills are still cold in synthetic headgear. The goal is to keep them warm by using 100% wool yarn.
COLORS ALLOWED BY THE MILITARY are black, charcoal, brown, tan, olive drab. (Black is the preferred color.)
Size 8 - 16″ circular needle, or size to get gauge
Size 8 double point needles (DP), or size to get gauge
Size 6 - 16″ circular needles for ribbing.
One stitch marker
GUAGE: 4.5 st. /inches in stockinet stitch
NECK: With smaller circular needle, cast on loosely, 84 stitches. Place marker. Join in round and knit in 2X2 ribbing for 6 inches. (This added length is preferred, so it doesn’t gap at the throat when pulled up over the mouth.)
HAT PORTION: With larger circular needle, knit 32 stitches off smaller needle. Leave smaller circular needle in the rest of the stitches. Cast on 59 additional stitches, place marker to mark beginning of round, join in round, Knit even for 4″.
(Knit even means…..knit every stitch in every row.)
1st Decrease row: *K11, K2 tog,* repeat to end of round.
Next Row: Knit even.
2nd Decrease Row: *K10, K2 tog.*, repeat to end. Next row: knit even. Change to DP needles when necessary.
Continue decreases as established until K2, K2 tog. After this, decrease every row until 7 stitches on needle.
Cut yarn 8-9″ long, feed through remaining stitches and weave in.
RIBBING AROUND THE FACE: With smaller needle still in neck portion, pick up stitches around face. Join in circle and knit 2X2 ribbing for 1 inch. On last row of ribbing, decrease in a total of 4 PURL stitches by purl 2 together.
(2 sets on each side of face, i.e. 10:00, 2:00, 4:00, and 8:00)
Designed by Bonnie Long, Knit Wits, 3419 Chatham Rd. Springfirel, IL. 62704. 217-699-6100. All rights reserved. Copies may be made only for the purpose of donating helmet liners to our active service personnel. In any case design attribution must remain.
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Please consider sending some Helmet liners, prayers, support to this following group. (Thank You:)
http://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/
ABC News featured the 503rd/173rd in Afghanistan (last night). They’ve taken a beating carrying out an operation. The village elders who they have been helping and receiving their help/aid - -have been giving information to the Taliban. The program is on Nightline.
(Thanks Lois for the link to the show/article.) There is an address at the bottom of this post to send carepackages to the 2nd/503. Winter is fast approaching there. They will need warm flannel sheets, fleece/wool blankets, indoor recreations (video game systems, games, DVDs, cards, puzzles, board games…, boot liners, long johns, face mask hats (we have a page with directions to knit as well as other suggestions for Care package ideas.)
Consider sending a card, a box full of some goodies- maybe even with a theme such as:
Salty Snack Box: Beef Jerky, potato chips, pretzels, Nacho chips, cheese doodles, pop corn, corn chips, Bugles, Salsa, cheese (Velveta) plain corn chips…
Coffee/Tea/Hot chocolate Box: Sealed can coffee, tea, hot chocolate, cookies, granola bars, biscotti, Little Debbie Snacks……..
Winter Warm Box: Flannel sheets or pillow case, wool socks, gloves, face/head hat, long johns/under armour leggins Mens Medium - Large, fleece blanket…..steel travel mug to keep beverage hot….
Anything will be appreciated and the connection back to home is priceless.
http://blogs.abcnews.com/theblotter/2007/11/ambush-video-sh.html
ABC News: The Blotter
Ambush: Video Shows U.S. Troops Being Hunted, Killed
November 12, 2007 8:21 AM
Dramatic new video shows how American soldiers in Afghanistan are being set up for deadly ambushes after trying to make peace with village elders in Taliban-controlled areas.
The effort to win the “hearts and minds” of village elders in the Korengal Valley of Kunar Province in Afghanistan has proved to be a dangerous one for U.S. troops, with elders often suspected of tipping Taliban fighters to the soldiers’ schedule and whereabouts.
The video to be broadcast tonight on ABC News’ “World News With Charles Gibson” and “Nightline” was shot by “Vanity Fair” contributing editor Sebastian Junger and photographer Tim Hetherington embedded with the 2nd Platoon, Battle (B) company of the 173rd Airborne on a joint assignment for ABC News and “Vanity Fair” magazine.
Photos: The Forgotten War in Afghanistan
Six soldiers from another 173rd Airborne company, C Company, 1st Platoon, were killed in an ambush over the weekend in Afghanistan as they returned from a Shura, a meeting, with village elders.
The new video shows the men of the 2nd Platoon of Battle Company twice walking into traps after leaving meetings with village elders, one called to discuss details of a U.S.-financed water pipe project.
“We went from being the hunters to the hunted,” said photographer Tim Hetherington who was with the troops when they were attacked last month.
Good Morning America Video: The Forgotten War
Three U.S. soldiers were killed and six others wounded in the October ambush. A medic was killed in July as the platoon left a similar meeting with village elders.
The video also shows a contentious showdown between U.S. commanders and village elders, who deny hiding Taliban fighters.
“Are you calling me a liar that I got shot at last night?” Lt. Matt Piosa, the 2nd Platoon leader, shouts at the elders.
In the five and a half months the 173rd Airborne has been in Afghanistan, it has been involved in an estimated 450 enemy engagements, commanders say.
Watch the full report tonight on “Nightline.”
And look for more in “Vanity Fair’s” January issue on the newsstands in December.
To Send Letters to the Soldiers:
Many of our readers tell us they want to send their wishes to the soldiers of the 2nd Platoon, Battle Company, 173rd Airborne. As the forward unit in Afghanistan’s Korengal Valley, they are being profiled for a special project appearing in “Vanity Fair” and on ABC News.
Letters can be addressed to:
2nd Platoon, Battle Company, 2-503rd PIR
c/o SFC Patterson
Korengal Outpost
APO, AE 09354
This post has been updated.
