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Winter Newsletter Scarves for Troops Project
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Dear Knitters, Crocheters and Crafters,
"I truly want to thank you for the beautiful scarf you did send to me. It will help me keep
myself warm during my missions. Thank you all, for your prayers and your time for us. Your Soldier"
Following this newsletter are some additional responses from appreciative recipients of your scarves. J I've included letters from service members who mention the specific name of a knitter/crocheter. I thought it would be nice for you to hear from one of the people who received your gift. Enjoy reading these letters from our brave heroes. There are many more wonderful letters I'll share at a later date.  The "Sharon Howard Scarves for Troops" knitters and crocheters are heroes too! Sharon would be so proud and appreciative, as I am, that in 2010 we received 28,800 items of warmth including scarves, hats, gators and gloves. I think we can achieve our goal of 50,000 in 2011 or 2012 when we can send an item of warmth to each and everyone on our Holiday care package list!! Thank you all so very much for your efforts, dedication and beautiful handwork, and for your love of country and our service men and women.
A special thank you to Casey's knitting friends from Belgium! It was kind of you to contribute from so far away. Welcome to Operation Gratitude and the Scarves Project! We told you about 98 year old Joan Mazzarelli's 500+ scarves in December. We also sent scarves crocheted by a WWII veteran this year and last!! They are a true patriots. Some things I've learned this year as Scarves for Troops leader: 1. The best way to attach your personal notes to your scarves is with a piece of yarn through a hole in the note and then tied to the scarf.
2. Avoid yarn that is very bulky. Even though a scarf is within the size measurements, it can still be a bit too bulky (dense). Be assured, we always do our best to include as many of the scarves as we can. Still, the box is not that large, so please be mindful always of size and density. The flatter the scarf the better--we fold them about 10" long and have no more than two inches in depth per box for our knit items. If you double knit or use thick, tightly woven yarns we cannot guarantee your items will be sent in the packages. Important note on Scarf Size: Because of a few larger boxes sent this year, thankfully, many of our oversized scarves did make it into care packages. However, as a rule, the boxes are so full of other goodies that the thicker scarves cannot fit. Please adhere to the following measurements: 5-7 inches across, 46-50 inches long. Smaller than that and they look a bit skimpy; longer than that and they're often too bulky! No fringe, please. 3. Many of you are so thoughtful to place each scarf in an individual plastic zip-lock bag. However, the bags fill with air and take up too much room in our boxes so I ask that you do not use individual bags. Instead, when mailing to the Armory, please place scarves all together in one large plastic zip-lock or draw-string bag so the scarves remain clean and dry during transit to us and while waiting to be shipped to the troops. Plus, it will save you money on those individual bags!  4. For lots more information about the Hand-Made Items program, patterns for scarves, hats and Bandana Cool-Ties to knit, crochet and sew, check out our Blog Post: Made With Love for Troops
And we have just added a new very simple knitting pattern for scarves (on the blog and below).
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For those who prefer sewing over knitting, Joy has submitted a new suggestion for making quilted scarves. Thank you, Joy!
Quilted Scarves
If You Can Sew 2 Pieces of Fabric Together and cut in a straight line, you can make a scarf!
Need:
18 6" x 6" Squares
1 piece of 4 oz weight polyester batting 48" long by 5 ½" wide
(The 4 oz weight gives enough warmth to the scarf, but still makes it light enough to be packed and mailed. This can be bought on rolls at a width of 48" which I feel is a good length, but anywhere between 45-50" long is fine. You can cut off some excess material to match the batting length.)
Directions:
1. Sew 9 squares together .
2. When machine sewing, feed them through the machine with the presser foot's right edge aligned exactly with the right edge of the Squares. This is what is known as a ¼" seam allowance.
3. Sew another 9 squares together.
4. Take the two long strips, and put them together face to face. Then sew these together along one long edge.
5. Open the two strips and fold them back-to- back. Place the batting in between the two strips.
6. One of the strips will need to be folded over the batting so it does not stick out. Before sewing the remaining 3 sides, each piece needs to be folded in ¼ inch and pinned before sewing. If you are not good at pinning, you may want to iron the fold to stay better.
7. Now sew the end, down the long side and across the other end, with the ¼" seam allowance.
8. Be careful to remove pins as you come to them while sewing to avoid damaging your machine's needle. Make sure you are catching both pieces of material as well as the seam fold.
9. To secure the batting so it doesn't slide inside, sew down the length where the two strips were originally joined together. Sew where each of the squares were sewn together, sewing through all layers. (This process is also known as "stitch in the ditch")
10. Trim the strings and your scarf is ready to go!
Heading Into Spring!
Our hope is that even though the 2010 Holiday drive has ended, you all will be inspired to keep your hands and needles busy making scarves for the 2011 Holiday Drive. Our goal is to send at least 40,000 this year!! So, we will surely need your help.
Our storage at the armory is limited, so please hold on to your completed items and then ship them to us between September 15- December 5, 2011.
If you'd like to take a break from knitting/crocheting, but still like to craft, we have a great project for our spring Patriotic Drive: Bandana Cool-Ties! You can find details and instructions at the end of this email (after the troop letters) on the Cool Ties. Be sure to read to the bottom.
We receive so many heartwarming letters from our troops about your scarves---The time and effort we give here at home to make something special for our troops, who risk life and limb for us every day, means so much to them. Your hand-made gifts may be the greatest way that we can honor their service and express our gratitude. Thank you for your continued participation!
Lorene VanArk-Miller has graciously agreed to help me with email correspondence. Lorene has been a volunteer with Operation Gratitude since the beginning, as a knitter, Cool Ties maker and letter writer!! She's the BEST and knows a lot about the organization! Please feel free to email her with questions and/or suggestions. Lorene's email: LoreneM@socal.rr.com
May you all have a warm and blessed New Year!
With love and gratitude,
Elaine Campbell and Lorene VanArk-Miller
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And now a few letters from our Military.
This one: Looking for the knitter:
Dear Operation Gratitude,
I just wanted to thank you on behalf of my husband and his buddies. They all want to thank you for the things they received in their care packages. They got some amazing letters that are now hung in the offices and racks. When they get home I will be framing the ones my husband received. I know it made their Christmas that much more special to see that people they don't even know care about them and support what they are doing. Its amazing what a letter can do to a person. The day my husband got his package was not going so well, his mom passed away a year ago, he has missed so much of our son's first year and being out in the middle of the ocean was not helping. He went down to the mail room and came back and his whole attitude had changed, it was like all his worries went away because he knew what he was doing was worth the sacrifice. Thank you so much for making the holidays special for the sailors on CVN-72 (The Lincoln).
With much Love, Jessica de B.
 p.s they all loved the scarves, I wish I knew who made my husbands so I can personally thank them, so if you know who it was tell them he says thank you. its very soft and warm and he wears it all the time plus its his favorite color! (he is the 2nd on the left with the 2 tones gray one.)
HI! Today I received a care package in the mail from Operation Gratitude and inside was a scarf among other things. I appreciate the time and effort it took for someone to put this together for all of the soldiers out here. Its little things like these care packages from complete strangers that keep our sprits up. Thank you :) SPC A.A. - 1-140th AVN ASSLT BN
For Tamika!
·Hello - My name is LTC N.B. and I am currently stationed in
Tallil, Iraq at COB Adder. I received a care package with a beautiful scarf
that was made by Tamika. I just wanted to say thank you and I truly
appreciate all the support. The package came at the perfect time. I wish
you and everyone in your organization a Happy Holiday Season. Thank you
again for the support! Nik
For All of Us!
Good Morning to all the workers at Operation Gratitude.
I just received a box from Op Grat and it was the best surprise of items I have received in a long time. I got a beautiful hand made scarf. I love it and wear it every night when I get back to my room. It helps to remind me of home and its not ACU colored. Thank you so much for the box of items, but also for your time that it takes to make the boxes. Thank you to all the people who have donated the items that were sent to me. I really enjoyed reading the cards as well. The main card was from Carolyn Blashek, with small cards from Don Brusasco, Jenna, and Leigh Benson. Thank you for saying we are your hero's, but really you are the hero's, because you donate your time which is precious to everyone to make other people happy. I truly wish I could express the emotions I was feeling when I opened the box. It has made me realize that I need to volunteer when I get home because I now know the person receiving the gift is so blessed. Thanks again, God Bless you all. SSG D.M.
Dear Op Gratitude,
Received some messages from the troops for my scarves! What a thrill to hear from our recipients. Jane Malloy
Dear Ms. Malloy, A few of us here in Afghanistan have just recieved the care packages from Operation Gratitude and found your particular contribution. We just wanted to say thank you! It's getting colder here, so i'm sure they will get some use. It means so much that people still remember us after nearly 10 years of war in this country. Be sure that your gifts do not go unappreciated! Once again, thank you and take care. Sincerely, Staff Sergeant F.M. Special Operations Task Force- SoutheastTarin Kowt, Afghanistan
Hello Jane, I am a deployed Soldier and a Captain that I work with received a care package and I got this scarf. Just wanted you to know how thankful I am especially since it is starting to get chilly here and the fact that I love hand knit scarves. THANK YOU! Specialist K.
This is for Bonnie Darling!
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Want an Operation Gratitude T-Shirt or Sweatshirt?
 This is a great way to advertise and support our cause!
The shirts come in various colors, sizes and choice of logo. You can order through the Operation Gratitude Store. Every purchase of three items sends another care package too!
Also check out our Great Ideas page for more fun ways to support Operation Gratitude
Donations Every care package costs $15 to assemble and ship (all the items are donated and valued at $100 or more). We plan to send 100,000 packages in 2011, so we need all the help we can get. Any amount you are able to give will be most appreciated!
Please send checks to: Operation Gratitude16444 Refugio RoadEncino, CA 91436or You can donate online: Donate 
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NOW IS THE TIME FOR BANDANA COOL TIES!
You all know how hot the desert is in the summer. We want to include Bandana Cool Ties in our 50,000 Patriotic Care Packages to offer our troops some relief from the blazing hot sun. These items are worn around the neck while in uniform, so please stick to military colors. Please see directions below. This is a great activity for groups...please spread the word!
COOL TIE DIRECTIONS (great to do with a friend or a "team!")
You will find your own rhythm and best methods, but this system works for some people:
1. Cut strips of fabric about 6 1/2 inches wide, with the length measurement being the width from
selvage to selvage.
2. Sew a small width end, then turn 90 degrees and sew along the whole length side (1/4 inch
margin), leaving the last short width end open.
3. Turn it inside out and iron the creases.
4. Sew (about 13 inches) up from the closed end, across the thin width.
5. Add in the crystals. IMPORTANT: Be sure the crystals slide all the way down to the seam.
6. Sew across the thin width again to make a pocket for the crystals.
7. Close the final open thin width end, by tucking in the edges and sewing across.
For more information and to order the polymer beads:
http://www.watersorb.com/polymer_cool_neck_bands.htm.
Easy Knit Ribbed Scarf
Let the yarn do the work.
Size: Approximately 48"-50"" Long and 5" Wide
Materials
Approximately 300 yards of worsted medium weight yarn (16-20 stitches over 4 inches).
Needles & Notions
Size US 9 needles (or size recommended by yarn).
Scissors and tapestry needle to trim sew in ends.
Gauge: 4-5 stitches/inch
Instructions
Cast on 32 stitches.
Every Row: K2 P2
Continue until scarf is 48"-50" long.
Bind off loosely.
Remember-no fringe
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