Hook/Knit a Helmet Liner for the Troops

Thanks to Kimberly for passing this along!

The Knitting For Marines project is an on-going effort to make and distribute helmet liners to Marines. Thanks to the overwhelming support that the project received, the Museum will continue to accept helmet liners so that as many Marines as possible can receive one. For those of you who are unable to attend the knit-ins at the museum, both the knitting pattern and crochet pattern are available for download as PDF files. Adobe Reader is required to view PDF files. If you do not have Adobe Reader, you may download it here for free.

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.

More information here.

March 5 Meeting

The March 5 meeting of the Happy Valley Hookers will be held at Tara's house. The theme is Cowboys in honor of Heath Ledger.

Please RSVP whether or not you can make it. (Either leave a comment here or send me an email.) And let me know if you need directions to my house. 

Arrival time is anytime after 5:30!

February Meeting a Smash Hit!

Thanks to Trixie for a beautiful evening of hooking under a winter sky of lightening and laughter.

The hookers were out in force, 8 of us total. Mame was making good progress on a giant granny square afghan and also teaching two new hookers how to hook. Hillary and Shannon definitely conquered the "chaining" and are well on their way to learning the classic double crochet. (I remember vividly learning from Mame and Trixie and I can still hear "YARN OVER" in my head every time I do it.) Jackie was working on a red, white, and blue purse. Cassandra was making dish scrubbies that are pretty AND functional. Trixie was working on a baby blanket for a yet-to-be-born baby boy. Mary was working on a hat and scarf. Tara (me) was working on a few rows of something that will never get finished (as usual).

I announced the blog officially to the hookers in attendance. Hopefully everyone finds it useful or at least amusing. We learned that H&S's dad gave the "Happy Valley Hookers" a shout-out on his radio show. He had to inform a caller that it was a CROCHET club not the other kind of hooker. Get your mind out of the gutter.

The theme was Mountain Dew but only some of us were able to incorporate it into our goodies, which included:

A huge salad with all the fixings and steamed shrimp (Perfect!)

Bread

Cheese and salsa with chips

Hummus with Triscuits

Sushi (california rolls)

Mountain Dew Salad Dessert (click for recipe)

Apple Dumpling Bake with Mountain Dew (click for recipe)

Klondikes (We were so busy hooking that we forgot to eat the Klondikes, but that made it a windfall for Trixie!)

Also, I mentioned at this meeting to look for 100% wool sweaters that I can make felted sweater bags from...I want to get a lot of practice in making these new bags so find me a sweater and I will felt it and make it into a bag for you. $1 ones from Goodwill are the best!

See you in March at Hooker Tara's house (that's me). The theme is Cowboys!