Operation Quiet Comfort is an organization whose purpose is to honor and comfort US military personnel who become sick or injured while serving in harm’s way, as well as to support the folks who are caring for them. Anyone who is willing to help is invited to do so, regardless of religious, political, or ideological views.

I finally finished up this Four Freedoms Gratitude Quilt for them. I won’t be doing another one, simply because it takes me too long to finish one; I’ll leave the quilting to people who can do it faster and better than I can!

These are called Four Freedoms quilts because they’re based on President Roosevelt’s Four Freedoms speech, and each of the white blocks in the center has an accompanying quote. The hearts and stars are reverse-appliqued, and the rest of the blocks are all blocks that say “thank you” to our service members.

In other sewing news, I’m currently trying to do my first trousers with a zipper set in. I’ve decided that a zipper foot must be a lovely thing to own; it’s going on my list. For now, I’ve decided to hand-sew the second bit of the zipper in to save my failing sanity. Photos someday, when this blasted set of trousers is off of my sewing table and on my kidlet!

Hi all,

I do have a lot to tell you about, but I seem to be running short on time this summer! I do want to share two charity opportunities for those of you who are so inclined.

Iraqi Bundles of Love / IBOL

This is my favorite kind of charity work – someone saw a need, and decided to do something about it. In this case Art, an American soldier in Iraq (from a family for quilters), is gathering ‘bundles’ to distribute to regular people in Iraq who need them. Instead of sending a quilt, or a hat, or whatever, we are sending the tools and materials to allow these folks to make what they need themselves. If you have a lot of fabric, yarn, buttons, or sewing notions sitting around your house, I’m sure he’d appreciate your help. The mailing deadline is Sept. 7th. If you have plans for all your stuff, but have $15 to spare, you can buy a wholesale-priced IBOL here. The $15 IBOL includes shipping – note that shipping alone on a large flat-rate box would be $11.95 according to Art, so it’s really a good deal.

Call me Pollyanna, but this is how the world gets better. One person to another, one good deed at a time.

Related links:
The IBOL Site
What to put in an IBOL
To buy a ready-made one

Operation Quiet Comfort
I’ve written about this charity before. They send quilts, ‘go bags’, and comfort items to wounded soldiers. If you are a quilter, or just have a sewing machine and some time, they are looking for people to put together “Gratitude Quilts”. It’s not hard, and they send you complete instructions and the denim for the quilt tops. One caveat: you need to have a machine capable of handling multiple layers of denim.

If you are interested in helping out (they use monetary donations to offset shipping charges), you can find them here.

I’ve been meaning to post about a charity I’m working with, and as they just issued an urgent call for knitterly goodness, now is a good time. The charity is Operation Quiet Comfort. They send support packages to military hospitals to comfort wounded soldiers and those who care for them. One of the wonderful things about this group is that they basically “fill orders” from their hospital contacts. You can be sure that whatever you send is needed where its going.

Please note that whether you craft or not, and whether you have money or not, Operation Quiet Comfort can use your help. Some projects are put together so that people who have time but no funds can receive material to work with from other members of the group, and vice versa.

In addition to the usual fare (personal grooming kits, cool ties, etc.) Operation Quiet Comfort has some unique things going on. The first is quilts. They have a ‘Four Freedoms Gratitude Quilt’, where 96 people send messages of gratitude and well-wishing written on well-worn denim squares from old jeans. The messages are sewn into a quilt that is given to a wounded soldier. Quilters that prefer a more traditional medium can make ‘litter quilts’. These quilts are the size of the litters used to carry wounded soldiers. Another clever thing they do is send bread machines and mixes to the hospitals. What a morale booster the smell and taste of ‘homemade’ bread must be (and is, from comments sent back to the group from the hospitals.)

Right now, the group’s supply of knit hats is running low. They are basic hats, knit from a specific pattern in the round in black yarn. If you would like to help with this project, please contact Operation Quiet Comfort. You can join the Yahoo group and then contact the knitting/crochet project coordinator and let her know how you would like to help.

I’m in the midst of a Four Freedoms quilt right now, but I’ll be knitting hats later.

No, no, I haven’t been holding out on you. There are no more little ones in my future for at least another 17 years, if I’m lucky.

This little set will set sail shortly with the rainbow blankie to Operation Marine Corps Kids.

This cute sweater worked up rather quickly on straight needles. Then, I had to face the facts. Unlike the Baby Surprise Jacket, this sweater has REAL SEAMS, two of which are very visible. See, I’ve been knitting off and on since I was small, but I’ve never gotten the hang of seams. Every time I’d go to do one, I’d just flip it and sew it from the inside as best I could, ripping and re-doing it until it looked presentable. Y’all, why didn’t you tell me I was sewing it from the wrong side? I googled around, and discovered the mattress stitch. It was a revelation to realize that sewing from the front allows you to see what you’re doing while you’re doing it. Holy mackarel! No need to re-sew! For anyone tackling a seam like I used to do, go look at these instructions. You’re welcome.

Here’s the cap I made to go with it. Believe it or not, this is the same yarn. The close-up of the sweater is the true color. The original cap was edged in garter stitch, but I switched to seed stitch to make it match the sweater. Between that change and the guesses I made to change yarn types, I’m hoping the hat and sweater will fit the same baby simultaneously. We can hope.

My son’s pal, Wimpy Chimp, consented to model the hat for you all.

Sweater Details:

Cap Details:

Hey, y’all. What’ve you been up to? I took some time off from blogland, but I’m still crafting away in moments stolen from the rest of my day. This bright baby blanket will soon be on its way to Operation Marine Corps Kids. If you are the charity crafting sort, please go check out their blog. It’s a lesser-known charity with a worthy cause.

I had this blanket with me at our last local knit night, and was taught the ‘crab stitch’ edging for it (thanks, Barbara!) After I returned home, I realized that the way I was doing the crab stitch was the same thing as turning the work over and working a row of sc, so that’s what I did.
Sure enough, I did it wrong (sorry, Barbara!) I’m sure it was the student, and not the teacher. At any rate, the blanket still lays very nicely; the bobbling in the photo above has everything to do with the condition of my front lawn. For anyone wanting to know what crab stitch really looks like, read about it here instead of looking at my blankie!

Edited to add: I’m sorry, guys! I totally forgot to add my pattern and yarn information. Here it is.