How Christmas at Sea Helps Mariners Stay Warm
Working on ocean-going vessels is hard, dangerous work, and it's doubly hard in the winter. But Christmas at Sea doesn't let our merchant mariners go forgotten.
Christmas at Sea might sound like the title of a lost "Love Boat" episode, but it's actually a charity dedicated to bringing "hospitality and love" to ocean and river sailors in the form of knitted items like socks, mittens, gloves, scarves, and caps. Okay, so maybe there are some similarities here, but I don't remember Captain Stubing or Gopher ever knitting a scarf for any of the guys who did the real work.
WHEN FAITH AND SEA COLLIDE
Christmas at Sea is an offshoot of the Seaman's Church Institute. The SCI arose in the 1830s, when the Episcopal Church started tending to the needs of the far-flung ranks of American merchant sailors. Often exploited by their employers, these sailors needed someone on their side.
Few landlubbers realize just how thickly populated the seven seas and our inland rivers are. In addition to all the U.S. Navy personnel out there, millions of Americans work on thousands of ships all over the world as merchant mariners.
A MINISTRY OF YARN
When you're in the middle of the ocean with no land in sight, it can get mighty cold. That's why Christmas at Sea strives to help as many sailors as possible every year with items of warm clothing, knitted by volunteers from all over America.
They've been doing so since 1898, making them one of the oldest knitting charities on record. Like its parent organization, Christmas at Sea hails from New York City, but it delivers thousands of knitted presents to members every year, whether they're serving on deep-sea or river ships.
In 2006, 3,500 volunteer knitters created more than 16,000 knitted items for Christmas at Sea. These became the centerpieces of gift packages that also included a sewing kit, a stationery set, a magnifying lens, a pen, a mirror, and a comb.
YO HO HO AND A BALL OF YARN
Christmas at Sea can always use more volunteer knitters. Specific information on how to join, along with a wide variety of free patterns, can be found on the Christmas at Sea page of the SCI website.
You can find even more info on the Knit Before Christmas blog.
Christmas at Sea has specific requirements for their items, but they're not difficult to follow. They ask that you use solid, tweed, or variegated yarn, with colors that both men and women will appreciate. Please use only one color of yarn, and don't attach any pompoms or tassels. Don't use pastel colors.
You can even buy yarn from Christmas at Sea, for a recommended donation of $2.50 per skein. But if you're on a fixed income and can't afford yarn, just ask, and they'll give it to you for free.