The Ships Project: Remembering the Troops Far From Home
Wherever American soldiers are stationed in the War on Terror, the Ships Project is there with comfortable knitted items to lift their spirits.
It can be hard for a soldier to serve overseas, wondering if anyone back home appreciates what they do. While the volunteers of The Ships Project can't get hand-knitted goods to every soldier that deserves them, they're doing all they can to show Americas troops that we really are grateful for their sacrifices.
Admittedly, the name is a little misleading these days. Although some of the slippers, hats, mittens, and other knitted goodies do go to ship-based personnel, their land-based colleagues get them too, especially those who are based in the Middle East.
EXPRESSING OUR APPRECIATION
It all began in the aftermath of September 11, 2001, when Ellen Harpin sent a letter addressed "to any soldier" overseas. The letter came to rest in the hands of Gloria, a sailor serving on the U.S.S. Bataan.
Having noted that Ellen was a knitter, Gloria joked in a return letter than she could really use some knitted slippers. Ellen responded immediately. Gloria's friends were so impressed with her new slippers that they asked for 60 more pairs.
Ellen recruited her friends to help her meet the demand, and by December had launched an Internet knitting list she called The Bataan Project. Eventually her organization grew to over a thousand knitters, and kept going strong even after the Bataan returned home.
HUGS FROM HOME
Now called The Ships Project, Ellen's organization still sends troops deployed in the War on Terror a wide variety of handmade hats, cool ties, slippers, and other knitted items. Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines -- all four forces receive donations.
So far, The Ships Project has distributed more than 260,000 items. Although soldiers fighting the War on Terror usually operate under severe mail restrictions, the military has encouraged The Ships Project to keep sending troops these warm "hugs from home."
HERE ARE YOUR ORDERS, TROOPS!
You can find everything you'd like to know about the Ship Project, from its history to a tremendous variety of patterns to addresses where you can send your completed items, at their website.
Hats and slippers are the knitted items the soldiers need the most. Although the colors of the slippers don't matter as much, unless requested otherwise you should knit your caps in shades of brown, black, dark green, and desert camouflage. They should be snug, so they'll fit under a helmet.
Use the warmest yarns: wools, wool blends, and acrylics. If an item can't handle going through a washing machine, label it as "hand-wash only."
The needs of The Ships Project change from month to month, so take a look at their website to see what's most in demand at any particular time. Cool ties and bright colors seem to be the "in" thing right now.