Memorial Day 2026

Published: May 25, 2026 ~ 0

Although many of us celebrate Memorial Day with barbecues, parades, etc. it is in fact the most solemn day of the year for Americans. This holiday, originally called “Decoration Day”, was started in 1868, three years after the conclusion of the American Civil War. Its purpose was to honor all of America’s fallen soldiers- regardless of whether they fought on the Union or Confederate side. Eventually, this holiday would be expanded to commemorate every American service member who made the ultimate sacrifice for this great nation that we proudly call “home”. The included photos were taken at the Gettysburg Battlefield in the Gettysburg National Military Park, where our executive staff paid respects to the fallen.

We would like to invite you all to join us in taking time today to reflect on those sacrifices, and to offer a moment of silence for those brave, selfless individuals who gave so much for us all so that we could live in the “the land of the free and the home of the brave.”

The Cast On Revisited

Hands knitting beige yarn on wooden needles with yarn basket in background

Published: May 18, 2026 ~ 0

Happy Monday, dear T.H.R.I.V.E. Association family. We thought that we would revisit our old friend the cast on. This can be a pretty tricky area for crafters, so we have some tricks to help. We know that we have addressed these pro tips before, but it never hurts to revisit them for some of our newest family members.

Crafters, have you ever noticed that hats that you’ve made in the past have squeezed, or maybe just felt a little tighter on your head at the cast on row but fit perfectly well everywhere else? Likewise, have you made scarves or other garments where the cast on row is noticeably tighter than the rest of the garment? If you find yourself having tight cast ons, but knit/crochet true to gauge for the rest of the garment, this simple yet highly effective pro tip could be just the ticket!

For tight cast ons, try moving up a needle/crochet hook size for the cast on row. For example, if your chosen garment pattern calls for a size U.S. 8 knitting needle, try using a size U.S. 9 just for the cast on, and then change back to the requested size U.S. 8 knitting needle and continue knitting the rest of the garment. This highly effective technique is the simplest solution to tight cast ons. It keeps the cast on row looking neat and tidy while also providing some much-needed stretch to the garment.

Additional Pro Tip: You can use this same technique for the cast off row if you find that to be a tricky area, too.

Stay tuned for more helpful tips and tricks. And, in the next few weeks we are going to be crafting on location at some of our nation’s most notable historic sites; so you won’t want to miss that!

Happy Belated Mother’s Day

Published: May 11, 2026 ~ 0

Happy Monday, dear T.H.R.I.V.E. Association family! We’d like to give a belated shout out to all of the awesome mothers in our community! If you are still looking for a gift for the mom in your life, make a tax-deductible donation to our cause in your mom’s honor. All monetary donations go to supporting our cause to end homelessness among our nation’s homeless military veteran community and their dependents. We ship our lovingly handcrafted gifts to VA Stand Downs all across the United States and shipping rates have increased with the rising cost of fuel, so your monetary donations are vital to furthering our mission!

Mother’s Day

Published: May 4, 2026 ~ 0

Happy Monday, dear T.H.R.I.V.E. Association family! Mother’s Day is coming up this Sunday, May 10. If you’re still looking for a meaningful gift for the mother(s) in your life, please consider making a monetary donation in their name. Making a donation to honor your mother, grandmother, godmother, etc. in turn honors the wonderful mothers in the veteran community that we serve. We always look forward to attending local Stand Downs where we can get a chance to speak directly to our underprivileged veteran community. Through the years, we’ve spoken to many selfless mothers who prioritize getting one of our hand made garments to keep their children warm before they’d even considering asking for something for themselves. We’ve met expectant mothers who are thrilled to receive hand made baby buntings and baby clothing in preparation for the blessed event! We’ve spoken to countless veterans who reminisced about their own mothers who also lovingly knitted, crocheted, or sewed for them in their youth and were deeply appreciative of the personal hand made nature of T.H.R.I.V.E. Association’s gifts. Give a gift that honors all mothers!