In the Loop

Published: November 19, 2021 ~ 0

Happy Friday, T.H.R.I.V.E. Association family! To ensure the safety of our partners and the larger community that we serve, members of T.H.R.I.V.E. Association staff/Board Members received their Covid-19 booster shots. We are dedicated to stopping the spread and keeping our stakeholders as safe as we can.

As November is quickly drawing to a close, the needs of our underprivileged veterans remain. We here at T.H.R.I.V.E Association are diligently working on donations package preparations, so if you have any lovingly hand crafted goods for our veterans and their dependents that you have yet to turn in, please make sure to do so. Please keep in mind that there are many necessary preparation steps between when we at T.H.R.I.V.E. Association receive the wonderful hand made garments from our volunteers, to when we can get them “Veteran ready!”

Veterans Day 2021

Published: November 11, 2021 ~ 0

Today, we honor and celebrate all veterans for their selfless service for our great nation. The staff at T.H.R.I.V.E. Association would like to express our sincere thanks to all of those who have served.

Yarn Substitution

Published: November 5, 2021 ~ 0

Happy Friday, dear T.H.R.I.V.E. Association family! Some of our recent blog posts touched on demystifying yarn labels and explaining the Craft Yarn Council’s Standard Yarn Weight system. However, we’ve had many questions from several volunteers about yarn substitution and we’d like to answer some of those questions!

Yarn substitution is when you want to substitute a different yarn than the one recommended by the pattern that you are using. There could be many reasons why you might want to: you may want to avoid a certain type of yarn because of allergies or preference of fibers, you may want to use out yarns that are already available in your stash, or you may want to use a more economical option than the yarn suggested, etc. Either way, there are certain considerations that you must keep in mind when substituting different yarn(s).

One of the first things to check, is whether the yarn company (e.g. Red Heart, Lion Brand) providing your pattern has a dedicated page on their website concerning suggested yarn substitutions. This may save you the time of trying to find a suitable yarn that will work with your chosen pattern.

The next consideration when choosing a proper yarn substitute is choosing a yarn that falls within the same weight (thickness) category in the Craft Yarn Council’s Standard Yarn Weight system. For example, if the yarn suggested in your pattern calls for a Worsted Medium (4) weight yarn, a good rule of thumb would be to use another Worsted Medium (4) weight yarn to substitute and not a different weight class of yarn, such as a DK Light (3) weight yarn or a Bulky (5) weight yarn. Any big differences might lead to a garment looking, fitting, and/or draping drastically differently than you might otherwise want. Note: the classifications in the Standard Yarn Weight system contain variance in thickness within each individual number. A common example of this would be choosing a pattern that calls for a certain Medium (4) weight yarn. A Medium (4) weight yarn could range from a true Worsted weight yarn all the way to a thicker Aran weight yarn. This could result in, for example, one brand’s Medium (4) weight yarn to be thicker or thinner than their own or another brand’s Medium (4) weight yarn.

Another important thing to consider when substituting is the length/weight, such as yards/grams, of the yarn. So if your pattern calls for a yarn that is 180 yards long and weighs 100 grams, you should endeavor to use a yarn that is similar enough to that ratio in both length/weight. In our experience, changing this too much does have a big effect on the finished garment.

The next things to consider when substituting are the fiber content and texture of the yarn. A 100% Acrylic smooth and shiny yarn will most likely look, feel, stretch, and drape differently than a 50/50% rough and fuzzy Alpaca Wool/Cotton blended yarn. Make sure to keep this in mind when substituting and, if you want to keep it simple, use similar enough substitutes to avoid unwanted impacts to the completed pattern.

Finally, it is always a good idea to make a swatch with your substitute before you dive into the pattern in order to test out if your substitute is going to work the way you and the pattern intend. You may find that you need to move up or down a needle or hook size, or you might even find that your yarn substitute isn’t suitable at all!

Whatever the case, whenever you choose to substitute a different yarn than what the pattern calls for, taking these considerations into account and testing them out in a swatch before you begin will help to ensure that your finished garment will much more closely resemble what the pattern details and you’ll assuredly be glad you took the time to plan/test it out!

Trunk or Treat!

Published: October 29, 2021 ~ 0

This past Sunday, October 24, T.H.R.I.V.E. Association was thrilled to be able to participate in the Trunk or Treat event held by our wonderful partners at the Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at Metrocare. We had a great time giving out word searches, sweets, fun, and good vibes! Thanks for having us; we had a ball!

Yarn Weight

Published: October 22, 2021 ~ 0

Happy Friday, T.H.R.I.V.E. Association family! Our last post demystified yarn labels and detailed what each section and symbol meant. We will now go into more detail on what the 8 yarn weight symbols mean, as well as how this knowledge can help with things such as needle/hook choice for any particular yarn.

What is yarn weight? Yarn weight in this case concerns the thickness of the yarn fiber and not the actual weight (heaviness) of it. When working with any particular yarn on a project, its yarn weight directly affects how the weave looks and feels. When paired with different needles/hooks, it can also affect how long a project can take to complete.

The Craft Yarn Council of America created a standard system of symbols and numbers to help identify yarn weights and included recommended needle/hook sizes and expected ranges for gauges. It is important to remember that these are merely suggestions. As such, it is important to create a swatch when working with yarn in a project to properly measure the combination of the expected number of stitches per inch (or cm) and your individual tension plus other variables. That being said, the Craft Yarn Council of America’s numbered system of yarn weights is generally quite useful when knowing what to expect with any particular yarn.

The included chart shows all of the yarn weights and their corresponding categories, recommendations of needle/hook choice, and expected gauge ranges. Here are some small notes concerning the chart:

** The lace weight yarns are usually crafted using larger needles and hooks to create more airy and lacy projects. Because of this, the gauge range expectations are more difficult to determine and you should always follow what gauge your pattern calls for.

*** Please be aware that steel crochet hook numbers are differently sized when compared to regular hook sizing. This means that higher numbers results in smaller hooks, which is the reverse of regular hook sizing.

Demystifying Yarn Labels

Published: October 18, 2021 ~ 0

We get a lot of questions about individual skeins of yarn and what their labels/symbols mean. The information on the label is critical when choosing what needle/hook to use, knowing how many skeins you will need, and so much more. Most questions about a specific yarn and how to use it can be answered just by reading and utilizing the information given on its label. Here is an overview of how to read one:

Brand name of the yarn
Yarn materials – This details the composition of the yarn itself.
Yarn weight symbol – This symbol represents the size of the yarn from numbers 1-7, with 1 (Lace) being the smallest/thinnest to 7 (Jumbo) being the largest/widest. We are going to delve into all of the yarn weight numbers and what they mean in our next blog post, so stay tuned!
Color name and number – This is the name of the color and its corresponding number. The color name/number and the brand name are vital identifiers when you need to locate some more of the exact same yarn, whether at a store or online.
Dye lot number – Have you ever noticed that sometimes the same color of a brand of yarns don’t quite look the same? Most of the time, there is going to be some variance even within the same colors! Use the same dye lot number whenever you can if you are planning to start a project that will require more than one skein of yarn. Some yarns will not have a dye lot number and will simply state “no dye lot.”
Weight of yarn in ounces and grams
Care instructions
Company name and address
Yarn length in yards and meters – The length of the yarn is very important information, as most if not all patterns detail just how much you will need to complete the project. Knowing the yarn length and how much your pattern calls for will save you another trip to the store if you can purchase exactly what you need beforehand!
Gauge information – These information boxes detail the suggested knitting needles and crochet hooks to use when working with the yarn. The other numbers around each box represent the expected gauge, which is the number of stitches per inch and 10x10cm swatch. Use the information provided here to help choose what size needle or hook that you will need, whether by going with the suggested size or making a swatch with the yarn and adjusting your size based on your particular knitting/crocheting tension and output.

Pro Tip

Published: October 8, 2021 ~ 0

Happy Friday dear T.H.R.I.V.E. Association Family! This week we thought that we’d offer some words of wisdom to our crafting family; gauge is important. Having the right gauge for the project that you are going to be crafting can genuinely be the difference between having a nice, properly fitting garment that looks professional, and one that doesn’t look at all like the garment from the pattern that you chose.

Before starting a project, work a gauge swatch. We know that gauge swatches can seem tedious and redundant, especially when you are raring to go on an exciting new garment. However, knowing that you have the right gauge for the project that you are going to be working on can offer great peace of mind and can make all the difference in the world! Knitting or crocheting a swatch can also save you a lot of time and heartache in the long run.

If you find from measuring the stitches from your gauge swatch that you are a tighter knitter/crocheter than your chosen pattern calls for, consider moving up a needle/hook size. Conversely, if you find that you are a loose knitter/crocheter, move down a needle/hook size.

Moral Injury

Published: October 1, 2021 ~ 0

Happy Friday, dear T.H.R.I.V.E. Association family. Yesterday, two of our Board Members attended a very insightful Moral Injuries course compliments of one of our most awesome community partners, StopOne. We are so thankful for their tireless efforts and dedication in helping to end veteran suicide, as well as their drive and determination to inform their community partners in best practices. We here at T.H.R.I.V.E. Association have used several of these learned practices in our efforts to help the veterans that we serve.

The Garter Stitch Scarf

Published: September 24, 2021 ~ 0

Happy Friday, T.H.R.I.V.E. Association family! In continuing with our Question and Answer series, we have been asked numerous times about scarf patterns for beginner knitters who want to help our cause. After some thought and deliberation, the answer came to us; The Garter Stitch Scarf! For many knitters, a Garter Stitch scarf is their first project. This is not to downplay the Garter Stitch, though. It can work up very quickly and makes a lovely fluffy garment that everyone will love.

Tips and tricks:
1) Remember to watch your gauge. In our experience, uneven tension does show up, especially when using acrylic yarns.

2) Always cast on 2 extra stitches. These do not count as pattern stitches. They are your edge stitches. These two stitches ensure a nice tidy edge. When you are working your edge stitches, remember to always slip the first stitch on all new rows, knit to the end of the row, knit the last stitch, turn the work, and repeat until the garment reaches the desired length.

If you would like to donate a hat, scarf, face mask or other handcrafted garment to our cause, please remember that the dear veterans and their dependents prefer dark colors, e.g. blue, black, green, grey, and all-time favorite, camouflage. If you would like to knit, crochet, or sew a garment in a brighter color, red or deep purple are always popular bright colors. We cannot emphasize this important point enough: please do not use sparkly or overly decorative yarns and fabrics. While they have their place, they are simply inappropriate for the veterans and their dependents (including children because of choking hazards).

If you are not a crafter, but would like to help, there are still many ways to support our cause! Please consider donating materials and/or making a monetary donation to help us cover the costs of materials, shipping, and overhead. Please remember you can support our cause by shopping on AmazonSmile. See the “Shop for Our Cause” blog post for additional information.

If you need yarn, or other supplies, please contact us through email at thriveassociation@thrivevets.org or by phone at (469) 427-9654. Please be aware that any communications are recorded. If you have donations and cannot make it to one of our in-person knitting groups, we are still continuing our policy of curbside pickup. Please contact us to schedule a pickup if you are in the DFW area. If you reside outside the DFW area and would like to make an in-kind donation, please contact us to make arrangements. Remember, even one lovingly handcrafted hat or scarf can make a huge difference in the life of an underprivileged veteran or their dependent(s).

ASIST Certification

Published: September 17, 2021 ~ 0

We would like to offer a very special and heartfelt thanks to the Wounded Warrior Project for sponsoring our Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST). We are so grateful! We would also like to give a shout out to our awesome community partners at Stop One. Our hats are off to them for their tireless efforts, hard work, and dedication to end veteran suicide. And last but certainly not least, many thanks to the Cohen Military Family Clinic for kindly hosting the two-day training event. Together we will all succeed!