Questions and Answers Continued

Published: September 10, 2021 ~ 0

Happy Friday, dear T.H.R.I.V.E. Association family! We hope that you all had a great Labor Day weekend. Some of our staff were recently asked about our requirements for donated scarves; so we would like to take a this moment to address those questions.

We have touched on our requirements for scarf donations before, but we wanted to take this moment to really flesh out those requirements. If you would like to donate a scarf to our cause, we do ask that they be at least 8.25 inches (21 cm) wide and 60 inches (152.4 cm) in length so that the wearer can wrap it around themselves comfortably. Also, our 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 a scarf in a brighter color, red is always a popular bright color. We have found that royal purple is also quite popular and one of the first to be chosen at some Stand Downs. We cannot emphasize this important point enough: please do not use sparkly or overly decorative yarns. While they have their place, they are simply inappropriate for the veterans and their dependents (including children because of choking hazards). If you need inspiration for an item to donate to our cause, please check out the blog on our website for a multitude of free patterns.

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).

Labor Day 2021

Published: September 3, 2021 ~ 0

Happy Friday, dear T.H.R.I.V.E. Association family! In 1894, Labor Day became a national holiday and was meant to pay tribute to the American workforce. During this extended three day Labor Day weekend, please give thought and thanks to those who help and serve us. From the front line doctors and nurses, to the food delivery couriers, and every one in between, we are thankful to all of those individuals who have continued to help us through these trying and uncertain times. We would also like to thank our amazing staff and phenomenal volunteers whose hard work and dedication to our Nation’s veterans and their dependents make everything possible!

Call for Face Masks

Published: August 20, 2021 ~ 0

Happy Friday, dear T.H.R.I.V.E. Association family! As we are all keeping abreast of the current news, we are seeing spikes of Covid-19 infections and hospitalizations across our nation- the delta variant being a huge concern at this point. With that being said, the VA’s that we work with for Stand Downs are requesting face masks for our homeless and underprivileged veterans.

Please understand that this is not a political matter. A mask is one of the essential components for stopping this pandemic. Our staff will continue to mask at our office and in the field. Additionally, we will continue to monitor the situation closely.

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 is always a popular bright color. 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).

Lion Brand Adult’s Easy Crochet Hat & Upcoming Stand Downs

Published: August 13, 2021 ~ 0

Happy Friday, T.H.R.I.V.E. Association family! As we get closer to upcoming Stand Downs and their deadlines, it is important to finish and donate any and all garments that you have in progress so that we can prepare them for dissemination via the VA’s that are hosting them. Hats and scarves in darker colors such as green, blue, black, grey, and (vet favorite) camouflage, make for excellent donations and are in great need.

With that in mind, we would like to share a simple yet effective crochet hat pattern that would be wonderful to donate to our cause- Lion Brand’s own Adult’s Easy Crochet Hat. It weaves up very quickly and, because of its one round repeat, is a perfect pattern to use when you don’t want to think too hard about what you’re crafting and just want to be in Crochet “Zen-Mode.” The knit-like vertical ribs (done by only working single crochets into the back loop) provide a nice and comfortable stretch for the wearer. Make sure to have a tapestry needle handy in order to seam the ends of the garment together and also to cinch up the top!

Please follow the link below and click on “Download Free Pattern” near the bottom right for the instructions on how to craft this uncomplicated crochet hat:

Adult's Easy Crochet Hat

If you would like to donate a hat, scarf, 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 is always a popular bright color. 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).

Stand Downs

Published: August 6, 2021 ~ 0

Happy Friday, T.H.R.I.V.E. Association Family! We are preparing for several Stand Downs that are right around the corner. With that being said, we need hats, scarves, mittens, etc. so please keep crafting. Over the upcoming weeks we will be posting some of our favorite free crochet hat patterns for our wonderful crocheters.

We Need Scarves!

Published: July 23, 2021 ~ 0

Happy Friday T.H.R.I.V.E. Association family! We have many Stand Downs right around the corner and we are in need of scarves! If you need inspiration, please feel free to browse our previous blog posts. There are lots of great patterns!

If you would like to donate a scarf to our cause, please remember to make sure that it is at least 60 inches (152.4 cm) in length so that the wearer can wrap it around themselves comfortably. Also, 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 a scarf in a brighter color, red is always a popular bright color. We cannot emphasize this important point enough: please do not use sparkly or overly decorative yarns. While they have their place, they are simply inappropriate for the veterans and their dependents (including children because of choking hazards).

Questions & Answers Continued, Cast Ons

Published: July 9, 2021 ~ 0

Happy Friday dear T.H.R.I.V.E. Association family! We have had multiple questions from many of our wonderful volunteers regarding which cast ons to use for their projects. Specifically, we have been asked which cast on is best for our favorite Camouflage Brioche Scarf that we showcased in Part 2 of our Question and Answers post. That post can be found here: https://thrivevets.org/index.php/2021/04/30/questions-and-answers-part-2-the-camouflage-brioche-scarf/

Although you can use a long tail cast on for any rib project, it breaks the pattern and most rib patterns tend to have a bit of stretch to them. The long tail cast on is not a particularly stretchy cast on. Although the brioche stitch is a false rib, the long tail cast on, in our humble estimation does not stretch with the brioche stitch and also causes a bit of puckering at the edge.

The long tail cast on is definitely a favorite in any knitter’s arsenal due to its amazing stability. So, what is the best cast on to use for a brioche stitch project? Due to the fact that the brioche stitch is a 1×1 rib, the best cast on to use for a project like this is the Italian cast on. The Italian cast on is a twisted cast on that is wonderfully stretchy. In addition, this cast on creates an edge that looks like it is a continuation of the pattern that the brioche stitch creates. In other words, it looks invisible.

Please stay tuned as we will be giving a brief demonstration of this cast on in the near future!

Happy July 4th Weekend!

Published: July 2, 2021 ~ 0

We would like to wish our wonderful T.H.R.I.V.E. Association family a safe and happy Independence Day Weekend! We’d also like to take a moment to remember our brave heroes, past and present, who have selflessly sacrificed so much to help make this great nation of ours the land of the free and the home of the brave. We are all truly grateful!

Memorial Day 2021

Published: May 31, 2021 ~ 0

Today we honor those brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in the service of their country. Please take a moment today to reflect upon and appreciate all of those who have fallen in each American conflict.

Double Stockinette Camouflage Scarf

Published: May 7, 2021 ~ 0

Happy Friday Ladies and Gentlemen! Today we are featuring the Double
Stockinette Stitch Camouflage Scarf. We had briefly touched on this stitch in last
week’s blog post regarding ideal patterns for scarves using the ever-popular
camouflage yarns. Like the Camouflage Brioche Scarf that we featured last week, the
Double Stockinette Stitch Camouflage Scarf is double sided. Again, this means that
there is no wrong side to the completed garment. It looks great on both sides!

As viewers can see from our video, this unique stitch creates a dense doublethick
garment. This is particularly useful for garments that we send to Stand Downs in
states that have harsher Winters e.g. Alaska. Like the Brioche Stitch Camouflage Scarf,
the Double Stockinette Camouflage Scarf also has the advantage of really showing off
the die of the yarn. In other words, if you have a yarn, camouflage in our case, the
pattern should allow the yarn to speak for itself. These patterns do just that. And, for
those knitters who do not like to purl, there is an added bit of awesomeness about this
stitch. There no purling in the Double Stockinette Stitch Camouflage Scarf! Like our
Camouflage Brioche Scarf, it is a case of slipping the purl stitches and knitting the knit
stitches. Bonus, right?

We would like to reiterate that for those who want in-person crafting groups, we
would be willing to have OUTDOOR weekly, or bi-weekly, morning meetings. Crafters
would be required to bring their own lawn chairs, have a mask if personal crafting
instruction is needed, and observe the “6 foot Rule”. Alternatively, we would be open to
hosting virtual meetings which would ensure maximum safety for everyone involved.
Please contact us if you would be interested in taking part in either an outdoor or a
virtual knitting group.

Although several of the Stand Downs that we support have been postponed or
have had to be altered to keep our communities safe in this current pandemic, we are
still collecting goods that will be sent to the various V.A.s throughout the year so
please, please keep crafting! 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:
https://thrivevets.org/index.php/2021/03/19/shop-for-our-cause/
If you need yarn, or other supplies, please contact us through email
at thriveassociation@thrivevets.org or by phone at (469) 427-9654. If you have
donations, 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.