Happy Monday, dear T.H.R.I.V.E. Association family! We hope that you had a lovely holiday weekend with your families and loved ones. We should all be thankful for the support and care of those around us and we here at T.H.R.I.V.E. are sincerely thankful for the efforts of all of our staff, crafters, donors, and partners in helping us on our mission to enrich the lives of the underprivileged veterans and their dependents of our nation. We may be coming to the end of the year, but we must remain steadfast in our efforts to continue to provide a hand up to those whom have given so much for our country! With this in mind, we are in need of more hats, scarves, and gaiters. Here are some solid, go-to patterns for those that wish to crochet their donations!
If you’re interested in crafting a simple, elegant, and dependable crochet hat, Lion Brand’s Easy Crochet Hat is a perfect pattern for your next project.
Red Heart’s Wavy Ridge Super Scarf is easier to crochet than it initially appears, weaving up quickly and looking good in any yarn colors. If you need a scarf pattern that is sure to please our veterans and their dependents, the Wavy Ridge Super Scarf is a time-tested hit at all of the previous Stand Downs that we’ve served for years!
Gaiters are a great way to craft a warm garment that warms like a scarf, but uses much less material and weaves up faster than most other options. T.H.R.I.V.E. Association’s own Worsted Weight Crochet Gaiter is a great gaiter pattern that is both solid and quick to complete. It folds in half as a double-layered neck warmer, or can be unfolded to cover the mouth and lower face for additional coverage and protection from the elements.
Happy Monday, dear T.H.R.I.V.E. Association family! The Dallas Stand Down is now only a little over two weeks away! We’re going to need more hats, scarves, and gaiters to meet the needs of our homeless veterans and their dependents at this event. Please send in your donations as soon as possible! If you are in the DFW area, you can also contact us to schedule a donation pick up. If you’re a crocheter and you need some inspiration on what pattern to use to craft your donation, here are some suggestions to get you crocheting:
If you’re interested in crafting a simple, elegant, and dependable crochet hat, Lion Brand’s Easy Crochet Hat is a perfect pattern for your next project.
Red Heart’s Wavy Ridge Super Scarf is easier to crochet than it initially appears, weaving up quickly and looking good in any yarn colors. If you need a scarf pattern that is sure to please our veterans and their dependents, the Wavy Ridge Super Scarf is a time-tested hit at all of the previous Stand Downs that we’ve served for years!
Gaiters are a great way to craft a warm garment that warms like a scarf, but uses much less material and weaves up faster than most other options. T.H.R.I.V.E. Association’s own Worsted Weight Crochet Gaiter is a great gaiter pattern that is both solid and quick to complete. It folds in half as a double-layered neck warmer, or can be unfolded to cover the mouth and lower face for additional coverage and protection from the elements.
Happy Monday, dear T.H.R.I.V.E. Association family! August is already coming to a close and we need your help to meet the needs of our nation’s underprivileged military veterans and their dependents! We’re going to need more hats, scarves, and gaiters for the Stand Down in September. If you’re a crocheter and you need some inspiration on what pattern to use to craft your donation, here are some suggestions to get you crocheting:
If you’re interested in crafting a simple, elegant, and dependable crochet hat, Lion Brand’s Easy Crochet Hat is a perfect pattern for your next project.
Red Heart’s Wavy Ridge Super Scarf is easier to crochet than it initially appears, weaving up quickly and looking good in any yarn colors. If you need a scarf pattern that is sure to please our veterans and their dependents, the Wavy Ridge Super Scarf is a time-tested hit at all of the previous Stand Downs that we’ve served for years!
Gaiters are a great way to craft a warm garment that warms like a scarf, but uses much less material and weaves up faster than most other options. T.H.R.I.V.E. Association’s own Worsted Weight Crochet Gaiter is a great gaiter pattern that is both solid and quick to complete. It folds in half as a double-layered neck warmer, or can be unfolded to cover the mouth and lower face for additional coverage and protection from the elements.
Happy Monday, dear T.H.R.I.V.E. Association family! One question that our staff frequently get asked is how many stitches would need to be cast on for a scarf (garter, rib, etc.) that would meet T.H.R.I.V.E. Association’s scarf dimension requirements (6 in. x 60 in. [15 cm. x 152 cm.]) Unfortunately there is no hard number, as something like this is heavily reliant on the individual crafter’s tension, their chosen knitting needles/crochet hook size, and the chosen pattern.
The most important part of the success of any handcrafted garment is the individual crafter. You might choose a pattern for a garment that you are absolutely in love with, put in the hours of hard work, use the same yarn and the same size needles/crochet hooks, etc. that the pattern calls for, but still end up not having a garment that is the correct size or feel (i.e. the weave is too loose, or it is so tight that it stands up on it’s own). This is largely due to variations in crafter tension and a failure to account for those variations in your project. The pattern is going to be the same for each crafter that uses it, but the results won’t necessarily be the same unless you know your tension BEFORE you start and account for that difference. The only way to do this is to make a gauge swatch using the same tools/materials/etc. that you will be using for your chosen handcrafted garment. That swatch is your guide to figure out whether or not you are knitting/crocheting to gauge or if you need to change your crafting tool size to obtain the requisite gauge.
So, to return to the original question of how many stitches are needed for a 6 in. x 60 in. (15 cm. x 152 cm.) scarf, let’s approach this bit by bit. Choose your yarn and look at the label. Most modern yarn labels have a recommended gauge using a certain needle/hook size and number of stitches. In the photo above, the Red Heart Camouflage yarn suggests that knitting a stockinette swatch that is 17 stitches across for 25 rows when using a Size 8 US needle results in a 4 in. x 4 in. swatch. Once you have made a stockinette swatch using those numbers with this yarn, you can now adjust as needed. If your swatch measures smaller than the recommendation, then go up a needle size. If your swatch is larger, go down a needle size. The same is true when crocheting.
In summation, there is no hard and fast answer to this question. There are multiple variables to take into account. In the case of using the yarn and stockinette swatch from our example, to find how many stitches are required for a width of 6 inches (which is the minimum width requirement for all scarves donated to T.H.R.I.V.E. Association), we would divide 17 by 4 to find out how many stitches are in each inch. Once we have that answer, we would then multiply that number by 6. In other words:
17 / 4 = 4.25
4.25 x 6 = 25.5
Thus, if you were knitting a stockinette scarf you would cast on about 25-26 stitches with size 8 US needles if your stockinette swatch was knit true to gauge. It is important to emphasize that the main variable is the crafter.
Note: Another variable that needs to be considered is the stitch that you choose to use for the scarf that you want to donate. For example, a rib scarf will need more stitches to be cast on as it will stretch. This is why a gauge swatch using your chosen materials, needle size/crochet hook size, and pattern will ultimately lead you to getting the best results.
Happy Monday, T.H.R.I.V.E. Association family! This is the Worsted Weight Crochet Gaiter, compliments of our staff at T.H.R.I.V.E. HQ! This gaiter is quick to craft, quite economical in the yarn needed, and comfortably fits under a jacket for our underprivileged veterans and their dependents. It can be as warm as a scarf, but less of the bulk. Here is how to make it:
The Worsted Weight Crochet Gaiter
Abbreviations:
Ch = Chain(s)
Sl st = Slip stitch
Hdc = Half double crochet
St(s) = Stitch(es)
Fphdc = Front post half double crochet
Bphdc = Back post half double crochet
Gauge: Chain 11, hdc into second chain from hook, 1 hdc in each ch to the remaining 9 sts. It should measure 3 inches in length. Adjust the amount of chains and/or hook size accordingly to meet 3 inches. If adjustments were needed, use those same adjustments to augment the pattern.
Ch 71. Join first ch with sl st, making sure not to twist the ch when joining the ends.
Foundation row: Ch 1, place stitch marker, 1 hdc in each st around (70), sl st into first st.
Row 1: Ch 1, fphdc around the first hdc from the foundational row. *Bphdc around the next. Fphdc around next.* Rep *…* to marker (70), sl st into first st.
Row 2-25: Ch 1, fphdc around the previous row’s first post. *Bphdc around the next. Fphdc around the next. Rep *…* to marker (70), sl st into first st. At the end of Row 25, fasten off after the sl st and weave in the ends.
Tips: If you have never tried Front post half double crochets (fphdc) and Back post half double crochets (bphdc), don’t worry – they are much easier than they sound! Here is a picture of what going through the front post looks like:
And here is a picture of what going through the back post looks like (note that the work is being tilted toward the camera to show the back post, thus effectively is a top down view):
Happy Monday, dear T.H.R.I.V.E. Association family! We have been getting a number of questions recently about acceptable colors for donated garments. We know that it is Spring and our wonderful volunteers and donors are really excited to break out their lovely Springtime colored yarns, fabrics, etc. Trust us, we love bright colors too!
However, we here at T.H.R.I.V.E. Association are all about the veteran community that we serve. As beautiful as bright colors and pastels are, we have to keep the recipients’ preferences in mind. Through the years that we have been in operation, we have found that the veterans and their dependents prefer darker colors of blue, black, green, grey, and camouflage. If you are feeling particularly bold, both red or royal purple have also been very popular.
Next week, we will be introducing a new crocheted gaiter pattern, pictured above, created by the our awesome team! If you are a knitter, we also have the same pattern in knit coming at you in the following weeks! So, stay tuned!
Happy Monday, dear T.H.R.I.V.E. Association family! We are sending our lovingly handcrafted goods to Alachua County, Gainesville, Florida next week (the week of March 6, 2023) for their annual Stand Down. We still desperately need lap blankets and slippers. If you have donations that you would like to contribute to our cause for this Stand Down, please contact our office at (469) 427-9654 or via email at thriveassociation@thrivevets.org so that we can arrange for a pick up.
Happy Monday, dear T.H.R.I.V.E. Association family. The Red Heart Wavy Ridge Super Scarf is one of our most popular and requested crocheted scarves. This surprisingly simple, yet elegant scarf looks great in all colors, including our veterans’ color of choice – camouflage (and ombré as shown)! Check out the pattern, plus a handy video tutorial, here:
Happy Monday, dear T.H.R.I.V.E. Association family! Today we would love to share an awesome free crochet mitten pattern compliments of Yarnspirations! The Crochet 3 in 1 Hand Warmer is a very versatile pattern, as it has three different variations that you can choose to craft: full, fingerless, and convertible mittens. One of the best parts is that it is easier than it appears, thanks to the included video tutorials!
The veterans and their dependents always love receiving our mittens at the Stand Downs and this pattern weaves up rather quickly, so it is a great project to tackle! The convertible variation is a really useful feature for our vets and their dependents to have dexterity with their fingers! The 3 part video tutorial clears up any difficulties that you’re sure to have, so you won’t get in over your head. Just make sure to remember to keep your split single crochets loose so that you won’t find yourself having trouble getting your hook into them on the next rounds. To get your free copy of the pattern, please follow the link below and click “Download Free Pattern”:
Happy Friday, dear T.H.R.I.V.E. Association family! We have one of the bigger Stand Downs that we partner with coming up very soon; so please keep sending in your donations. This particular Stand Down is in a location that does get cold so your donations mean just that much more. Your lovingly hand crafted goods are deeply treasured and appreciated by those that receive them and even a lovingly handcrafted hat, scarf, etc. helps make a huge difference in the life of the veteran wearing it. Please also keep in mind that even though Spring and Summer are approaching, we still have lots of Stand Downs coming up, so we still need your support so that we can continue to serve those who so admirably served our great nation.
Recently, we received a request for a crochet blanket pattern from one of our dear friends and longtime donors, as we have been asking for these items. We do sometimes get requests throughout the year from V.A.s that we partner with for blankets- mostly wheelchair/lap blankets. There are many great and easy free patterns available compliments of our friends at Yarnspirations and Lion Brand. Today, we would like to share a wonderful free pattern, Red Heart Traditional Granny Throw, compliments of our friends at Yarnspirations. This is one of our favorite styles of blankets! It is really very simple, yet surprisingly popular among both crafters and our veteran community.
Pro Tip: Make sure to keep your tension consistent to ensure that all of your squares are the same size. Also, this make the joining process easier.
Pro Tip: You can substitute the requested colors in the pattern to colors of your choice if you would like. Please just make sure that the yarns that you choose for your substitutions are the same weight as those called for in the pattern.
If you would like to donate a hat, scarf, blanket, 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).
