Calling All Crafters!

Published: July 27, 2026  ~   0

Happy Monday dear T.H.R.I.V.E. Association family! There are multiple Stand Downs each month that we partner with across the U.S.; and although it’s pretty warm outside right now for most of us here in the lower 48, our warm handcrafted gifts are always in high demand.

If you would like to craft a gift for our cause but need inspiration, please peruse our blog at https://thrivevets.org/index.php/blog/ where you can find free patterns as well as awesome tips and tricks. 

If you’d like to donate a hat, scarf, mittens, 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 potential 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.

If you have donations within Baltimore or the DMV area, please contact us to schedule a pickup. If you reside outside of the Baltimore, MD or the DMV area and would like to make an in-kind donation, you can send your donations to us at:

Care of: Victoria Walker at T.H.R.I.V.E. Association
900 E Fayette St #1583
Baltimore, MD 21233

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us. Remember, even one lovingly handcrafted hat or scarf can make a huge difference in the life of an underprivileged veteran or their dependent(s).

Crafting for Anchorage at the birthplace of “The Star-Spangled Banner”

Published: July 6, 2026  ~   0

Happy Monday, dear T.H.R.I.V.E. Association family! We hope that you all had a very happy and safe 4th of July weekend. Thank you to all of our amazing staff and volunteers who have been helping us to reach our goal of 150 hats and scarves and 20 blankets for our partner V.A. in Anchorage, Alaska. We are so grateful for your ongoing support and tireless efforts to further our mission to help end homelessness among our nation’s veterans and their dependents.

Although most of us in the “lower 48” are experiencing sweltering temperatures, it is important to note that Anchorage, Alaska does get quite cold at night; even during the Summer months. So, please keep sending in your lovingly handcrafted gifts. They are always needed, and we send them to our partner Stand Downs all year round.

If you’d like to donate a hat, scarf, mittens, 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 potential 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.

If you have donations within Baltimore or the DMV area, please contact us to schedule a pickup. If you reside outside of the Baltimore, MD or the DMV area and would like to make an in-kind donation, you can send your donations to us at:

Care of: Victoria Walker at T.H.R.I.V.E. Association
900 E Fayette St #1583
Baltimore, MD 21233

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us. Remember, even one lovingly handcrafted hat or scarf can make a huge difference in the life of an underprivileged veteran or their dependent(s).

Note: The photo above was taken at Fort McHenry- the birthplace of “The Star-Spangled Banner”! Happy 250th America!

The Vika Capelet

Published: October 21, 2016  ~   0

This week’s pattern is a simple yet elegant caplet that was designed by T.H.R.I.V.E.’s Chief Officer. Just like last week’s pattern, this week’s was also made using Lion Brand’s Homespun Thick and Quick yarn. (Just as a side note, the color is called Purple Haze.) It is a simple 2×2 rib worked on size 13 (9 mm), circular needles. And, it is perfect for any beginner knitter.

Since we have a habit of posting free patterns, this week we’ll be posting ours. With that, on to the directions.

 

Initial notes:

This project is worked as one piece in the round.

This pattern is made to be a one size fits all, but if you’d like to make it larger or smaller, you can easily alter the pattern. Just add or subtract in multiples of 4.

Gauge:

9 stitches is approximately 4 in. (10 cm)

If you knit looser, you’ll need more than one skein of yarn.

Capelet:

Loosely cast on 78 stitches. Place a marker to indicate the beginning of the round. Join by working the first stitch on the left needle with the working yarn from the right needle. Be careful not to twist the stitches.

Round 1: *K2, p2; repeat from * around.

Subsequent Rounds: Repeat Round 1 until the piece measures about 14 in. (35.6 cm) from beginning.

Bind off: Cut about a six inch tail and make a square knot.

Finish:

Weave in the ends.

Key:

K= Knit

P= Purl

 

If you have made this project, please remember to wet block it. And, send us a picture in the comment section below! We’d love to see how it looks.

If you have any questions on this, or other patterns, please contact us.

We will be working on this and similar patterns over the next few weeks at our Friday Night Craft-a-thons. So, if you are interested in learning how to make this, please come out and see us. This Friday, we’ll be at Half Price Books.