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. 

You can get your free copy of the pattern here: 

https://www.yarnspirations.com/red-heart-traditional-granny-throw/RHC0502-022086M.html

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).