Ships Project knits warmth for troops

It’s probably no coincidence that Athena, the Greek goddess of war, is also the goddess of arts and crafts. When she’s not at war planning battle strategy, she’s at peace making beautiful and useful things.

Historically, if they are not directly involved in the action, as they are in the war in Iraq, women respond in wartime by asking themselves, “What creature comforts do the troops need?” Then they get out their knitting needles and crochet hooks and go to work.

Knitters and crocheters have yet another opportunity to do needlework in support of the armed services on the warfront in Iraq.

A Ships Project knit-in is planned for 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 5, at the Yard Goods Center in Waterville. Knitters will make caps and slippers. The store will supply a free cap pattern, refreshments and a discount on yarn purchased for the project, said store employee Roberta Corey, who shared sources of information about the project.

The Ships Project began in October 2001 in response to a letter Ellen Harpin of Goldenrod, Fla., wrote to a sailor aboard the USS Bataan – originally, the Ships Project was known as the Bataan Project. The sailor wrote that she could use some warm slippers. Harpin, a Red Cross volunteer, knit a pair of slippers and sent them to the sailor. The sailor’s 60 female shipmates liked them so much, they wanted slippers, too. Harpin hit the Internet and posted notices on knitting Web sites asking for volunteers and the Ships Project was born.

Currently, Harpin has mailed nearly 6,000 handmade gloves, mittens, hats, slippers, socks and ear warmers to sailors, soldiers and Marines. Ships currently receiving items include the USS Abraham Lincoln, USS Kearsage, USNS Comfort and USS Bonhomme-Richard, as well as 21 other ships. Another 38 ships have received items in the recent past, including the USS George Washington, USS John F. Kennedy, USS Grace Hopper and USS Ashland.

An appreciative recipient aboard the USS Ashland, who received a hat, e-mailed Harpin and said, “Thank you for … the hat. It’s hard to believe, but it gets pretty chilly at night over here off the coast of Kuwait. Thank you all for being so kind to people you’ve never even met. Please pass on a thank-you to all involved.”

Corey said the knit-in at the Yard Goods Center is open to everyone. Participants may stay all day or for as much time as they have available. To obtain information about the knit-in, call the store at 872-2118. To learn more about the Ships Project and the rules that apply to making items, visit the Web at www.wtv-zone.com/kjsb/bataan.html, or write Ellen Harpin, P.O. Box 564, Goldenrod, Fla. 32733-0564.

Incidentally, bazaars selling needlework made by women were a primary source of funds for medical supplies during the Civil War – on both sides of the Mason-Dixon line. During World War I, the Red Cross purchased a million pounds of knitting wool to be made into garments for soldiers. During and just after World War II, from 1939-46, the American Red Cross production corps volunteers knit 63,552,649 garments for members of the armed services. As late as 1964, American Red Cross knitters were still supplying the military with wool helmets.

Go to the American Red Cross Web site to learn more about the role of knitting in its work and to see 1940s vintage patterns for socks, scarves and other garments.

Snippets

In Stitches, a cross stitch and needlepoint shop at 54 Broadway in Bucksport is offering classes for beginning stitchers March 29 and April 4, 5 and 12. To learn more, call the shop at 469-2334, or e-mail infor@institches-online.com.

Beth Kidder of Bar Harbor, a former embroidery teacher, writes that there is a chapter of the Embroiders Guild of America located in Portland. The guild is a national organization and its purpose is to teach. To learn more about the guild, go to www.egusa.org.

If you want to manipulate fabric for wild results, consider attending that workshop at Studio 312, Bangor, with Sally Bates. Call 469-0607 for details.