Knit your Bit on Veteran's Day At Stitch DC

A little history lesson today about how generations before "Knit their Bit". And how this Wednesday, at Stitch DC you can join us to knit your bit. You can knit or crochet a scarf using this pattern (Knit pattern / crochet pattern) or you can knit or crochet an 8" by 8" square (marie will provide easy patterns for the squares) that will be sewn together to other squares to make quilts for VA centers across the country. By combining individual and unique squares from across the country, these quilts truly represent the "We're all in this together" spirit that the National World War II museum celebrates.

Join me and my family at Stitch DC from 1pm -5 pm from for our first ever "Knit your bit Tea". Yarns will be donated for the squares or bring your own stash. This is a charity event so we'll all share our stash :). The squares are small enough that we should be able to finish them in one sitting. Marie will coordinate mailing to the National World War II Memorial.

Knitters can even dedicate their squares to honor a particular veteran. The Museum will list knitters and veterans on the Knit Your Bit web site.

In October of 2006, The National World War II Museum in New Orleans introduced Knit Your Bit, a national, grass-roots program to produce hand-knit scarves for World War II veterans in appreciation of their service to our country. Since then, the Museum has received an overwhelming response nearly 5,000 hand-knitted and crocheted scarves from 48 different states and several countries. The scarves have been distributed to V.A. Hospitals and other Veteran’s organizations as far away as Hawaii.

On the Home Front during World War II, knitting was a national endeavor. Women, men and even school-age children were eager to “knit their bit” to support the war effort and provide needed garments for the troops.

First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt was frequently photographed knitting and, in 1941, she boosted national participation by hosting a “Knit for Defense” tea at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York City. Time magazine wrote, “The men hardly have time to grab their guns before their wives and sweethearts grab their needles and yarn.” Later that same year, the popular weekly magazine Life featured a cover story on knitting along with instructions and a pattern for a knit vest. In 1942, the American Red Cross was designated by the War Production board as the clearing agency for all knitting projects and provided patterns for socks, sweaters, mufflers, fingerless mitts, knit watch caps and helmets. Even cotton stretch bandages were hand-knit in vast quantities.

See you Wednesday from during the day from 1pm-5 pm to knit your scarf or quilt scarf for the VA centers across the country.