Knitting For Marines

Please join us for a “knit-in” each Saturday from 1-4 pm in the National Museum of the Marine Corps’ Leatherneck Gallery in support of Knitting For Marines. Both knitters and crocheters are welcome and patterns will be provided. All helmet liners will be sent to Marines stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Please bring your own yarn and needles:

• US size 6 and 8 circular needles (16”) and a set of US size 8 double pointed needles (or size to get 4.5 st/inch with larger needles) or K and H hook (or size to get 4 st/inch and 5 rows/inch with larger hook).
• 100% wool (superwash is fine) and in either tan, brown, black or charcoal (our Marines strongly prefer tan). Only 100% soft wool yarn will be accepted, because our Armed Forces are not allowed to wear synthetic fibers outside the wire. Wool is inherently non-flammable and won’t melt against the skin in the event of an accident and is warm even when wet.

The Knitting For Marines project is an on-going effort to make and distribute helmet liners to Marines. Thanks to the overwhelming support that the project received, the Museum will continue to accept helmet liners so that as many Marines as possible can receive one. For those of you who are unable to attend the knit-ins at the museum, both the knitting pattern and crochet pattern are available for download as PDF files. Adobe Reader is required to view PDF files. If you do not have Adobe Reader, you may download it here for free.

If you need assistance with getting the correct type of yarn, we will have some yarn available at the museum thanks to a generous donation from Knit Happens of Alexandria, VA.

If you have questions, please contact Aviation Curator Benjamin Kristy at Benjamin.kristy@usmc.mil.

Patterns are made available by Operation Helmetliner and may not be used for commercial purposes.

Sponsors and Supporters:

If you are not able to attend any of the Saturday sessions at the National Museum of the Marine Corps, but still want to knit helmet liners for Marines, you may send your finished liners to:

National Museum of the Marine Corps
ATTN: Ben Kristy
2014 Anderson Ave
Quantico, VA 22134

Please come out and knit for the troops!

Baghdad Hobby Club

The National Museum of the Marine Corps is collecting unassembled plastic models of aircraft, tanks, ships, cars, and figures in support of the Baghdad Hobby Club, a volunteer run group who distributes models and model supplies to Marines, sailors, soldiers, and airmen stationed across Iraq.

Formed in 2004, the Baghdad Hobby Club forwards donated models and modeling supplies to six Forward Operating Bases in Iraq. The Hobby Club boasts members from all US services and includes personnel from several Coalition partners. Making models offers a calm break from the stresses of life in a combat zone.

The National Museum of the Marine Corps is accepting the following items to send to the Baghdad Hobby Club:

• Unassembled plastic model kits: aircraft, tanks, ships, cars/trucks, figures (any scale)
• Modeling supplies: Xacto knives/blades, sandpaper, glues, decal sets, etc.
• Model paints: acrylic paints only!

Individuals wishing to donate models and modeling supplies may bring their donations to the National Museum of the Marine Corps during normal business hours (Monday – Sunday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM). The donated items may be left with a Museum docent at the front desk.

For more information regarding the National Museum of the Marine Corps’ model drive in support of the Baghdad Hobby Club, please contact either:

“These models provide a relaxing outlet for troops who are serving far from home in a tough place. There is nothing better than seeing a grizzled combat vet lighting up at the sight of a Monogram classic he built as a kid!”
- CAPT Kirby Miller, USN and Baghdad Hobby Club