Christmas At Sea Charity

I was reading the most recent edition of Lion Brand’s newsletter when I cam across an article about a charitable program that provides crocheted and knit hats, scarves, slippers, socks, and a really neat vest to people (I started to say men, but I know there are women out there as well) who are employed on the sea or rivers in maritime jobs.  The organization is Seaman’s Church Institute, and the charity is “Christmas at Sea.”

Mission Statement

Here’s what their website says about the program:

The Christmas at Sea program of the Seamen’s Church Institute brings hospitality and love to deep-sea and river mariners by distributing gifts containing handmade scarves, caps, vests, helmets or socks, as well as other useful items. These gifts are knitted or crocheted by more than 4,000 volunteers from every state. Each year, more than 17,000 gifts are distributed. We would love to have your help.

As I perused the website, reading the stories and viewing the photos, I got a little teary-eyed for some reason.  It must be that past life I spent on a boat somewhere.  Or maybe it’s from watching show after show of “The Deadliest Catch.”  Then again, it could be the weekend I spent with my daughter out on the Chesapeake Bay on a crab boat – well, we didn’t spend the whole weekend on the boat, just an afternoon.  But we really got a taste of what it’s like to work on the water.

Christmas At Sea Patterns

Then I checked out all the patterns which can be found at the Christmas at Sea website.  The instructions are very well written, and each pattern comes with a photo so you can see what you’re making.  I’m definitely going to make the vest.  It would be a good way to get in some knitting practice.  And I love the large-size print – no squinting to read the instructions.

Program Guidelines

The program asks that you use machine-washable, worsted weight yarn for everything but the socks, which use 3-ply sport weight yarn.

Another neat thing about this program is that you can order yarn directly from the program if you have difficulty getting yarn.  They suggest a $2.50 donation per skein.  The skeins appear to be 3 ounces (the vest pattern calls for 12 ounces, and the Yarn Order Form says you need 4 skeins to make it, so that’s 3 ounces per skein, right? — check my math, please!)

Finally, Christmas At Sea asks that you get your items in by the fall which is when they start packing the gifts.  Check out their blog to read more about this program.

A Worthy Cause

This seems like a very worth cause.  It can get really cold out on the water, so I know the mariners really appreciate those gifts.