HUGS

Hugs are a cotton neck tie with polymer crystals inserted to help keep our troops cool in the summer and warm in the winter.

Use 100% cotton fabric (camo, tan, sand ONLY - bright colors may attract unwanted attention) with a tight weave so the crystals won't ooze out.  Also be sure it is a fabric that will feel good against the skin.  TIP: You can make 24 ties from one twin sheet - 31 from a full size. 200 & 180 thread count works great. Before sewing be sure to wash in hot water to remove any sizing.

Polymer crystals - Two good sources for polymer crystals -

Schultz watering crystals - available at Wal-Mart. 

Many sources available try ACO, and other hardware stores.

DIRECTIONS:

1. For each tie - cut fabric 45 x 5 inches
2. Fold in half lengthwise with right sides together (so that it is long and skinny) and sew a 1/2 inch seam all the way along the long edge (keeping short ends open). You will want to use a short stitch length - so that the crystals won't get out.
3. Turn fabric right side out. You can roll it like a tube sock.
4. Press or iron fabric with seam line centered and facing down on the back (like you would a dress tie - you do not want to see the seam)
5. Mark fabric a midpoint.
6. From midpoint mark 10 inches out on each side. This will give you a 20" pocket in the mid section of the tube.
7. Stitch across the tie at one of the 10 inch point
8. Fill the mid section with 2 teaspoons of the polymer crystals.
9. Sew the other end at the 10 inch point.
10. Turn the open ends inside and stitch for an neat and clean finish.
11. Completed HUGS can be mailed to the Michigan Miltary Moms c/o 1730 Birchcrest Dr, Dearborn, MI 48124 - we will include the following instructions for use and distribute to our troops in our mailings. Please include your name or the organization helping us - we will include in our note to the troops!

THANK YOU! for helping us help our troops!

OUR NOTE TO THE TROOPS w/DIRECTIONS  

Dear Military member: 

We appreciate you for your service to our country, so we want you to have this “hug” from home.  When you place it around your neck, please remember there is someone who made this by hand just for you and who wishes they could actually give you a real hug!  We want you to know that we are praying for your safety. You have been hugged by the Michigan Military Moms and "YOUR NAME"

This HUG can be refrigerated for a colder tie or soaked in hot water to make an effective warm compress for sore muscles.  They can be gently microwaved and placed into a Ziploc, then into the pocket as a hand/pocket warmer for winter. To use a HUG, soak in water for 15-30 minutes. Please note hot water speeds the hydration process.  As the polymer granules absorb the water and begin to expand “squish” them around gently so the polymer spreads out equally along the tube. Please remember, never squeeze tightly, the polymer can be “oozed” out via the material if you do. Once hydrated, “HUGS” can be stored in a Ziplock bag (but air out daily so it doesn’t mildew) or hang to dry.  Once dried, they can be re-hydrated again for use over and
e\= in an ice chest, or in front of an A/C vent or toss into a refrigerator to cool it off again rapidly.

From a related Facebook group "Knit for our Troops!"

Knitting & Crocheted helmet liners (DOD approved pattern) for the troops.

Knitted Directions:

Materials:

Cascade 220 or any soft wool yarn that will knit to gauge. Approx. 175 yds. (5 hanks of 220 will make 6 hats.
ONLY use wool – as synthetic fibers will burn

Colors allowed by the military: black, brown, charcoal, tan, olive drab – black is preferred.

Needles:
Size 8 – 16” circular – or size to get gauge
Size 8 – double point – or size to get gauge
Size 6 – 16” circular for the ribbings

One stitch marker

GAUGE: 4.5 st/inch in stockinette stitch

Directions:

Neck: With smaller circular needle, cast on 84 stitches loosely. Place marker. Join in round and knit 2X2 ribbing for 6 inches.

Hat portion: With larger circular needle, knit 32 stitches off smaller needle. Leave smaller circular needle in rest of the stitches. Cast on 59 additional stitches, place marker to mark beginning of round, join in round, knit every row for 4 inches.
1st dec row: * K11, K2 tog* repeat to end of round
Next row: Knit even
2nd dec row: K10, K2 tog* repeat to end of round
Next row: Knit even
Change to DP needles when necessary.
Continue decreases as established until K2, K2 tog. After this, decrease every row until 7 stitches on needle. Cut yarn 8-9 inches, feed through remaining stitches and weave in.


RIBBING around face: With smaller needle still in neck portion, pick up 59 stitches around face. Join in circle and knit in 2X2 ribbing for 1 inch. On last row of ribbing, decrease in a total of 4 purl stitches by purl 2 together – 2 sets on each side of face – 10:00, 2:00, 4:00, & 8:00. Bind off.


Crocheted Directions:

Materials:

6 oz soft worsted weigiht 100% wool yarn


ONLY use wool – as synthetic fibers will burn
Soft 100% worsted weight wool yarn keeps
Our troops warm. In addition, wool wicks
away moisture and is non-flammable. The
temperatures they endure are below zero
in Iraq, Afghanistan, S. Korea & Kosovo.

Colors allowed by the military: black, brown, charcoal, tan, olive drab – black is preferred.

Hook: Size K and H
Gauge w/K Hook = 4 sts per in and 5 rows per in

Made in rounds. Do not join. Do not turn.

Directions:
Rnd 1: form a ring around your finger, work 6 scs in ring
Rnd 2: 2scs in next 6sts (I2 sts)
Rnd 3: (sc in next st, 2scs in next st) 6X(18sts)

Rnd 4:(sc in next 2sts, 2scs in next st) 6X(24sts)
Rnd 5: (sc in next 3sts, 2scs in next st) 6X(30sts)
Rnd 6: (sc in next 4sts, 2scs in next st) 6X(36sts)
Rnd 7: (sc in next 5sts, 2scs in next st) 6X(42sts)
Rnd 8: (sc in next 6sts, 2scs in next st) 6X(48sts)
Rnd 9: (sc in next 7sts, 2scs in next st) 6X(54sts)
Rnd 10: (sc in next 8sts, 2scs in next st)6X(60sts)
Rnd 11: (sc in next 9sts, 2scs in next st)6X(66sts)
Rnd 12: (sc in next 10sts, 2scs in next st)6X(72sts)
WORK over 72 sts until piece measures 7 inches

For eye hole: without stretching your work,
Measure at least 7 inchs. Place a pin, count the
stitches you will skip, and ch1(1,2,2,3,3) more chs
than skipped stitches.

Continue working around until piece measures 10
more inches.

Fasten ouff and weave in ends. Attach yarn any
Where in face hole and sc around with H hook,
fasten off and weave in ends.

MAILING INFORMATION:

Helmet Liners will be graciously
accepted and distributed to
our servicemen and women
by the Michigan Military Moms.
c/o 1730 Birchcrest Drive
Dearborn, MI 48124-5000