Blackbird Mountain Designs was previously known as YarnyBird. Blog posts may contain references to YarnyBird.

I’ve always had a passion for serving veterans. My dad served in the Air Force for 20 years, and when I was younger he spent some time overseas during the first Gulf War. I don’t have a lot of memories of the time he was away, but I know it was a hard time for our family. When I worked in the mortgage industry, my favorite loans to work on and clients to serve were the VA loan clients, the active/former military members.

Since I started crocheting a dozen or so years ago, I’ve wanted to find a way to serve with my craft. I could have donated blankets or hats to homeless shelters, or blankets, hats or stuffed animals to labor & delivery units at a local hospital. Those are worthy causes, to be sure, but I never felt passionate about them. Recently Melanie Ham brought Operation Gratitude to my attention.

Founded in 2003 by Carolyn Blashek, Operation Gratitude is an organization that assembles and delivers care packages full of donated and handmade goodies to troops, veterans, first responders, recruit graduates, wounded heroes & caregivers, and military families. To date they’ve delivered over 2.3 million care packages, bridging the civilian-service divide and helping us to express our thanks and support for those who have given so much to serve us.

There are so many ways you can get involved with this project – host a donation drive to collect care package items, send items in from the wish list or writing letters to be used in care packages, fill care packages at one of their locations, deliver packages to to recent recruit graduates, and, of course, make something to be included in the packages. #makinggratitude

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Pin Now, Make it Later!

Operation Gratitude Specifications

• 4-6 inches wide and 48-50 inches long so the items fit in the boxes
• Soft yarn in subtle colors suitable for either gender – blues, browns, grays, greens, maroon, black. Stripes using these colors, as well as red, white, and blue color combos are acceptable as well.
• You can attach a note to your items if you are comfortable
• Place scarves or hats in a ziploc bag or drawstring to keep them clean and dry for shipping.
• Fill out THIS FORM to create a barcode for tracking purposes
• Send to Operation Gratitude at the address below, or drop them off in person Mon-Fri, 9am-4pm

Operation Gratitude Attn: Handmade Items Program

21100 Lassen Street

Chatsworth, CA 91311-4278

CLICK TO PIN THIS PATTERN

ALL IN SCARF

FINISHED SIZE: 5 ½ inches (14 cm) wide x 50 inches (127 cm)

GAUGE: 21 dc, 8 rows = 4 inches (10 cm) (worked in pattern)

MATERIALS:

• 1 ball Caron Kindness, or other worsted weight yarn – 282 yards/5.7 oz/162g
• US H/5.0mm hook
• Scissors
• Yarn needle

ABBREVIATIONS:

• blo = back loop only
• ch(s) = chain(s)
• dc = double crochet
• dc2tog = double crochet 2 stitches together
• st(s) = stitch(es)

NOTES

DIRECTIONS

Ch 26. (To change width – multiple of 12, plus 2 for base chain)

Row 1 – Dc into 3rd ch from hook, dc in next 3 sts, (dc2tog over next 2 sts) twice, dc in next 3 sts, 2 dc into each of the next 2 sts, dc in next 3 sts, (dc2tog over next 2 sts) twice, dc in next 3 sts, 2 dc in last st.

Row 2 – Ch 2, (working in blo unless otherwise noted) dc in same st, dc in next 3 sts, (dc2tog over next 2 sts) twice, dc in next 3 sts, 2 dc into each of the next 2 sts, dc in next 3 sts, (dc2tog over next 2 sts) twice, dc in next 3 sts, dc in last st, dc through BOTH loops of last st (last st will have 1 dc in blo and 1 through both loops).

Repeat Row 2 98 more times, or until scarf measures 50 inches (127 cm), or your desired length.

Fasten off and weave in ends.

FINISHING

Fasten off and weave in ends.

I love to see your finished projects, so be sure to use #allinscarf and #yarnybirdmakes when you post your photos on social media!