Fall "Craft 'n' Crop" for The Troops will be held at Heritage House on Thursday, Oct. 5, at 6 p.m. The event is a relaxed artist/crafter mixer designed for creatives of all stripes.
Participants bring a potluck dish to share for dinner and then work on their various individual projects (any format -- scrapbooks, bead looms, and clay sculptures are but a few of the materials seen in the recent past) while sharing good conversation and positive feedback.
There is no agenda and no structure, so attendees are free to come and go as their schedules require.
The October Craft ’n’ Crop at Heritage House is extending an open invitation to all local crafters to join in a mass effort to send some ‘crafted love’ to troops overseas. Participants recently began a project with the local chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, and are currently working on knitted helmet liners for troops in Afghanistan. The pattern keeps both their head and neck/chin warm while they are stationed in the mountainous areas of that far country.
Here is the crochet pattern and here is the knit pattern.
Participants are also completing the stuffing of, and sewing up of, numerous “mini hearts” which will travel with the troops. The hearts are designed to be small enough to be easily carried in the breast pocket of the uniform so as to remind the troops that we are thinking of them back home.
Participants are also creating miniature “tree skirts” to accompany mini Christmas trees which will be shipped out this fall in time for the holidays. There is a "no-sew" pattern that can be used, or you can get as fancy as you like with the tree skirts.
The troops' "yards" in Afghanistan are a bit devoid of any real vegetation, so they have asked for painted rocks (small round river rocks would do nicely) so that they can brighten up their living space with a rock garden composed of painted, and even "personalized" if you so wish, river rocks.)
Supplies that you may bring: pinking shears, size K and G crochet hooks, yarn (5oz. soft worsted weight 100% wool in tan, brown, olive, gray, or black) and small to medium size smooth river rocks.