I’m so glad you were able to finish the helmet liner with success. :yay: If it fits your hubby it should work fine for others. It is always such a nice feeling to be able to complete a tough project and have it be successful.:woohoo:
I too have trouble working with black and try to only knit on it in daylight especially when picking up stitches. There is something about the natural light that helps me in that process.
Happy knitting. :knitting: The next one should be a lot easier.
Kae
Did you have any problems with there seeming to be a bit of a “gap” right around (what in Shandeh’s picture looks like the eye or “meeting area”)? Bob said it was OK, but they were so specific about no areas for wind to get in, and I don’t think mine is that close a fit. I’m wondering about taking in a couple extra stitches in that area in the final row.
Of course, if it won’t work for that, they can always wear it to bed if their heads get cold at night… (can you tell I’m a perfectionist who ALWAYS second guesses myself?)
Thanks, and I’ll keep at it! I have another skein of black and one of brown, so I’ve got at least two more in me. But, since I’m having outpatient knee surgery Friday, maybe I should pick up a couple more skeins in case I’m not knocked out from pain meds and run out of yarn.
First, good luck with the knee surgery. My daughter has had surgery on both knees to keep her kneecap from dislocating and I know just how much trouble knees can be. 
Second, for the gap, can you take a couple of duplicate stitches and close the gap? I always finish off my ends with the duplicate stitch weaving technique so the ends don’t come loose and there aren’t any knots. That method should work to close the gap. I think there is a video on knitting help showing how to do it.
Like you, I feel a lot better if I have lots of yarn available for projects when I’m recovering (or sitting with my husband when he is recovering). It is my ‘security blanket’ I guess.
Good luck and happy knitting. :knitting:
Kae
Congratulations on your helmetliner completion, miccisue!
:cheering: :woohoo: :cheering:
And kae1crafts was a great helper. 
Congrats in finishing your first helmetliner! I like to do them. I think I’ve done seven now. I understand about the black yarn. I did my first in black. Tan is so much easier for me.
I use Cascade 220 & Galway. Both work for me. I make the neck ribbing 7 3/4 inches long and still have yarn left over. For the above the eyes part, I use a provisional cast on cause I don’t like picking up stitches. I usually do a Russian bind off. Is stretchy. I don’t worry about the gap beside the eyes. It helps the fabric to not be stressed when the part that covers the mouth is below the chin. On the first one I made, I knew the recipient. He just tucked the gapping fabric in.
I hope all goes well in your surgery.
HMMM. While it isn’t specificly mentioned I have some oh-so-soft alpaca I just finished spinning in very dark brown. It would be much nicer than pure wool, even merino. I guess the reason for wool is fire hazard reasons, and alpaca would certainly qualify for this. But sometimes these organizations can be so opinionated, and reject perfectly good items that should be just as good - and in this case superior -to what they recommend.
I also have some nice brown heathered (winds up being med-dark) natural brown colored lamb’s wool with about 10% angora in it. Also very very soft, and would not be brightly colored at all. I don’t think they’d notice the angora unless I told them it was there.
I spin these drab colors because my brother the truck driver won’t wear anything else. But he secretly enjoys a touch of luxury when driving up in New Hamshire or Maine this time of year. And he’s had big burly dock workers ask where he got his warm ski band.
Donna
The word I have is that natural animal fibers such as wool, alpaca and a blend of those is fine as long as there is NO synthetic fibers included. The animal fibers burn slowly while the synthetics melt into the skin and then stick which causes much more damage than a little ash from the animal fibers.
Your handspun yarn sounds perfect and we would happily accept them knit into helmet liners.
Thanks so much for considering creating the liners from such special materials. 
Kae
I got this pattern at Michael’s as a free one with Patons Classic Wool and hope to do it soon. Good to know I have all this info to refer to if I have a problem. I love Shandeh’s multicolor one and may make one for myself first as practice. Then make some for this project and for homeless shelter here.
I also knitted one which I sent to Patternworks. I posted about it HERE. It was a pretty quick project, as knitting projects go. I’m a slow knitter!
MGM
I’m so disappointed…I just read on the Citizen SAM site that they will no longer be allowed to send the the helmet liners to the troops. I just purchased all the supplies I would need so I could start one. November is the last time they will accept them so if you’ve started one, get it in quickly!!
Wendy
Thanks for the update Wendy - I will check with the Red Cross Liasion re the beanie type liners.
Kae
That is sad!
Dear kae1crafts,
GinnyG has just replied to a thread you have subscribed to entitled - Helmet Lners for the Troops - in the Charity Knitting forum of KnittingHelp.com Forum.
This thread is located at:
http://www.knittinghelp.com/forum/showthread.php?t=89429&goto=newpost
Here is the message that has just been posted:
I just went to the Citizen Sam website and could find nothing about them not accepting the helmet liners after November…
Could you link the information?
Ginny,
The info came from Wendy in post 30 of this thread. I don’t have the link.
Kae
There was a post on Ravelry knitting military supporters group by SerineKat. that says “Citizen Support for America’s Military (CSAM), Operation Helmetliner’s parent organization, has recently been informed by its military contacts for the helmet liners that the military has begun issuing its own helmet liners made of a special wicking material as its standard. They will no longer be allowed to accept the liners you have so lovingly made.”
There’s more to her post…
http://www.ravelry.com/discuss/knitting-military-supporters/1239995/1-25
Damn! I literally just was directed to this thread.Does anyone here know of a British equivalent because they are still over there and are not coming back,for a while as far as I know.I would appreciate it if anyone knows anything.Thanks a lot. 
The latest information I have is from the Red Cross Liaision at Ft. Carson - the deploying troops have been issued helmets with memory foam liners that protect the troops better from the IED blasts but don’t have any extra room for helmet liners.
Troops that have the older helmets still use the wool beanie type liners - especially if they are in the mountains of Afghanistan - which is very cold. There is no organized group that is supplying these liners that I have found but if you have contact with a specific soldier in that area, you can address a box of the liners to that person so they can hand them out to their buddies. Be sure the soldier is willing to do this.
I hope this information helps.
Hugs, happy stitching and thanks for thinking of our troops.
Kae
I received this yesterday from Citizen Support for America’s Military. I’m posting it in case anyone would like to check out their site for other ways to help our troops. The note also has their new address.
"Citizen Support for America’s Military (CSAM), Operation Helmetliner’s parent organization, has recently been informed by its military contacts for the helmet liners that the military has begun issuing its own helmet liners made of a special wicking material as its standard. They will no longer be allowed to accept the liners, stocking caps, neck gators or scarves you have so lovingly made.
"Thank you for all your awesome support of this wonderful project over the past 5 years. Please use your skill and talents, care and love in other ways to support our troops. Our website, www.citizensam.org, offers many projects that may fit your skills that are not being closed down, as Operation Helmetliner must do. We will ship any helmetliners you have already made, but must discontinue after that.
"Remember, it is all about supporting them in any way we can. It is the least we can do in return for their sacrifices.
"This is also to notify you we have changed our address. Please send all future mail/packages to the following address:
Citizen Support for America’s Military
PO Box 1975
Bloomington, IL 61702-1975
309 692 4008
"We appreciate your generosity because without volunteers like you this would not be possible.
Citizen Sam Board Members"
I would like to make the helmet liners but I am a beginner. Is this too much for a beginner? Don’t laugh I have been a beginner knitter my whole knitting life.
If you can knit, purl, increase one stitch and knit two together you should be able to do this hat. It is easiest of you have a size 8 or 9 circular needle 16-inch and a set of matching double point needles.
The pattern is free courtesy of the Denver Public Library and here is a link to the PDF file http://denverlibrary.org/files/knitting.pdf
Please note that none of the organizations are accepting helmet liners for the troops as their helmets have changed and there is no longer room for a knitted liner. These are still great hats for wearing off-duty or to make for other charities. If they are being sent to the military - 100% wool is a must for safety reasons.
Most of the techniques needed are either demonstrated on Knitting Help or you can Google the name and find numerous YouTube videos to help.
Good luck and happy stitching,
Kae
If you want another project to replace the helmet liners that have been discontinued, there are plenty. If you don’t know where to donate knitted items, you can always contact your local Salvation Army. Schools are always looking for hats, scarves, and mittens for needy students. If you’re a beginner, you can knit a simple blanket to put in the bottom of cages at your local animal shelter. You can call them to see if they will take them and what sizes they need. You don’t have to do the Snuggles pattern they show you here. You can simply do all garter stitch if you want. Use any yarn. Use any size needle. Make a striped blanket to use up your yarn stash. It’s your pet blanket your way. These are great blankets to practice new stitches on. When I was practicing Fair Isle knitting, my cats got some of the prettiest sleeping blankets in town, if I do say so myself.
http://volunteerguide.org/volunteer/fewhours/animal-shelters.htm
http://www.snugglesproject.org/knit/fun-fur-snuggle.html