Glomitts and Gauntlets: Updates on our Knit-A-Long

October 30th, 2008 by Amos | Posted in Events, General News |

As those of you who read our early July newsletter may remember, we had put out a call for our first ever knit-a-long (KAL). We were prompted to start the KAL at the request of Malta Phelps, a Maine mother who’s son, Sgt. Mike Wall, is stationed in Afghanistan. Mike reminisced with his mother (who doesn’t knit) about the hunting and fishing mittens his grandmother had made and requested some for his unit. Malta called us with a request for help and we passed that request along to all who were interested.

The response has been wonderful. We had some great introductions and discussions in our KAL forum, and have been awed by the wonderfully crafted donations of Glomitts and Guard’s Gauntlets that have come in from all over the US and even from the UK! So far, we have had over 40 pairs sent in and we know that there are more on the way.

Sgt. Wall’s parents recently visited us here at Halcyon Yarn, and they expressed their heartfelt thanks to all who have contributed. Malta said that she was overwhelmed by the response: “It’s just unbelievable and amazing, thank you so much”.  She also couldn’t wait for the supplies to arrive in Afghanistan.  Sgt. Wall will be there through June so they’re really gearing up for a long winter.

The experience has certainly made the events in Afghanistan more immediate to us here at Halcyon Yarn. It has been wonderful for us to hear updates on Sgt. Wall’s unit. The photos above of Sgt. Wall are from his unit’s newsletter. In these photos he’s entertaining local children by juggling and by drawing cartoons in the sand – a duty which he loves, but which makes him miss his own son as well. We hear news and updates from Sgt. Wall’s parents (shown here, L to R, Beth Hood, Beth Quivey, Halcyon Blake, Malta Phelps, and Richard Wall). We also have had some great posts in the forum for the KAL, where you can see the great diversity of people who have been moved to help.

It has also given us a better understanding of the work of another soldier who is in our thoughts: Nolan Hood. Nolan is the son of our designer and customer service representative, Beth Hood and her husband Jack. Nolan helped Beth to modify her Guard’s Gauntlet pattern when he was home visiting over the summer. We will be including a shipment of Glomitts and Guard’s Gauntlets to his unit as well. Nolan saw a recent article published in our local paper about the KAL, and gave us some encouragement from the field: “You guys have all done a wonderful thing. When we get them I will get some photos for you guys”. We can’t wait, and will share them when we get ‘em!

Thank you again to all who have contributed, you are really making an important difference in peoples lives!

We are still accepting Glomitts and Gauntlets. You can download the patterns here: Glomitt or Guard’s Gauntlet.

Please mail your finished items to:

KnitALong
Halcyon Yarn
12 School Street
Bath, ME 04530

Thank you for your help and support!