Hats for Soldiers
A Package from Home

Download pattern

Last year, a small group of handcrafters in Gush Etzion wanted to do something for soldiers. One of the women, Channah Koppel, had a son serving in the paratroopers so she looked into it and discovered that they could really use some warm, well-fitting hats. She developed a knitting pattern, sent out some e-mails, and the project took off. Since then, people from around the world have been sending Channah hand knit hats for soldiers. Last year, they outfitted an entire brigade serving in the Golan and on Mount Hermon.

Now, Channah and her group have decided to team up with "A Package from Home" to get hats to "chayalim bodedim" (lone soldiers without family in Israel).

Just this past week, "A Package from Home" packaged 175 hats for soldiers serving in Golani and tank units. When they came to pick up the packages and saw the hats, they were thrilled. The hats that soldiers currently receive from the army are made of a synthetic fleece-type fabric that's nowhere near as warm and snug. One of the soldiers asked me to make sure the packages he gets all have hand knit hats.

The hats provide physical warmth and emotional support, and we feel good knowing that somewhere tonight a soldier doing guard duty in the cold will be wearing a warm hand knit hat, made with love.

Our goal for the coming winter is to get an additional 2000 hand knit hats to lone soldiers serving in combat units. If you are a knitter or know someone who loves to knit and wants to help keep our soldiers warm this winter, please see attached pattern. All hats must be made to pattern in order to conform to army regulations.

The cost of the wool is approximately 10 shekels in Israel and $ 4 in the US. What a small price to pay for the comfort and warmth it will bring to our soldiers as they guard our borders from our enemies.