Grab your Yarn

Many of the public by now would be knitting for the army and most of these people would have previously participated in the World War I Knit for Victory campaign. Knitting during the war would of provided warmth and comfort for the soldiers. Even First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt was often photographed knitting for the war. During the evenings, there would be broadcasts of the news of the war on radios and by that fact many idle hands were turned to service by the fact that we were once again knitting for victory.

The Red Cross during this time again was supplying patterns for sweaters, socks, mufflers, and fingerless mitts, to covers, stump covers and other garments. During the wintry conditions that the soldiers faced, cold, wet and sore feet were the enemy for this time. The socks would wear out much faster than lets say sweaters, as the socks would need to change many times more frequently. The yarns that would have been used for this time would have been knitted in an olive drab or maybe a navy blue wool yarn.

Knitters also produced 15-20 foot stretch bandages. These bandages would have been knitted with 100% cotton yarn in a garter stitch. Now a garter stitch can create a very stretchy fabric that will lie flat on an edge. These bandages would have been sterilized and shipped to medical units worldwide. Among knitted bandages, there were also wool helmets, which were being used for soldiers who were manning the anti-aircraft guns at high points throughout the Puget Sound region in January 1942. These guns were installed on a sandbagged platform, which was ringed with powerful listening devices. These knitted helmets would have been fitted under Army-issue hard-shelled helmets.

The Army and Navy really relied heavily on machine-knit wool socks. During the war these machines that would of produced socks, were being commandeered and strictly being used for military use. A lot of civilian socks became very scarce.

 “The Navy needs men, but it also needs knitters,” newspapers cried. Knitters were busily knitting in church basements, school lunchrooms and members-only societies. The knitter’s handiwork was being designed to create warmth and protection for the soldiers. After the war some of the public stopped knitting for good but however, some kept on knitting throughout their lives.

Germany surrendered to the Allies on May 7, 1945, and Japan surrendered on August 15, 1945. On September 2, 1945, Japan signed formal surrender papers. The war was over. Washington service personnel streamed home, troop ships docking in Seattle.