Johnnie Get Your Yarn

During the War there introduced the Junior Red Cross in 1917, which was available and open to all school children but was run by schools in the first place. Through this organization, children learned to knit through this new Red Cross programme. They were most commonly known for creating washcloths, which were sent to the soldiers and also to citizens. During my research I discovered a woman called Blanche Caffiere who would knit washcloths during her time as a Fairview School student. What she remembers the most about the school years is how the children would be constantly knitting between lessons. These children had created very small squares and the teachers would wash the children’s handiwork before they sent it to the Red Cross.

In May 1918 the Seattle School Bulletin printed this patriotic knitting song:

‘Johnnie, get your yarn, get your yarn, get your yarn;

Knitting has a charm, has a charm, has a charm,

See us knitting two by two,

Boys in Seattle like it too.

Hurry every day, don’t delay, make it pay.

Our ladies must be warm, not forlorn mid the storm.

Hear them call from o’re the sea,

‘Make a sweater, please for me.’

Over here everywhere,

We are knitting for the boys over there,

It’s a sock or a sweater, or even better

To do your bit and knit a square.’

Besides knitting, the children were encouraged to enable others (especially skilled knitters) to knit for the war effort.