Sizing Handknit Socks

From Baghdad to Madison with love

Every month over the past four years the elderly residents of Oakwood East in Madison have faithfully sent cards, hand-knit caps, popcorn, peanuts, granola bars, toiletries, toys and white socks in boxes, 412 to be exact, to Dane-County-based troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. And on Tuesday, Flag Day, they held a ceremony to raise into the blue yonder a remarkable gift they recently received in return, a flag with quite a history.

Not long ago the stars and stripes flapping on the Oakwood East flagpole flew proudly over Saddam Hussein's former Al Faw Palace in Baghdad, Iraq, dubbed Camp Victory by the American troops who took it over and now use it for army headquarters. Though it is probably more accurate to say that the flag drooped limply from its post in Iraq's desert heat, judging by the letters grateful soldiers send their Oakwood East pen pals, whom the soldiers nicknamed the Oakwood Packers. "The weather has cooled down from 130 degrees in August to low 100's now. Some days are very dusty and in a picture it would appear as if it was foggy," Sgt. Adam Gehrke writes in a postcard to an Oakwood resident he calls "Gramma Bev."

The postcard, with other letters and photos from the front lines, is on display in the Oakwood East community center.  Gehrke goes on to talk about the Green Bay Packers, a favorite topic of conversation between the Madison seniors and the sometimes homesick men and women they keep in touch with. "I have been following the NFL thru the first few weeks. Hopefully the PACK doesn't lose to the Bears again..." Gehrke writes.

Several of the 60 or so people who turned out for the flag raising ceremony in front of Oakwood East's community center are veterans of past conflicts. Resident Earl Lindgren, 81, stood erect and at attention, wearing a red military cap, a memento of his three years, three months and 19 days of military service as a radar repairman in the Marine Corps during the Korean War. So did Mary Reinhardt, 81, who had been stationed with the United States Navy in San Diego where she worked decoding messages. Pearl Navis, 85, wore a red straw hat and pearls and remembered her former husband, a WW II veteran who didn't like to talk about the war much, except to say he felt sorry for the German prisoners. When he became a superintendent at what was then known as the Oregon Correctional Center and Farm, he gave prisoners on the work farm Sundays off.

Most everyone in the crowd, whether they fought in past wars or not, or supported them or not, sang the Star Spangled Banner and put their hands on their hearts to recite the Pledge of Allegiance. They were a little rusty, and some of them sat in wheelchairs or leaned on walkers. But all of them applauded as the flag was unfolded and sent up the pole. Liz Gade-Schara, the events and activity coordinator at Oakwood East and the sister, daughter, and aunt of military men, says times are different than during the Vietnam War, when returning soldiers were spat on. Most people today support the people fighting overseas even if they don't support the war itself. "Whether or not you believe in this war, it doesn't matter," Gade-Schara says. She has a photo of two of her brothers and a nephew in their Madison-made caps standing in front of the palace Oakwood's new flag once flew over. "Our kids are over there and we have got to do everything we can to support them.

The Polka Dot Chicken: Pretty Purple Monkey Socks

I knit these for Nora the new owner of the yarn shop Lambinkins Hideaway in Hamilton, Ohio. She has never worn hand knit socks and for purely selfish reasons I wanted her to know how wonderful they are. I figured if she had a pair of hand knit socks to wear it would influence her to buy lots of great sock yarn for the shop which I could then add to my stash. Diabolical thinking, isn't it? LOL I have plans for these to become this Cladonia , such a pretty shawl. I saw that lots of people are doing Camp Loopy and the item to knit this year is a 2 color shawl. Now I won't be participating since I didn't get my yarn from The Loopy Ewe but I am sure enjoying seeing what combinations of yarn and shawl pattern people are coming up with. I love little shawls and I'm very taken with 2 color ones at the moment so I'm sure I am going to see lots of inspiration which will lead to more stash enhancement - its a vicious circle and I think I'm getting dizzy - LOL!

Easy Knitted Socks, Fun and Fashionable Designs for the Novice Knitter

Teach Yourself VISUALLY Sock Knitting

Yarn Harlot, The Secret Life of a Knitter

Toe-Up Techniques for Hand-Knit Socks

This I Believe, On Love