SOLDIERS’ COMFORTS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 5 March 1940, Page 8

SOLDIERS’ COMFORTS

SUPPLIES OF KNITTING WOOL TO HAND. DISTRIBUTION IN WAIRARAPA. The Town Clerk. Mr G. T. O'Hara Smith advises that he has received a limited supply of marled knitting wool for the making of balaclavas. Supplies are being sent to boroughs throughout the Wairarapa to be distributed within their area and in adjoining counties. Local women’s organisations who wish to knit balaclavas for the three forces or gloves in Air Force blue wool for the Air Force, are requested to apply to the Town Clerk’s office for supplies. As there are only about 201bs. of wool remaining for local use, distribution can be made only in small lots until further supplies are received.

The following is the pattern for the balaclavas, which must be strictly adhered to so that each article is of the same standard: —

Four ounces of double knitting or two ounces of 4-ply, two No. 9 needles. Cast on 99 sts., rib 3 plain, 3 purl for 5 inches. Cast off 12 sts. at each end. With remaining stitches go on knitting in the rib for 4 inches. Cast on 12 sts at each end and knit in the rib for 51 inches more. Then knit 2 together in every rib, making ribs of 2 plain, 2 purl. You now have 66 stitches. Knit 2 plain, 2 purl for 4 rows, then knit 2 together all along the row, leaving .33 stitches. Now knit 2 together all along, leaving 17 stitches. Cast off. Sew up the edges under the chin and over the forehead. Gather the top quite flat. This cap can be rolled into a round cap. The secretary of the Wellington Provincial Patriotic Council has advised that there is an urgent need for the balaclavas, stating that the quota for the district is 328. If the pattern, as above, is strictly adhered to, as it must be, 2ozs. of wool will knit one balaclava. The balaclavas are being provided at the joint request of the Navy, Army and Air Headquarters. In connection with the gloves for the Air Force the ladies’ engaged in the work are asked to tack each glove together. The district's quota for gift parcels is 165 parcels, out of the Wellington Provincial quota of 1,500. A list of suggested contents will come to hand in the next few days.