The Knit Before Christmas Fall 2013

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Founded in 1834,

SCI is a voluntary,

ecumenical agency

affiliated with the

Episcopal Church that

provides pastoral care,

maritime education, and

legal advocacy services

for mariners.

The newsletter of the

Seamens Church Institutes

Christmas at SeaProgram

In this Issue

The Seamens Church Institute

Just as every stitch fromevery knitter contributesto mariners warmth

during the winter months,every dollar you give toSCI upholds the valuableservices we provideand on which the entiremaritime communitydepends.

FALL 2013 VOLUME 7/NUMBER 2

WAT C Hth isC AP

WAT C Hth isC APWAT C Hth isC AP

You have heard the expression Watch this space, meaning exciting further developments comingsoon. This winter, SCI asks you to #WATCHthisCAP.

Between Thanksgiving and the New Years Day, the Seamens Church Institute (SCI) asksknitters to help increase awareness of mariners contributions by makingand hiding in

plain sightmini mariners watchcaps. The hats draw attention to the fact that mariners,

whose work is often hidden in plain sight, deliver more than 90% of all imported goods.

Small Hats Making

a BIG DifferenceSCI makes available a pattern for a miniature mariners

watchcap (along with an informational tag to attach)so that people can educate the public about the worldsmaritime workforce. As part of a nationwide activity called

#WATCHthisCAP, knitters and their friends place completedknits in conspicuous places to spread awareness of the

hidden maritime workforce.SCIs #WATCHthisCAP movement will have folks

discovering these handknit creations, revealing a fact thatmany dont realize: much of what shoppers purchase on a

day-to-day basis comes courtesy of the men and women of maritime commerce.

Find the tag and hat pattern enclosed with this newsletter (contact [email protected]

for more), and knit a mini mariners watchcap for your community.

Track the placement ofthe mini hats and monitortheir impact on Twitter,

Facebook and othersocial networks using thehashtag#WATCHthisCAP.Watch this space for theprojects development.

Part of the fun will bewatching where these

hats wind up. The hatsfit bottle topsfromolive oil to winebutcan garnish other things,too, like gas pumps orbicycles. Where in yourcommunity would a miniwatchcap belong?

Baby,coldou

When considering where toplace your caps, remember thatmariners do more than deliver imports. They alsomove goods within our own countrys borders.Inland river mariners and Gulf Coast workerscould benefit from some attention, too.

Dear Friends 2

Dj vu? 3

A New Hat for Mariners 3

The 1898 Hat 45

Your Questions Answered 6

Calendar 6
https://donate.seamenschurch.org/give


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The Knit Before Christmas Fall 2013 2 seamenschurch.org

Come visit theChristmas at Sea

knitting room inSCIs Port Newark

InternationalSeafarers Center.Email [email protected] find out how.

Need help? Turnto your knittingfriends for sup-port. Check outChristmas at SeasFacebookpage tomeet new ones.

Dear Friends,

Leftovers. Often that word implies secondbest, a thing passed over for something

newer, better. But we do well to rememberthat leftovers frequently come from somethingfabulous. Could you imagine Thanksgiving without

leftovers the following Fridaysometimes more delicious than on the day itself.

Moreover, Thanksgiving leftovers provide an opportunity to relive and savoragain what was so excellent about the dinner in the first place!

As stitchers, we know all about leftovers. It seems that every single project

leaves us with just the tiniest bit of yarnnot enough for a new hat, but toomuch to (gasp!) throw away.

Im always so pleased when I find a good use for leftovers. I like making deliciousThanksgiving turkey sandwiches with cranberry sauce. I love the look of a

sweater or a pair of blue jeans patched with a unique square of fabric. And Ienjoy adding cute stripes to hats and scarves. The food, the fabric and the yarn

leftovers are instrumental in creating something amazing.

This fall, I ask you to take a look at your leftoverssmall scraps of yarnto

help SCI create something amazing, tooa planet with a better understanding

of the work and world of mariners.

Based on last winters TEAny hat project, were asking you, our legion ofknitters, to think big, but knit small for our #WATCHthisCAP campaign.

Knit up and tag new mini watch caps; and then between Thanksgiving andNew Years Day, drop the cap off somewhereat your library, on the bus,

at your doctors office, at your church or in a restaurant. Put a cap on a winebottle in your wine shop. Stick a cap on a

toothbrush in your pharmacy, or top off a kiwiat your grocery store. (Probably best to askpermission before leaving your cap to make

sure the store owner welcomes the addition to

his or her merchandise.) The tags are loadedwith information about SCI and the workof mariners.

Like messages in a bottle traveling around theworld, we wonder where these mini watchcaps

will end up. We want to keep track of whereyou and your friends put them, so we ask folksboth organizers and findersto send us photos

and videos of the hats, sharing them onlinewith the hashtag #WATCHthisCAP on sites

like Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest and Facebook.

With over 4,000 Christmas at Seastitchers in

our family, imagine if everyone left one hat in apublic place this winter. Imagine the number of

people learning about mariners. Imagine all thatgood, coming from simple leftovers.

Imagine.

Sincerely,

Paige SatoProgram Manger, Christmas at Sea

The Inspiration for the 1Hat

The inspiration came fr

an illustration I saw in amagazine published aro1910. Unfortunately I cafind the magazine againdespite much searchingthe construction (bottomportion knit vertically, thhorizontally in the rounthe top) made an impreWhen I saw the contestthe 1898 hat, that old picame back to me as a wto add the shaping requby earflaps, though theoriginal didn't have ear

I started to experimentbased upon that basic iof construction and camwith doubling the bottoportion for added warmThe fact that it would fitunder a hard hat didn't to me but I am glad thathe men who will wear find that feature so useKris Byrnes, DesignerSCIs 1898 Hat

Looking for a PDF of this newsletter thatyou can read on your iPad or email afriend?

Need

Patterns?

Yarn?

Readyto mail?

Christmas at Sea118 Export StreetPort Newark, NJ 07114

Paige Sato, Program [email protected]

Fall 2013

Published by the

Seamens Church Institute

seamenschurch.org

The Rev. David M. Rider

Executive Director

Editor, Oliver BrewerAssistant Editor, Susannah Skiver BartonDesign & Production by BlissDesignThis newsletter is printed on recycled paper.
http://www.seamenschurch.org/mailto:psato%40seamenschurch.orgmailto:psato%40seamenschurch.orgmailto:[email protected]://www.seamenschurch.org/http://www.seamenschurch.org/mailto:[email protected]://www.seamenschurch.org/knit-b4-xmasmailto:psato%40seamenschurch.orgmailto:psato%40seamenschurch.orghttp://www.seamenschurch.org/


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Dj vu?The History Behind #WATCHthisCAP

L

ast year, Starbucks coffee stores

surrounding Port Newark-Elizabeth Marine Terminal, the

largest container port in the eastern

United States, adorned some of theirrefrigerated beverages with miniature

seafarers caps. The project, called 1200TEAny Hats (because the hats topped

Starbucks TAZO-brand tea bottles),

helped SCI reach consumers to talk

about the work of mariners who delivermost of their consumable merchandise,including the tea found at Starbucks.

Over 175 knitters participated in theendeavor, making some 2,173 hats for

bottles sold at 12 New Jersey Starbucks,spreading the word about mariners and

SCI to thousands of shop visitors.

SCI designed the TEAny Hats to mirrora life-sized watchcap, a hat design thathas protected mariners traveling on cold

waters for hundreds of years. Customersat New Jersey Starbucks who went to

purchase tea last winter discovered theirbottles topped with a mini watchcap.

The colorful wool on top of each teamight have drawn some strange looks,

but customers examining the tagaffixed to each hat soon understood:From smartphones to blue jeans to the

ingredients that make this beverage sotasty, seafarers bring us the comforts of

our daily lives.

The project inspired knitters from across

the United States to craft the miniaturetea-topping hats, which helped spread

the news of mariners arduous labors to

deliver overseas products to Americanshores and garner support for North

Americas largest mariners serviceagency, SCI. But many felt the message

did not travel far enough. Passionateknitters expressed a desire to enlarge

the projects reach to locations in theirown communities.

A New Hat for MarinersWhats fashionable on the high seas this winter? Some mariners willsport a new hat designed by Kristine Byrnes of Allentown, NJ,winner of SCIs contest to keep seafaring ears warm.

SCI debuts new garb for mariners this winter. Earlier this year,we asked the world to outfit the next generation of marinerswith an original knitted hat pattern based on feedback

chaplains received while visiting vessels in port. Mariners saidtheir ears were cold.

Curiously, while visiting ships this past winter, SCIs intern,24-year-old Jania Billups, lost three hats. The wind did not

take them nor did the sea. Rather, seafarersseeing herwooly hatasked Jania if they could have it because it

had earflaps.

SCIs Christmas at SeaProgram Manager Paige Sato took

this as a directive for the 4,000+ volunteer knitters shecoordinates from across the United States. Sato inaugurated

a contest for a new mariners hat pattern to supplement thewatch capa special design that would meet workplace safety

requirements and also incorporate the ear-warming featuresthat mariners requested.

Called the 1898 Hat(in honor of the founding year of theChristmas at Seavolunteer knitting program), the winning

design of the contest features a double-knit earflap that staysput without tying below the chin. Chosen from a pool of

12 submissions, the hat should keep mariners ears shelteredfrom the cold. Seafarers themselves evaluated the various

designs, trying them on and offering feedback to the contestjudges. They told the judges they liked the design because it

looks good on, and, The hat feels warm over my ears, saidone seafarer of the MV Ever Refine, traveling up the East Coastof the United States.

The 1898 Hat pattern is now in circulation to the joy ofmariners everywhere. We have printed the pattern in this

newsletter, and you can also download it from our website.This winter, SCI hopes that, while providing a new, warming

style for seafarers, its interns get to keep their own hats.

The 1898 HatsupplementsSCIs traditionalwatchcap.Download all of ourpatterns online atseamenschurch.org/cas.
http://www.seamenschurch.org/http://www.seamenschurch.org/


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Withitscleverconstruction(knittingthebrimvertically,thenfoldingovertocreateadouble-knitearflap),the1898Hatcanseemtrickywhencomparedtotypicalknithats.Ifyouneedhelp,checkouttheYouTubevideoslinkedfromSCIswebsiteatseamenschurch.org/cas.
http://www.seamenschurch.org/http://www.seamenschurch.org/http://www.seamenschurch.org/http://www.seamenschurch.org/http://www.seamenschurch.org/


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9in

9in

5in
http://www.seamenschurch.org/http://www.seamenschurch.org/


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2013

The Knit Before Christmas Fall 2013 6

Frequently Asked QuestionsWhere do I send my completedknits?

Although SCI has many centers across the

United States, there is only oneaddressto which knitters and crocheters should

send completed projects: Christmas at Sea,118 Export Street, Port Newark, NJ 07114.Sadly, handknits sent to other addresses may

get returned, undelivered and unloved bymariners across the world.

What colors can I use?

Just about any. Mariners, just like you andme, love colors. Keep in mind, however, thata large proportion of the seafaring populationis male and mariners work in messy

environments. Best to stick with bright orneutral colors, shying away from pastels.

I have lots of small bits and piecesof yarnnot enough for a completeproject. Can I use those oddsand ends?

Yes. Throw in a stripe or two (or three) onany of the projects. If knitting a hat, try

knitting the brim in one color and the bodyand crown in a second. For scarves, color

blocking works nicely. (The seafarers scarflooks awesome with the garter stitch inone color and the ribbing around the neck

in another.)

What about pom-poms or tassels?

Although they may look cute, we cannotaccept knitted garments with

embellishments like pom-poms, tassels, fringe,

braids or buttons.Mariners workin dangerous

environmentsaround huge

equipment. Theseextra bits present a

workplace hazard.

I have my own favorite hat/scarfpattern. Can I use that instead?

SCI has made available patterns for garments

that meet workplace safety requirements andmatch mariners needs; however, we welcome

others, too, with a few caveats:1. Please use worsted weight yarn.Hats cannot be bulky, as they need to fit

under hardhats; and scarves need to fitunder jumpsuits.

2. No embellishments.(See previous question.)

What about sewn fleece hats or

scarves?Christmas at Seais really all about thehandknits. If you enjoy sewing, check outour ditty bag, an excellent project and much

appreciated by mariners.

I want (or my group wants) todo more. How can folks help inaddition to knitting?

Some ideas: 1. Include Christmas cardswith your knits. 2. Add some sample-sized

toiletries (e.g., lip balm, hand lotion,toothpaste, etc.) to your box. (If you belongto a church, suggest the church host a

toiletry drive to supplement your knits.)3. If you live close enough to Port Newark,

come help pack the gifts. 4. Make a financialcontribution to SCIsAnnual Fund in honor of

Christmas at Sea.

Can someone fromSCI come to my

group or churchto speak?

Absolutely. If you are close enough

to any of the locations fromwhich we operate (Port Newark,

NJ; New York, NY; Paducah,KY; Houston, TX; New Orleans,

LA; and Oakland, CA), wewould love to visit. Our staff

often travel, too, so ask if were

likely to be in your area soon.

Christmas at Sea packing days

are in full swing. If youreinterested in coming to Port

Newark to pack, or having

Paige come visit your knittinggroup or church, please email

[email protected] 973-589-5828.

Oct 15 (Tue):Packing Dayat Trinity Reformed Church,Plainfield, NJ

Oct 26 (Sat):Packing Day a

Pompton Valley PresbyterianChurch, Pompton Plains, NJ

Nov 2 (Sat):Packing Day atSt. Johns Lutheran Church,Summit, NJ

Nov 7-10:Stitches East,Hartford, CT; CAS booth

Nov 12 (Tue):Packing Dayat Grace Lutheran Church,Somers Point, NJ

Nov 14 (Thu): Packing Day St. Davids Episcopal ChurchCranbury, NJ

Nov 16 (Sat): Packing Dayat St. Georges-by-the-RiverEpiscopal Church, Rumson, N

Nov. 19 (Tue): Packing Dayat Trinity Reformed Church,Plainfield, NJ

READYTO MAIL?118 EXPORT STPORT NEWARK, NJ 07114

CHRISTMASAT SEA

seam

ensch

urch.
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]

The Knit Before Christmas Fall 2013

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