"Project Hugs"
How to Make Neck Coolers
Make a sample one first and test it out to make sure you used the right amount of watering crystals (some products vary). And that it fits comfortably around the neck.
Two sources for polymer crystals. Online at http://www.watersorb.com/mainstore.html and Schultz watering crystals available at Wal Mart in the gardening section near rose food. Watersorb figures out to be quite a bit cheaper (including postage and they ship right to your door - quickly).
Use 100% cotton fabric (camo, tan, sand colored, etc – bright colors might attract gunfire) with a tight weave so the crystals won't ooze out. Patterns are okay but make sure it's something that your husband or son would want to wear...lol. *Make sure it’s something that will feel good against the skin. You can make 24 ties from one twin sheet - 31 from a full size. Even white sheets are easily tea dyed. 200 and 180 thread count works great.. There are two reasons we ONLY use 100% cotton, 1. Iraqi don't have blended fabrics and they can smell damp blends which gives away a soldier's position (putting him at risk) and 2. blended fabrics melt and if our "hug"gee is wearing a blended necktie in an explosion or fire, it might melt into his neck. So, the rule of 100% cotton MUST BE FOLLOWED. And NO bright colors because they might put the soldier at risk.
First, wash in hot water to remove sizing. Then for each tie - cut fabric 45" x 5".
Fold in half lengthwise with right sides together (so it's really long and skinny) and sew a 3/8 inch seam all the way along the long edge (keep short edges open). You'll want a short stitch length (I set my machine at 2) so the crystals won't get out. You can also sew a 3/8 inch seam on one of the short edges as well.
Turn fabric right side out. There are directions in our Yahoo group for a tool that makes this step SOOO easy. **With thanks to Kenneth Baker, one of our gentlemen sewing gurus** Even an 18" piece of 3/4" PVC will work. You slip the tie over the pipe and then push it through with a 24" long piece of 1/2" dowel rod.
Press fabric with seam line facing down on the back (like you would a dress tie...you don't want to see the seam.. plus it's easier to iron this way).
Mark fabric at midpoint and then from that point mark 10 inches on each side.. This will give you 1 - 20" pocket. Stitch across the tie to make the bottom of the first pocket. Using the PVC pipe and a funnel, f
ill with 2 tsp. watering crystals. Sew the other end of the pocket. Turn the end seams under and top stitch for a neat/clean finish.
For those of you, like me, who have trouble reading directions - Ken also rewrote the directions another way - - -
Or simplified: 1) sew, turn and iron the initial tube; 5" by 42"-45" fabric folded over (to be 2.5" wide) and sewed across one end, and down the length with a 3/8th inch seam, then turned inside out and ironed flat. 2) sew across twice at 10" from the middle on the same half as the original closed end. 3) put in 2 Tsp. crystals (watersorb) this is 2 teaspoons only! - on top of first row of stitching. 4) fold in the open end and sew closed 5) fold the complete tie in the middle (try to keep crystals where they are) so ends meet, then use the first end of the pocket to gauge where the last (second) end of the pocket will go. 6) sew across twice at this point (10" from middle, or 20" from the other end of the pocket). The idea is to center a 20" pocket of the crystals in the middle of the tie, and have two equal ends to loosely tie to hold tie in place.Our front label reads:
Dear Military Person - - -
We appreciate you for your service to your country
& so we want you to have this "hug" from home.
When you place it around your neck, please remember
there is someone who made this by hand just for you
& who wishes they could actually give you a real hug.
We want you to know that we are praying for your safety.
You have been hugged by
Karen and Ray Stark
Please choose to personalize yours however you wish. We do ask that you
call them "hugs". Our military members tell us that they LOVE getting a
"hug" from a stranger. Great feeling, they say.
There is a 2 page attachment to help you with your labeling.
p.s. One of our Marines has suggested that we enclose our thehugsproject@cox.net address with every hug as a way of getting others to "enlist". He says when they hear what we've done for their loved one, that they will want to help. So, be sure to enclose the directions inside each baggie, it also has the email address as they requested. The care instructions are attached as "insert".
Please keep me updated with how many “HUGS” you and your "recruits" ship out. I'd like to be able to tell everyone how we're doing. If you join "The Hugs Project" Yahoo group there is records keeper who will keep us informed of our total each week.
I know that I’m repeating but please remember, NEVER post a military address on the Internet or other public place. We can’t be too careful. We don’t know who might use it to do our people harm. So please be selective - - like I was when I chose you. We have a screening process in place before anyone is given a mailing address.
And, here's a thought, even if you don’t sew – Perhaps you can find a friend who will do all the sewing, if you do all the ironing or stuffing. ;o) Please send to all on your email list. A lot of people, just like you, really want to do something to help, they just don't know what they can do. YOU need to tell them. They'll be so happy you let them in on a wonderful way to give back to the troops who give so much.