Beanies For Bravery: Sending Hats to Service Members

In 2011 we started a project called “Beanies for Bravery”. Since that time, people from all over the world have crocheted and knit beanies for our US service members. Those, along with a hand written thank you letter, have been sent to more than 18,200 service members from 2011-2024! This is an AMAZING project and only possible because of people willing to help.

Each August-January we collect and ship beanies to U.S. service members stationed overseas. For some, this is the only hand made item they have received.

Thank you to everyone that has participated in sending beanies to our troops since 2011. Whether you have made beanies, written thank you notes, sponsored the shipping, and/or shared my posts to spread the word YOU HELP make this possible!

We look forward to sending another 1500+ beanies between now and January 31, 2025. 

Quick Guide

Click one of the topics below to quickly jump to that section in this article:

• Guidelines
• Shipping Address & Info
• Crochet Pattern
• Knit Pattern

Please Join Us In Supporting Our Troops

How can you help?

• Crochet or knit solid black or solid dark brown beanies. Follow guidelines as listed below.
• Write a short thank you note to a service member and email or mail to above address. A note is attached to every beanie. This is a GREAT way for all ages and those unable to make hats to get involved.
• Send your beanies to the address below by JANUARY 31, 2025.
• Shipping address: Heidi Yates/BFB, 848 Kentwood, Brigham City, UT 84302

Beanies Needed for Service Members

In 2011, after my oldest son joined the army, we started a project called “Beanies for Bravery” to help show our support and give a small piece of love to our troops.

People from all over the world have made beanies for our US service members. Those, along with a handwritten thank you letter, have been sent to more than 16,500 US service members from 2011-2023!

Thoughts From Service Members

I have heard from many service members from the beginning of this project about how thankful they are to receive something, especially something made for them.

Guidelines

PLEASE read through the next part carefully. ALL needed information is included and it is important the guidelines are followed.

Each year we donate hundreds of hats to local shelters because guidelines were NOT followed and cannot be sent to the troops. 

There are specific guidelines. Please follow these because hats that are the wrong colors or sizes cannot be sent and are a waste of your time and shipping expense.

Specifications

• Beanies must be dark brown or black
  BEANIES FOR THE NAVY PROJECT: This is different from usual and can be ANY NEUTRAL plain color.
• Measurements: 8 ½ – 10 inches deep and 21 – 23 inches in circumference. PLEASE measure and make sure your hat is the right size.
• Any pattern, knit or crochet, may be used.
• PLEASE no cuffs, pompoms, earflaps, stripes, appliques or colors other than dark brown or black.
• Attach a handwritten note/thank you letter to each beanie you send. Do NOT include personal addresses or phone numbers on the tags. Please do NOT use straight pins.

Suggested Yarn Brands and Colors

Red Heart Super Saver: Coffee or Black

Red Heart With Love: Chocolate, Black

These are just suggestions and many other yarns may be used.

Please be aware that some yarns, like Caron Simply Soft are a light weight worsted yarn. Make sure your beanie fits the needed measurements.

Important Note: some branches of the military request only 100% wool items, but the units we send to have requested non wool, washable fibers. I continually check to make sure we are providing items our service members are able to use.

Suggested pattern

When we first started this project, I wanted to offer a suggested pattern. Michelle Miller had this great pattern and the results are consistent. Easy enough for a beginner too. What drew me to the pattern was the fact that the designer is a mother of 3 sailors. This pattern has been passed down from her grandmother. Please respect her and the pattern and do not distribute it in part or whole.

Crochet Pattern

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Want to purchase an ad-free, downloadable PDF of this pattern, which includes the crochet and knit versions, for only $1?   https://snappy-tots.com/shop/beanies-for-bravery-crochet-and-knit/

100% of the proceeds from this pattern will be used to ship beanies to our service members overseas.

This pattern is not available to purchase from Ravelry. It is only available at the link above so we can make sure 100% goes towards shipping and not fees.

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Materials

Yarn: Worsted weight yarn in dark brown or black. Yarns MUST be washable and comfortable fibers. Suggestions: Red Heart Super Saver Coffee or Black, Red Heart With Love Chocolate or Black

Please be aware not all worsted weight, size 4 yarns are the same thickness and can
provide a variety of results.

Hook: I hook (5.5mm)

Gauge: 4″ = 13 hdc and 10 rows
Finished size needs to be 8 ½ – 10 inches deep
Sample created from this pattern with gauge provided is 8.5″ x 20.5″

Note: These hats will be provided to both men and women.

Please no stripes, varigated yarns or embellishments such as braids and pompoms.

Directions
1. With I hook and worsted weight yarn, start with a magic circle of 8hdc (or preferred method for starting a circle of 8hdc sts). (8sts)
2. Work 2 hdc in each hdc around. (16 hdc)
3. Work (1 hdc in next st, 2 hdc in next st) around. (24 hdc)
4. Work (1 hdc in next 2 sts, 2 hdc in next st) around. (32 hdc)
5. Work (1 hdc in next 3 sts, 2 hdc in next st) around. (40 hdc)
6. Work (1 hdc in next 4 sts, 2 hdc in next st) around. (48 hdc)
7. Work (1 hdc in next 5 sts, 2 hdc in next st) around. (56 hdc)
8. Work (1 hdc in next 6 sts, 2 hdc in next st) around. (64 hdc)
9. Work 1 hdc in each st around until hat measures 8.5 – 10″ from top to current row.
On the last round of hdc, finish with hdc in next st, sc in next st, sl st in next st. This will make the next round even.
Ch 1. Work 1 sc in each stitch around.
Join with Sl St into first ch-1 sp. Finish off and weave in ends.

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Knit Pattern

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An ad-free, downloadable PDF of this pattern, which includes the crochet and knit version is available for only $1. This will be available soon.

100% of the proceeds from this pattern will be used to ship beanies to our service members overseas.

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Materials

Worsted weight yarn in dark brown or black. Suggestions: Red Heart Super Saver Coffee or Black, Red Heart With Love Chocolate or Black

Please be aware not all worsted weight, size 4 yarns are the same thickness and can provide a variety of results.

Needles: Size 9 (4.5mm) x 12” or 16” circular needles, Size 9 double-pointed needles, Stitch marker

Gauge: 20 stitches and 28 rounds = 4 inches
Finished size needs to be 8 ½ – 10 inches deep
Sample created from this pattern with gauge provided is 8.5″ x 20.5″

Note: These hats will be provided to both men and women.

Please no stripes, variegated yarns or embellishments.

Directions

With worsted weight yarn and circular needles, cast on 72 stitches, place marker, and join to begin knitting in the round.

Knit 1, Purl 1 Rib for two inches.

Work in stockinette (knit every round) until piece measures 7 inches from cast-on edge or desired length if a longer or shorter hat is needed.

Note: Switch to double-pointed needles when too few stitches remain to easily knit on circulars.

Decreasing

1. *knit 7, knit 2tog* repeat to end of round. (64sts)
2. *knit 6, knit 2tog* repeat to end of round. (56sts)
3. *knit 5, knit 2tog* repeat to end of round. (48sts)
4. *knit 4, knit 2tog* repeat to end of round. (40sts)
5. *knit 3, knit 2tog* repeat to end of round. (32sts)
6. *knit 2, knit 2tog* repeat to end of round. (24sts)
7. *knit 1, knit 2tog*, repeat to end of round. (16sts)
8. *knit 2tog*, repeat to end of round. (8sts)
9. Thread yarn through the remaining 8 sts and pull tight to close the top of the beanie. Weave in ends.

Thank you for supporting our service members. If you have any questions please contact [email protected]

Extra Donations

Unfortunately we cannot send extra items such as food, toothbrushes, soap, etc. Please do not send anything but beanies and notes. 

Who receives the beanies?

Because we ship to a lot of war zones we cannot post exact areas. In the past we have sent to Marines, Army and Air Force service members in the Middle East.

In addition, 1500 beanies were made in green and white for the students and staff of Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, CT after the horrific events in 2012. For those that participated in that project, we keep in contact with the school PTA and will post any pictures or information we receive.

Last update: hats were passed out to the students and staff during the fall, 2013. Pictures are not available at this time.

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Do YOU Have Someone We Can Send Beanies To?

If you have ANY questions or know of a service member we could send hats to, please email Heidi.

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Shipping Information

What is the shipping address? 

• Shipping address: Heidi Yates/BFB, 848 Kentwood, Brigham City, UT 84302

Who pays the shipping?

The beanies need to be shipped to Heidi (each participant pays to ship the piece to Heidi). The beanies are then prepared to ship to the service members. MANY sponsors have paid for the shipping, with help from the purchase of the pdf version of this pattern. THANK YOU!

How much is shipping?
Heidi lives in Utah. Shipping TO Heidi depends on how far away you live. Since they are a fairly small, light weight project, I think the cost should be pretty minimal.

The cost to ship TO the service members is approximately $23 per 36 beanies. We have done a lot of research (A LOT) as we have shipped beanies to service members in the past so we know the most inexpensive way to ship. We are also looking into a new option for shipping. We try to keep the costs down as much as possible so we an send as many as we can.

THANK YOU FOR READING ABOUT THIS PROGRAM!