Christmas at Sea
Since 1898, during the Spanish American War, volunteers of the Seamen’s Church Institute have knitted, collected, packed, and distributed gifts to mariners who are miles away from home during the holidays. The gift consists of a handknit garment, a personal letter, and information on SCI’s services for mariners. In addition to this, SCI also includes several useful items like hand lotion, lip balm, and toothbrushes—things difficult to come by when working long stretches on the water.
Knitting groups around the country connect with SCI in weekly knitting meetings at churches and at knitting-sponsored events. Through online sites like Ravelry and the CAS blog (cas.seamenschurch.org), the Institute works with hundreds to make the program effective.
The historic name of this volunteer program, Christmas at Sea, only partially describes the work of the people who make holidays a little warmer for mariners. While gift distribution happens during winter months, collection and creation of items happens year round, and while many gifts go to international mariners working "at sea," thousands of gifts also go to mariners working on inland waterways here in the United States.
Yarn Order Form
SCI encourages you to purchase materials from your local yarn store. A network of these stores across the United States designate themselves as SCI Knit Spots. They have Christmas at Sea patterns, stock the right yarn (or know where to get it), and can answer questions about knitting for Christmas at Sea. To learn more about SCI Knit Spots or how a store can join, click here.
If you do not have access to a local yarn store or prefer to order supplies online, Jimmy Beans Wool offers yarn for Christmas at Sea projects at a discount. Find the yarns appropriate for Christmas at Sea projects here. First-time buyers receive a free shipping coupon for their next order and a 5% credit in their account; for subsequent purchases, knitters and crocheters receive 20% off after submitting a completed CAS project—just enclose the Jimmy Beans Wool receipt with your submission. (N.B. The 20% discount applies only to Christmas at Sea-appropriate yarn.)
Unique among handknitting charities, SCI’s Christmas at Sea provides yarn at little or no cost to those who have no means to obtain it from any other source or who live under severe budget restrictions. Universal Yarn and Cascade Yarns, the preferred yarns of Christmas at Sea, allow SCI to continue this tradition by providing a charitable “gift-in-kind” donation of yarn, which SCI distributes to individual knitters and crocheters crafting projects for Christmas at Sea. Complete the form below to receive yarn as part of this special program, keeping in mind that SCI has a limited supply and variety of yarns.
Yarn Order Form |
Participation Guidelines
Thanks for choosing to knit for Christmas at Sea!
Knitters and crocheters may choose any of the patterns published by SCI. Please use machine-washable yarn for your projects—washable wools and wool-blends are preferred. Our projects require worsted weight yarn, except for the sock pattern, which calls for sock-weight yarn.
When choosing colors, remember most mariners are men, and their work environment can get dirty. Rose, pink, lavender, and other pastels are not appropriate colors. For variety, you may add stripes to your projects, or use ombre, variegated, tweed, or flecked yarns.
If obtaining yarn is difficult for you, or if you are on a fixed income, the Seamen’s Church Institute can send it to you at no cost. Or, if you would rather purchase your yarn from us, we suggest a donation of $2.50 per skein.
Finished garments should be sent throughout the year to Christmas at Sea, The Seamen's Church Institute, 118 Export Street, Port Newark, NJ 07114. Please be sure to include your name and address within the package so we can acknowledge its receipt. Also, SCI encourages knitters to include a personal note or photograph.
Gift packing begins not long after Labor Day and continues right up until Christmas. While we receive donations January through December, it is most helpful to us to receive your donations in the fall.
Patterns
Click here to view and download patterns—all hosted on SCI's Christmas at Sea blog.
CHRISTMAS AT SEA
Volunteer knitters from around the country knit garments as symbols of SCI’s mission of hospitality. Each year, SCI distributes these warming gifts to mariners far away from home.