There is no specific pattern we require you to use, so feel free to use your own stitch or pattern that you enjoy making, or you are welcome to use one of the patterns provided in the link below. We recommend that you keep your design simple and perhaps use slightly larger needles or hook so more items can be made from the same amount of yarn.

When crocheting, we ask that you use simple stitches such as single crochet, half double crochet, or double crochet, and avoid bulky stitches. When knitting, we suggest, using the garter stitch, purl, moss, ribbing, or basket weave. Please avoid making cable pattern scarves because they can end up too bulky for our packages.

Your scarves need to measure no wider than 4 inches to 5 inches and be no longer than 48 inches to 50 inches. If you are making hats, please do not put a pom-pom on top.

To ensure that your scarves and hats will fit in our Care Packages, we use a small box that measures 3¼” x 3¼” x 7¼” and test each item to see if they are the correct size for our Care Packages. Oversized scarves and hats will not be sent to our deployed troops and may be used in other Care Packages.

While we appreciate your offering to make and send lap blankets, we do not accept them. They are too large to be sent in our Care Packages.

We ask that you use a size 4 medium worsted weight yarn in muted colors that will match our troop’s uniforms. Deep shades of blues, greens, grays, reds, browns, tan, and black are all good choices and also appropriate for both male and female troops. You can also use multi-colored yarn in these colors or make multi-colored scarves and hats. Please do not send solid white hats or scarves.

Please do not use bulky yarn or bulky stitches. We have a very limited amount of space in our Care Packages for handmade items and items made from bulky yarn will not fit in our boxes.

Yes! We offer community service hours for most of our Handmade with Love programs. You will receive three hours of service for every knitted or crocheted hat or scarf you send us that meets our size parameters.

For additional information please visit our community service page.

We are happy to receive your items all year long and do not have a deadline for your handmade items to arrive unless they are being made for a challenge. So feel free to send in your scarves and hats when your box is full!

And once you ship your box, find another one and fill it up too!

Please roll your scarves and hats tightly and place just one (1) rubber band around each item to keep them from unrolling.

Yes, in fact, we encourage you to include a note with every hat or scarf you make!

Please roll your note inside of your scarf or hat, but do not attach the note to your hat or scarf. Please do not use any type of pins to attach your notes.

The note can be as simple as “Handmade with Love” or a short letter about yourself and why you made your item. Include your first name and email address or “snail mail” address—so the recipient can send you a “thank you” if they have time. Please understand that we can not guarantee that you will ever receive a reply, but we do hope that you’ll give the recipient a chance to say thank you.

Please use regular paper and do not use a card or card stock for your notes. Cards do not roll very well into a scarf or hat and will usually end up damaged. Also, please be sure that your note does not stick out of your rolled scarf or hat. If you are uncomfortable using your personal address, feel free to use ours (info@operationgratitude.com) but please also include your full name so if we receive a note about your item, we can be sure to forward them to you.

Please do not wash your scarves and hats after they are made unless they have an odor (perfume, smoke, etc.) or have animal hair on them. Many people are allergic to different types of laundry soap. If you do wash your items, please use a fragrance-free hypoallergenic laundry soap to wash your items.

Absolutely! You can drop off your items Monday–Friday from 9 am to 3:30 pm.  Please be sure to fill out our Product Donation Form and include a copy in every box/bag/envelope you drop off!

If you are making a large donation, it is best to coordinate the drop off with our staff.

Please begin by filling out our Product Donation Form and include a copy in every box you send! We want to know who the donation is from so we can send you a thank you letter!

Our address is:
19748 Dearborn Street
Chatsworth, CA 91311

Operation Gratitude is now partnering with Give Back Box to offer discounted shipping to our donors! All boxes up to 50 pounds qualify for $20 shipping throughout the U.S. The steps are simple. Visit Give Back Box to add your label to your cart. Pay for the postage, print your label, put it on your box, and drop it off! It’s that easy!

One suggestion to save you both space in your box and on the cost of shipping is vacuum sealing your items in your shipping box. To do this, place a trash bag (you do not need to purchase special vacuum bags) in your box, neatly put your scarves and hats in the box inside the bag. Vacuum the air out by tightly wrapping the bag around your vacuum hose and turning on your vacuum. Once the air is out, keep your vacuum running and spin the bag so that you can hold the air out as you tie off the bag with a piece of twine or yarn. Be sure to use extra tape on the box!

Please do not put each item in its own bag. Each bag will hold air and waste space in your box, and it will waste space in our very full Care Packages. We will remove the bags when they arrive, which can be very time-consuming, and the bag is very likely to be discarded, which is a huge waste of plastic. We hate to waste anything so please don’t use them.

Yes, we will send you a thank you letter within eight weeks of receiving your donation. If you want earlier confirmation of delivery of your shipment(s), please use the tracking system provided by your shipper.