various garments and in Shipment of Surgical Dressings, Hospital and Refugee Garments (ARC 400-12). Answers to Questions about Knitting The following statements are in answer to questions frequently asked about Red Cross knitting for men of the armed forces. Why the Red Cross Knits for Soldiers and Sailors The Red Cross undertakes to supply, free, certain handknitted garments to men of the armed forces for emergency needs, and to supplement those garments regularly issued to them by the Army and Navy. The Red Cross maintains reserve stocks of these articles for such emergencies. How Garments Are Distributed Army garments are given out by Red Cross field directors at the request of commanding officers. Navy garments, by a directive from the Navy, are sent to regular naval supply depots and are distributed from there at the request of commanding officers. Because of the above regulations it is not permissible for chap¬ters to give knitted garments to individual servicemen. Regulations for Making Army and Navy Garments The Army and Navy have specified what garments they want and how they want them made. A National Committee on Knitting was appointed in February 1941 from chapters in different parts of the country. These women are expert knitters, and their function is to pass judgment on all knitting directions issued by the Red Cross for Army, foreign war relief, and hospital knitting. Samples of all Army garments were made and submitted to the Army for approval and acceptance. The Navy supplied its own directions for all Navy garments. The Red Cross frequently receives complaints and suggestions for changes in some of these directions. It should be made clear to all knitters that the Red Cross cannot make any changes unless the Army or Navy so desires. 12 Care in Following Directions The importance of following knitting directions with great care should be impressed upon all workers. The waste of valuable time in making faulty garments, the added time in remaking or cor¬recting them, and the waste or impairment of yarn through this procedure can be avoided if directions are followed exactly and if knitters are sufficiently experienced. The amount of yarn obtainable for Red Cross work is limited by the priorities granted by the War Production Board. The national organization pays for all yarn used for Army and Navy garments and gives it free to chapters. It is distributed on a percentage of population basis. The vast scale of Red Cross production work entails enormous supplies of material and enormous sums of money. This imposes an obligation on every chapter and branch to maintain in its pro¬duction the highest possible standards and to avoid the discredit that would otherwise fall on the knitting program of the Red Cross. ORGANIZATION OF SEWING DEPARTMENT The chairman of sewing is responsible for all sewing produced by the chapter. Planning and Supplies Committee—Plans the quantity of each type of sewing to be done and estimates monthly production. Places orders for all materials, patterns, and other supplies well in advance of needs. Keeps inventory of stock on hand and checks weekly output with supervisor. Keeps accurate records of all outgoing materials and incoming finished articles. Workrooms and Equipment Committee—Obtains suitable work¬room and equipment such as tables, chairs, sewing machines, cut¬ters, etc. Instruction and Supervision Committee—Is responsible for the cutting, assembling, and distributing of materials to be made up. Workroom supervisors should have a thorough knowledge of cutting, 13