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              THE AMERICAN RED CROSS
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         BUREAU OF  DEVELOPMENT

                   WASHINGTON, D. C.   \  (     ■ ~-  _

                                    ■-}-------LA^^-.

                 Comfort  Kit's..      *     '     .


  Every man who goes to the trenches carries a comfort kit.
Over and above its practical use, the comfort kit serves to carry
a message of cordial good will to the Man in the Trench and the
Man on the Ship from the Nation  that sent them there.
  Major  General Pershing, in speaking of the kits sent to his
men in Mexico.by the Red Cross, said: "These things make the
soldier remember that the people at home are behind him.  You
do not know how much that will mean  to us who  are going
abroad.  You do not know how much that means to any sol-
dier who is over there carrying the flag of his country."
  The directions which follow for making the kit supersede all
others which have been published on this subject. These com-
fort kits are made in the simplest  manner possible and should
contain only  the specified  articles  which are listed below.
Articles not mentioned have been purposely excluded, since they
are supplied by the Government as a regular part of every sol-
dier's and sailor's equipment.

             MATERIALS FOR THE  KIT
          (This does not include material for housewife.)
  A plain, inexpensive khaki-colored twill for the Army and
blue denim or "dungaree" for the Navy are suggested as most
desirable.  Figured cretonnes are not suitable for this purpose.
  Quantity required: One-fourth of a yard of 27-inch material;
60 inches of khaki or blue tape for a double draw-string; and an
American flag for marking the outside. 
         DIRECTIONS  FOR MAKING THE KIT

  Fold the material in the center of the 2 7-inch length and sew
it up into a simple bag, with an inch-and-a-half hem at the top
through which is run the double draw-string.   This makes a bag
about 12 by 8 inches.  The tape should be particularly strong.
  This bag may also be made without the draw-string, in which
case a piece  of tape about one-half inch wide and one and
one-half yards long should be strongly attached to the bag about
two inches  below the top  at one of the seams, so that it may be
tightly wrapped around the gathered folds of the bag, securing
the contents.
              CONTENTS OF THE  KIT

1. Housewife (Directions for making are given below).
2. 20 yards of light strong cord, fish-line style
3. Cigarette lighter with cotton wick, flint and steel sparker,
     but without  liquid.   (For the Army only—must be
     omitted from all kits for the Navy.)
4. Shaving soap
5. Tooth brush, in case
6. Short comb, in case
7. Pencil (with eraser and metal cap to cover point)

The kit may contain in addition:
  Jack knife  (containing, if possible, corkscrew, can  opener,
    leather punch,  combination screw-driver  and  bottle-
    opener)
  Small carborundum stone, about 3"  X  14", for sharpening
    knife
  Safety razor
  25 post cards

  Small crash towel 1 For the N    onl
  White handerchief |

  In no case should anything perishable, such as chocolate,
candy, etc., be included.
2 
HOUSEWIFE
                         MATERIALS
  A durable fabric of lighter weight than that suggested for the
comfort kits is recommended.   Flannel should be used for hold-
ing the pins and  needles.
  Quantities required: One strip of material 55" X 12" for roll;
two pieces of flannel 3" X 4"; and 21 inches of tape.
  Size when finished, 4" X  6|" (unrolled).

                  DIRECTIONS FOR  MAKING
  Make a narrow hem at each end of the  12-inch strip.   Turn
up  these hemmed edges to  form a 2|-inch pocket at each end.
Button-hole, hem, or pink  sides and one  end of flannel pieces.
Lay the flannel pieces, overlapping  each other,  in the center of
the strip, with the  raw edges lying along either side of strip.
Stitch along sides of strip,  f of an  inch from 'edge;  then turn
these stitched edges to make flat,  felled seams.  Attach middle
of tape to center of outside of strip.  Roll and tie.

                CONTENTS OF THE HOUSEWIFE
   (a) 8 sharp needles (large enough to carry heavy thread easily)
   (b) 2 darning needles
   (c) 6 safety  pins  about 2 inches long
   (d) 6 safety  pins  about 1 inch long
   (e) 2 blanket pins
   (/") Strong thread, carded, khaki  for the Army, black for the
         Navy
   (g) Strong white  linen thread, carded
   {h) 12 buttons, khaki for
         the Army, black for  ^  ,    , .     ...    „  ..  „
         the Navy.           Enclosed in small bag 3   X 2 ,
   /•\ z-   !.-*  u  4./                  with draw-string
   {1) 6 white buttons                              °
   (j) 6 hooks  and eyes
PRESS OF GIBSON BROS.. WASHINGTON. D C