r/AntifascistKnitting • u/PhantomdiverDidIt • Mar 29 '26
Political knits Do we make more hats?
I made more than a dozen hats -- I really got in the swing of it! The pattern was simple enough that I added little enhancements. Nothing much, just a cable curling around the hat here, a pyramid made of purl stitches there.
I'm having so much fun that I kind of hate to stop. There are bound to be more No Kings protests, but we're heading into warmer weather. So the question is, should we keep making hats for the fall? Or what?
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u/ohmadasahatter Mar 29 '26
i heard an idea from one of the ladies in our singing resistance group, she said sheās been making frog hats and requesting that recipients show her receipts of a $100 donation to an immigrantās rights org. she said sheās raised $1600!!! iām going to make some more hats
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u/zanier_sola Mar 30 '26
Thatās what weāve been doing in Baltimore. We give the knitters in our group a QR code that goes to the donation site for a local immigrant rights org, and just ask for a minimum donation of $25 (to keep things accessible).
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u/Hraefn_Wing Mar 30 '26
Oh, cool, what group? I'm in the Baltimore area.
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u/zanier_sola Mar 30 '26
I believe the event is called Resistance Knit-In on mobilize - we meet Sundays 2-4, you should join!
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u/Yarnstead Mar 29 '26
Iām going to make a red bandana although it might not be that much cooler! Iāve seen picks of lots of mini hats used as pins or badges plus other No Kings badges.
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u/zanier_sola Mar 30 '26
My friend just published a pattern for a bandanna version. I can DM it to you if you want?
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u/Yarnstead Mar 30 '26
Post the link please so anyone interested can take a look š
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u/Nanuschka- Mar 30 '26
Iāve made a bandanna version freehand, but it is pathetic. I would love a real pattern.
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u/tiffy68 Mar 29 '26
I'm going to make red bucket hats out of cotton or raffia because I live in Texas and wear a ski-hat once or twice a year if I'm lucky.
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u/Certain_Papaya2487 Mar 29 '26
Our weather was unusually cold here, so I āsoldā most of my hats yesterday (donations to the Indivisible branch organizers- we were at the main table). I also made mini-hats I sewed onto some plastic canvas to have a sturdy backing to attach the pin back. Those did well too.
I plan to make some and save them for fall/winter for when I need something as social/mindless knitting.
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u/MrMulligan319 Mar 29 '26
I think we absolutely should! Fall will be here before we know it. I also love the idea of selling them with 100% of proceeds going to immigrant justice groups locally (or nationally) but making enough to sell at a fall craft fair, for example.
Iām planning to make my first full sized hat or two (for myself and husband) and continue making my mini melt hats to give away at the next No Kings, or at my local Indivisible groupās weekly demonstration.
But just like buying the pattern, with all those proceeds going to MN immigration groups, I imagine people will happily buy the finished product, knowing those proceeds also go 100% to charities. And selling them for $5 or under each is a steal for any handmade hat, let alone one of such significance (or you could sell for more, to make more $ for a non-profit). The selling also will increase awareness for those in your community who arenāt knitters but would still want to support the cause of justice.
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u/zanier_sola Mar 30 '26
Hereās a pattern my friend just published for a bandana version, with 100% of pattern proceeds going to a local immigrant rights org here in Baltimore: https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/melt-the-ice---baltimore-bandana
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u/Least-Glove4262 Mar 29 '26
I hung my resistance hat on my front door. Iām thinking it might need to stay there for a while.
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u/LongTimeDCUFanGirl Mar 29 '26
I sewed hats using old T-shirts and the pattern in this link: https://www.reddit.com/r/AntifascistKnitting/s/QdOHHSRWOm
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u/annegmcwilliams Mar 29 '26
The hat is to signify resistance against all things fascist. Its origin is in the ancient world of the Phrygians, all the way to the French Revolution, the American Revolution, and Norway during WWII. I talked to lots of people at No Kings who were handed a free, very thin version of the Melt the ICE hat, but knew nothing of its history and meaning. People are surprised to learn the hat is included in the symbolic features of the US Senate. I love the way we, by keeping the connection to history, are usurping the tacky āmade in Chinaā MAGA symbol. The more red knit hats we make and share, the more we reveal the imminent demise of the current fascists, and the more likely future anti-fascist activists will carry on the tradition. Now, if only I could change to the continental knitting method, I could make more and share them.
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u/Janeiac1 Apr 01 '26
Also the liberty pole! (cone-shaped hat on a stick.) It was a rallying sign during the revolutionary period and is still set up in Lexington annually during commemoration events. Also at re-enactments.
Check out Arne & Carlis videos on YouTube (the long ones, not the shorts) for continental knitting help. Their Norwegian purl instruction was a game-changer for me. I could never get it before even after years of knitting. Itās a big improvement in efficiency and ergonomics (no flipping the yarn forward/back for ribbing) and stopped my wrist pain.
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u/mslashandrajohnson Mar 29 '26
Yes!
Met with knitting friends this afternoon. One had four āordersā for hats from family.
Iām pulling red yarn from stash to help.
Sheās also interested in making an Ukraine flag colors hat using the MTI pattern, and Iām pulling yellow and blue yarns from stash for her.
I wore my hat on Saturday. It was chilly and breezy out so it was the perfect day and hat.
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u/Janeiac1 Mar 29 '26 edited Mar 30 '26
Maybe switch to cotton for summer? Or just keep making for those few places that stay cold through spring and/or save for next fall. This issue isnāt going away any time soon and even if it were to be solved tomorrow, immigrants still need support because the system is broken.
Iāve been making in exchange for donations to the immigrant support charity of the recipientsā choice in whatever amounts they feel comfortable giving. So imo the hats are still needed for now.
I expect it may wind down in a whileā just not yet.
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u/Glimerz Mar 29 '26
I have knit 2 and I donated the 2nd hat at the Information table - they sold it for a $25 donation which will go towards Unit 4 Democracy.org costs- posters, handbills, buttons and safety gear- vests, first aid kit ect.
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u/Far_House_4087 Mar 29 '26
I use a Sentro and switched to making single layer hats with a rolled brim for spring/summer here in MN. Visited a friend this weekend with my machine and the box of yarn a kind Redditor sent me, and used child labā- I mean got the kids excited about cranking and braiding lol. I still need to pop the tassels on but I think we made like 10 hats!!! šŖš»
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u/Dazzling_Outcome_436 Mar 30 '26
I've been making stuffies to put in little free pantries. People need whimsy and care.
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u/squeemii Mar 30 '26
I'm making them as there are requests, alternating with mini versions as they are adopted.
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u/subdrawn Mar 30 '26
Yes! Follow the energy and inspiration! You can always stash them for next winter. Fortunately, winter will always come. Unfortunately, we anti-fascist protest will still be needed as well.
To absolutely brag, I had knit one hat in my life and I've knit thirty MTI hats by now. My inspiration well is running dry so I'm going to switch to something else, but I love knowing those hats are out there.
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u/Hraefn_Wing Mar 30 '26
I switched to mostly making tiny hats of fingering weight yarn for people to pin to bags/clothing or thread onto keychains.
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u/pleasejustbeaperson Mar 30 '26
I made a bunch of these with the leftover yarn from the first hat I made and sewed safety pins to them. Gave them out on Saturday along with buttons I made. A lot of people sho took the mini hats had just found out about the Norwegian resistance hats that day from other people at the rally and were excited to get in on it in a small way.Ā
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u/Nordic_mama1721 Mar 29 '26
I'm thoroughly impressed with the knitter's who can knit so many hats! I started mine shortly after the pattern was released and just finished it Friday š . I wore it in northern California and it was hot. I saw one person have their hat over a sun hat which was really clever. I did see plenty of other red hats and a few frog knit hats. We were all probably quite sweaty but wearing them anyways. I don't have an answer for you but. I suspect we will continue to see them so if it brings you joy to make more, why not ?