Friday, January 06, 2017

the pussyhat project

 1:30 am on January 1st,  I cast on a PussyHat, in support of the Pussy Hat Project .  I wanted to start 2017 right.
Even though I had to rip it and start over at 9 am (thanks bourbon drinks by the bonfire at midnight! love ya too!), it felt good. I can't attend the Womens March on Washington  January 21st  but I am thrilled that my sister Marla will be wearing it there. 
Also thrilled that this act of Craft Activism is spreading across the country. HuffPo coverage here, and lots more links and info roundup over on the MDK website today.  

Through knitting a hat, we can support the bodies and cold heads, and the efforts of those marching in Washington. It's a way to connect physically and concretely.
The original free pattern by Kat Coyle is simple and knit flat. An evening's easy effort if you knit it in a chunky* alpaca, as I did.  It doesn't take much googling around to find versions knit in the round, crocheted, ribbed all over, roll brim etc. Kat is a fabulous artist and designer, profiled in CraftActivism, a connection I loved making when I photographed her for the book. (I know! I get to meet the best people, I am very lucky).
On Facebook, source of false info daily (seriously, can that be their motto?) I read some  knitters whining that "they had to buy a kit" to make the Pussy Hat- FALSE. Free patterns plus whatever yarn you want to MacGyver together.  Don't have pink? use another color. Or get some pink Kiwi Koolaid and make it pink. 

Lastly, I read a popular knitpodcaster asking if it trivializes the Womens March. NO. It does not.  If you click on over to the original project pattern PDF there's some info about why the color pink and the pussycat ears.  Aside from the symbolism, The Pussy Hat Project offers knitters a way to contribute in the way we love best. By the work of our hands.  A feeling of unity and a visible symbol that will be quite media friendly are not trivial. That is what large assemblies in Washington are all about. A sea of pink pussy hats on the national mall ? yes.
My sister Marla sent this selfie when she received hers in the mail, last night.  If you see her, say hi. (she's @marlaatelierista on Instagram, if you like Reggio-inspired art education, public activist art, lots of color and joyful photos)

Are you knitting one? If so , which pattern and any mods how did it turn out? While typing this I agreed to make a fuschia one for a stylish friend. I need to do it right!

* for my chunky alpaca pussyhat, I cast on 38 stitches, on size US9 needles, more details here

24 comments:

Ellen Bloom said...

Yay!! So glad you are joining the cause, Gale! I've knit 6 pussy hats for friends that are marching in Los Angeles in support of their sisters in Washington, D.C. in January! A photo will be forthcoming!

ccr in MA said...

I am knitting one to wear to the march in Boston! Using the original pattern, and a skein of Malabrigo Worsted that I had in Damask. So far, so good!

Elizabeth D said...

Making two -- one for across-the-street neighbor and one for my daughter, whi goes to school in Washington.

Carole said...

I am planning on knitting one. I think it's a great show of solidarity.

Beverly said...

Craft Activism at its best and most uniting! I'm knitting one for my sister-in-law who is marching in DC, and if I can get a few more done, I have other gals who need them.... and I may try to knit another for myself--I'm marching in Hartford since I can't make DC.

Lu k said...

I'm knitting 4 hats. I used @andresueknits KitKat hat 3 times and 1 kitty hat by Jennifer Riley. These will be shipped to Virginia for general distribution. I'm going to knit 2 more for friends marching here in San Jose, CA. I wasn't happy about the name at first but I get it now and am happily knitting along.

I'll march with my son in San Jose but will wear another hat I've already made if it's cold enough. Whatever resistance we can muster is good enough for me

Karin said...

Woohoo!!
I'm loving the momentum this is gaining.
I promised 4 hats!

melinama said...

I'm making two.

Vicki Knitorious said...

I picked up yarn for three and started at last night's knit night. Hoping to make one for Gin out of leftovers, and maybe even for Jun... I will figure it out. Owner of LYS is going to the march with her husband and daughter... gave me a little discount on the yarn, "for the cause." ❤

Wet Ptarmigan said...

I'm up to about 19 (I think). I put them on my Instagram @wetptarmigan. Will continue to knit for Washington until a self-imposed deadline for mailing, then keep knitting for our local march. You, too, can march locally if you can't make it to DC--check the sister marches section of the Women's March web site!

Gracey is not my name.... said...

I've made two so far, although I can't go to the march, thinking of going to the one in Hartford. I am donating one. I just won a free skein of Lorna's Laces in a pink and purple, so may make another...

twinsetellen said...

Two so far, shooting for 6. 4 to go on the bus from Cannon Falls, MN, 2 kept behind for myself and my mother-in-law to wear on the day.

My pattern, figured out by just horsing around with the yarn and needles - CO (in the round) 62 sts in an aran weight mohair yarn, knit for 15 rounds, drop one strand and keep knitting until the tube is about 8 to 8.5 inches long (20 to 22cm). Turn inside out and seam across the stitches in your preferred method. I used a 3-needle bind-off.

You get a nice thick cuff to keep the ears warm and a lighter crown. The mohair makes for a very furry kitty. My second and third hats I worked the cuff in reverse stockinette and the crown in stockinette - it is kinda cute. You can see them on instagram on my account - twinsetellen.

Like you, Gale, I can't be there, but my sister can. I'm sure she'll cover it well on Instagram where she is twinsetjan.

Mary Lou said...

I just dug out some fingering pinks that I will knit together. There is a march here, but I think I have a good friend who'll be in DC, so I may send one to her. Nice to see all the tweaking.

Kym said...

Two down, a couple more to go. My daughter will be wearing hers to the march in Pittsburgh; my daughter-in-law will be wearing hers to an event in Colorado; a friend and I will be wearing ours to the rally at the Capitol here in Michigan; and I'm making one for a woman I just met here in KZ going to the "real" march in DC. (I'm using super chunky yarn - cast on 44, join in the round; 2X2 rib for 3"; stockinette for 5"; 3-needle bind off . . . voila!)

Deb said...

I am nearly finished using Red Heart Reflective Neon Pink yarn (hearkening back to my neon disco days) and the original pattern. I will be wearing it to the march in Topeka, Ks.

Unknown said...

I've made six. A group of us have been getting together for stitch n bitch nights to churn them out. Our hats are being distributed to women that are going to the March from Chicago.

Toni said...


Very inspiring! My friends and I are looking for and willing to purchase 3 pussyhats for the MN March. Please contact me if you are able to help us out, or if you have contact info. for someone who might be able to help us out.
Thank You!
Toni

etwakem@comcast.net

marissak said...

Anyone making pussyhats and have extra in Chicago???
thanks! I don't want to march Saturday without one!

Marissa
MKGH@uwalumni.com

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Anonymous said...

Made 5 so far(in the round)from stash, all different shades of pink left over from baby and kids projects. Size range? Infant to adult male XL and everything inbetween. It's not much, but it's something.

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