Feminists are making pussy hats.

I’m a woman of many crafts. Painting, knitting, crocheting, sewing, quilting. You name it, I’ll probably want to make it. Generally, when crafting inspiration hits, it’s with a particular project in mind; the weather’s getting cold, better whip up a shawl.

One evening after completing a tie-dye watercolor painting project, I ran across a link with a title that I just couldn’t pass up: “What’s Up, Pussy Hat? Knitting Activists Cause Shortages of Pink Yarn.”

So I clicked, and there I learned about the Pussy Hat project. The Pussy Hat is a visual statement of support of women’s rights, and a way for those of us who won’t be at a march to be able to participate and show support.

The goal of the project is to get as many of these pink hats to as many marchers in the Women’s Rights March in Washington, D.C. Jan. on 21st as possible. The swarm of pink hats is going to be impossible to miss. And trust me, there are going to be plenty of these hats—there really are pink yarn shortages! At my local store, I got the last pink skeins of a couple of brands.

Women’s rights is a cause that I feel strongly about, plus this project involves yarn and cats—there’s no way I could pass up participating.

I’m in Illinois, which is quite a distance from Washington, D.C. The Pussy Hat project was taking donations of hats, but I found out about this project late in the game and I knew I wouldn’t be able to make and mail anything in time. However, I have plenty of family and friends who would be interested, so off to the craft store I ran. 

So far, the day after learning about this project, I have completed four hats and have a fifth started. Some of the family I’m giving hats to are participating in a local march, and I will endeavor to make extra hats to mail along to them so they can distribute them at their march.

Three rows into the first hat, I was struck that each hat should have a tag. I cut some of tie-died watercolor paper I made into squares. On one side I wrote care instructions and a request to donate the hat to a women’s shelter if it is no longer needed after the march—it’s not just a statement, it’s darn cute and warm too. On the other side I wrote a little empowering message and a link to more information on the project.

These hats can be made by anyone, of any skill level.

They can be knit, crocheted or sewn, and they can be as simple or complex as you’d like. Even if you’re not going to be attending the march in Washington D.C., you can participate in a local event near you. Make hats for friends and family. Talk about the cause, and make sure you get to the craft store soon before all the pink yarn sells out. For more information, please go to The Pussy Hat Project or Women’s March.

For free hat patterns check out Ravelry.

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Author: Sarah Spradlin

Image: courtesy of the author, flickr/Anathea Utley 

Editor: Ashleigh Hitchcock