hip, hip, hooray! 30 hats, 30 days!

pattern: Basic Beanie from Sweet Kiwi Crochet  
yarn: I Love This Yarn (Hobby Lobby) in light grey with peacock stripes; 135 yards  
hook: size I-9 / 5.5 mm

 I crocheted a hat a day for Hat-tember 2012! Each hat will be donated to the Chicago Food Pantry's annual holiday kid's party, and I'm attempting to raise $750 for Pencils Of Promise at the same time! You can view posts from the entire project here. I'll be sharing some thoughts on the end of this project on Tuesday - for now, I just wanted to say ... I DID IT!!! Help me reach $750 this month by sponsoring this hat for just $25 - the cost of sending a child to school for a full year through Pencils Of Promise! Just click the "donate now" button below to donate!

to date, i've raised just under $500 for Pencils Of Promise ... not quite my goal, but a good turn-out none the less. if you haven't donated yet because you were waiting to see if i would actually finish, now's your chance!

until i reach my goal, i'll be donating $5 from every sale in the shop to Pencils Of Promise ... if you want a hat to go along with your donation, this is a great way to do it!

hat-tember 30

Sep 30, 2012




pattern: Basic Beanie from Sweet Kiwi Crochet
yarn: I Love This Yarn (Hobby Lobby) in light grey with navy stripes; 135 yards  
hook: size I-9 / 5.5 mm

 I'm crocheting a hat a day for Hat-tember 2012! Each hat will be donated to the Chicago Food Pantry's annual holiday kid's party (more posts about this here), and I'm attempting to raise $750 for Pencils Of Promise at the same time! You can view posts from the entire project here.

Help me reach $750 this month by sponsoring this hat for just $25 - the cost of sending a child to school for a full year through Pencils Of Promise!

hat-tember 29

Sep 29, 2012



pattern: Basic Beanie from Sweet Kiwi Crochet
yarn: I Love This Yarn (Hobby Lobby) in light grey with pumpkin stripes; 135 yards  
hook: size I-9 / 5.5 mm

 I've been loving using up some of the last bits of my acrylic on these lovely striped hats! I might just have to make myself one or two one this Hat-Tember project is over, they're so fun! I've added this striped hat to the shop ... well, not this EXACT striped hat, but you can purchase one just like it now! I've already been super blessed as a few of you have shown up to the shop and purchased a few hats from me, just in time for fall. If you're not a knitter, you might just find one perfect for yourself!

//

I'm crocheting a hat a day for Hat-tember 2012! Each hat will be donated to the Chicago Food Pantry's annual holiday kid's party, and I'm attempting to raise $750 for Pencils Of Promise at the same time! You can view posts from the entire project here. Help me reach $750 this month by sponsoring this hat for just $25 - the cost of sending a child to school for a full year through Pencils Of Promise!

hat-tember 28

Sep 28, 2012



pattern: Basic Beanie from Sweet Kiwi Crochet  
yarn: I Love This Yarn (Hobby Lobby) in light grey with yellow stripes; 135 yards
hook: size I-9 / 5.5 mm

I'm crocheting a hat a day for Hat-tember 2012! Each hat will be donated to the Chicago Food Pantry's annual holiday kid's party, and I'm attempting to raise $750 for Pencils Of Promise at the same time! You can view posts from the entire project here.

Help me reach $750 this month by sponsoring this hat for just $25 - the cost of sending a child to school for a full year through Pencils Of Promise!

hat-tember 27

Sep 27, 2012




pattern: Basic Beanie from Sweet Kiwi Crochet  
yarn: I Love This Yarn (Hobby Lobby) in light grey with cranberry stripes; 135 yards  
hook: size I-9 / 5.5 mm

 I'm crocheting a hat a day for Hat-tember 2012! Each hat will be donated to the Chicago Food Pantry's annual holiday kid's party, and I'm attempting to raise $750 for Pencils Of Promise at the same time! You can view posts from the entire project here.

Help me reach $750 this month by sponsoring this hat for just $25 - the cost of sending a child to school for a full year through Pencils Of Promise!

hat-tember 26

Sep 26, 2012



pattern: Basic Beanie from Sweet Kiwi Crochet  
yarn: K-Mart Sayelle yarn from the 80's; 120 yards  
hook: size I-9 / 5.5 mm

I'm crocheting a hat a day for Hat-tember 2012! Each hat will be donated to the Chicago Food Pantry's annual holiday kid's party (more posts about this here), and I'm attempting to raise $750 for Pencils Of Promise at the same time! You can view posts from the entire project here.

Help me reach $750 this month by sponsoring this hat for just $25 - the cost of sending a child to school for a full year through Pencils Of Promise!

hat-tember 25

Sep 25, 2012




pattern: Basic Beanie from Sweet Kiwi Crochet  
yarn: I Love This Yarn (Hobby Lobby) in tan and pink stripes; 135 yards  
hook: size I-9 / 5.5 mm

 I've loved crocheting this hat I decided to add it to my shop on a made-to-order basis! You can now purchase your very own three-stripe hat (named Luka) from the She Makes Hats shop, and choose whichever colors you'd like from my 30+ colors list! And with the holiday season fast approaching, I'll continue to add hats like this one to the shop over the next few weeks and months!

//

I'm crocheting a hat a day for Hat-tember 2012! Each hat will be donated to the Chicago Food Pantry's annual holiday kid's party, and I'm attempting to raise $750 for Pencils Of Promise at the same time! You can view posts from the entire project here.

Help me reach $750 this month by sponsoring this hat for just $25 - the cost of sending a child to school for a full year through Pencils Of Promise!

hat-tember 24

Sep 24, 2012



pattern: Basic Beanie from Sweet Kiwi Crochet
yarn: I Love This Yarn (Hobby Lobby) in jelly bean sparkle; 135 yards  
hook: size I-9 / 5.5 mm

The end of the weekend is always a make-up free time for me. Truly most of this weekend was, but after so much going on it's nice to wash your face, do some laundry, snuggle while watching football (and drinking hot chocolate - yay!), unconcerned with how you look. Until you remember you're taking photos of yourself every day, and you haven't photographed today's hat yet. Oops! Thankfully, me without makeup usually just means me without mascara (I let my blemishes and one age spot show), so I don't think I look any different, just less eyelashes.

//

Just six days of hats left, and then I will have reached my goal of crocheting a hat a day for the Chicago Food Pantry! I'm still a bit short on my financial goal for Pencils Of Promise though - won't you hop over and donate if you're able?

 I'm crocheting a hat a day for Hat-tember 2012! Each hat will be donated to the Chicago Food Pantry, and I'm attempting to raise $750 for Pencils Of Promise at the same time! You can view posts from the entire project here.

Help me reach $750 this month by sponsoring this hat for just $25 - the cost of sending a child to school for a full year through Pencils Of Promise!

hat-tember 23

Sep 23, 2012


pattern: Basic Beanie from Sweet Kiwi Crochet  
yarn: I Love This Yarn (Hobby Lobby) in lightest grey with aqua stripes; 135 yards  
hook: size I-9 / 5.5 mm

I'm crocheting a hat a day for Hat-tember 2012! Each hat will be donated to the Chicago Food Pantry's annual holiday kid's party, and I'm attempting to raise $750 for Pencils Of Promise at the same time! You can view posts from the entire project here.

Help me reach $750 this month by sponsoring this hat for just $25 - the cost of sending a child to school for a full year through Pencils Of Promise!

hat-tember 22

Sep 22, 2012




pattern: Basic Beanie from Sweet Kiwi Crochet  
yarn: Red Heart Super Saver in grey, 135 yards
hook: size I-9 / 5.5 mm

I'm crocheting a hat a day for Hat-tember 2012! Each hat will be donated to the Chicago Food Pantry's annual holiday kid's party, and I'm attempting to raise $750 for Pencils Of Promise at the same time! You can view posts from the entire project here.

Help me reach $750 this month by sponsoring this hat for just $25 - the cost of sending a child to school for a full year through Pencils Of Promise!

Hat-Tember 21

Sep 21, 2012




pattern: Basic Beanie from Sweet Kiwi Crochet  
yarn: Red Heart Super Saver in grey and bright blue, 135 yards  
hook: size I-9 / 5.5 mm

 I told you I was loving those stripes - so much so I whipped up a grey hat with blue stripes for today!

//

I'm crocheting a hat a day for Hat-tember 2012! Each hat will be donated to the Chicago Food Pantry's annual holiday kid's party, and I'm attempting to raise $750 for Pencils Of Promise at the same time! You can view posts from the entire project here.

Help me reach $750 this month by sponsoring this hat for just $25 - the cost of sending a child to school for a full year through Pencils Of Promise!

hat-tember 20

Sep 20, 2012



pattern: Basic Beanie from Sweet Kiwi Crochet  
yarn: I Love This Yarn (Hobby Lobby) in tan with dark brown stripes; 135 yards
hook: size I-9 / 5.5 mm

is it unfair to say that this may be my favorite hat made so far? i love the earthy colors to be sure, but i mostly love the potential i see in a hat with these kinds of stripes. i'd love one for myself in super dark grey with avocado green stripes, and i'd love to see one in grey shades worked up, or with pink stripes or blue .... the possibilities truly are endless!

 i've still got quite a ways to go on the fundraising front, with $400 left to raise, but i believe whole-heartedly that the money will show up just in time, and i'll reach my goal of sending 30 kids to school for a year before the beginning of October. if you haven't donated yet, even $5 will do so much good ... don't shy away if $25 seems like a huge sum to you. in truth, it does to me as well!

i've been messing with the blog layout again, in anticipation of this Hat-Tember project being over and getting back to "regular" blogging. i'm excited to share bunches of Hats On People hats, our new Designer Of The Month, and even some new crafty projects i've been saving for fall!

i've got a few fun round-ups brewing as well, in anticipation of fall, Halloween and even the upcoming holiday season! with so much swirling around in my mind, i'm reminding myself to head back to my crochet hook and yarn and work on what's in front of me, this very important task.

//

I'm crocheting a hat a day for Hat-tember 2012! Each hat will be donated to the Chicago Food Pantry's annual holiday kid's party, and I'm attempting to raise $750 for Pencils Of Promise at the same time! You can view posts from the entire project here.

Help me reach $750 this month by sponsoring this hat for just $25 - the cost of sending a child to school for a full year through Pencils Of Promise!

hat-tember 19

Sep 19, 2012




pattern: Basic Beanie from Sweet Kiwi Crochet  
yarn: I Love This Yarn (Hobby Lobby) in black with pink sparkle stripes; 135 yards  
hook: size I-9 / 5.5 mm
"Love and belonging are irreducible needs of all men, women, and children. We’re hardwired for connection— it’s what gives purpose and meaning to our lives. The absence of love, belonging, and connection always leads to suffering."
I have been tossed asunder by this quote, from Brene Brown's new book Daring Greatly. Written in just the first chapter, I am already broken open. This is why all the hats, folks. Connection. Two needles or a hook, some yarn and some time, and I connect myself to another person. Whether I meet that person or not, whether that person even knows my name, I am sharing this gift with them. I am saying You are IMPORTANT. You are LOVED. You are WORTHY. You are CARED FOR. Because they are. Because you are.

//

I'm crocheting a hat a day for Hat-tember 2012! Each hat will be donated to the Chicago Food Pantry, and I'm attempting to raise $750 for Pencils Of Promise at the same time! You can view posts from the entire project here.

Help me reach $750 this month by sponsoring this hat for just $25 - the cost of sending a child to school for a full year through Pencils Of Promise!

hat-tember 18

Sep 18, 2012




pattern: Basic Beanie from Sweet Kiwi Crochet  
yarn: I Love This Yarn (Hobby Lobby) in green and light grey stripes; 135 yards
hook: size I-9 / 5.5 mm

I'm crocheting a hat a day for Hat-tember 2012! Each hat will be donated to the Chicago Food Pantry's annual holiday kid's party, and I'm attempting to raise $750 for Pencils Of Promise at the same time! You can view posts from the entire project here.

Help me reach $750 this month by sponsoring this hat for just $25 - the cost of sending a child to school for a full year through Pencils Of Promise!

hat-tember 17

Sep 17, 2012



pattern: Basic Beanie from Sweet Kiwi Crochet  
yarn: I Love This Yarn (Hobby Lobby) in green and light grey stripes; 135 yards  
hook: size I-9 / 5.5 mm

I'm crocheting a hat a day for Hat-tember 2012! Each hat will be donated to the Chicago Food Pantry's annual holiday kid's party (more posts about this here), and I'm attempting to raise $750 for Pencils Of Promise at the same time! You can view posts from the entire project here.

Help me reach $750 this month by sponsoring this hat for just $25 - the cost of sending a child to school for a full year through Pencils Of Promise!

hat-tember 16

Sep 16, 2012


 
pattern: Basic Beanie from Sweet Kiwi Crochet
yarn: rose K-Mart Sayelle yarn from the 80's; 120 yards  
hook: size I-9 / 5.5 mm

Day 15 - halfway through Hat-Tember! I can't believe we're already to the 50% mark, that I've made it this far without missing a day (or a beat)! I folded the hat brim today to give a different look! Still using the same hat pattern, and loving that it's as versatile as this! I've been so blown away at how folks have shown up and donated to the Pencils Of Promise fundraiser as well!

So far this project has raised $350 - almost halfway to my goal of $750! With just 15 days left however, the real fundraising needs to begin in earnest! I've got $400 left to raise and just over two weeks to do it! If you haven't donated yet, I encourage you to click the "Donate Now" link below. Even if you can donate $5 or $10, it will help me reach my goal of sending 30 kids to school for a year. If you've already donated, I'd love it if you can help me spread the word about this project.

By sharing about Hat-Tember on Twitter and Facebook, you can help me reach my goal and let your family, friends and followers know you care about an amazing cause! To make things super easy, you can copy and paste this to your Twitter or Facebook to spread the word!
Help @shemakeshats send 30 kids to school for a year through her #hattember project! - http://www.shemakeshats.com
Thanks so much for supporting the project!

//

I'm crocheting a hat a day for Hat-tember 2012! Each hat will be donated to the Chicago Food Pantry's annual holiday kid's party, and I'm attempting to raise $750 for Pencils Of Promise at the same time! You can view posts from the entire project here.

Help me reach $750 this month by sponsoring this hat for just $25 - the cost of sending a child to school for a full year through Pencils Of Promise!

Hat-Tember 15

Sep 15, 2012




pattern: Basic Beanie from Sweet Kiwi Crochet  
yarn: I Love This Yarn (Hobby Lobby) in burnt pumpkin; 135 yards (about 1/3 a skein)  
hook: size I-9 / 5.5 mm

The top picture? That's how we spend a good chunk of our days lately. Owen's turned into quite the acrobat (in his own mind at least!) and he loves to flip upside down, backwards, and over shoulders, couches and coffee tables!

Hope you have a happy weekend! Owen and I will be watching the Huskers, hopefully seeing Dad and Owen's cousin Joshua, who will be AT THE GAME!

 //

I'm crocheting a hat a day for Hat-tember 2012! Each hat will be donated to the Chicago Food Pantry's annual holiday kid's party, and I'm attempting to raise $750 for Pencils Of Promise at the same time!

Help me reach $750 this month by sponsoring this hat for just $25 - the cost of sending a child to school for a full year through Pencils Of Promise!

Hat-Tember 14

Sep 14, 2012



pattern: Basic Beanie from Sweet Kiwi Crochet  
yarn: Red Heart Super Saver in light tan and light brown, 135 yards  
hook: size I-9 / 5.5 mm

I'm crocheting a hat a day for Hat-tember 2012! Each hat will be donated to the Chicago Food Pantry's annual holiday kid's party, and I'm attempting to raise $750 for Pencils Of Promise at the same time!

Help me reach $750 this month by sponsoring this hat for just $25 - the cost of sending a child to school for a full year through Pencils Of Promise!

Hat-Tember 13

Sep 13, 2012



pattern: Basic Beanie from Sweet Kiwi Crochet
yarn: I Love This Yarn (Hobby Lobby) in lightest grey and yellow stripes; 135 yards (about 1/3 a skein)  
hook: size I-9 / 5.5 mm

Late photos today. We snapped these just before I headed out to hang with Chris Guillebeau (and about 40 other folks!) on his Omaha stop for the $100 Start-Up. If you haven't read it, definitely check it out ... wise words from that one! Oh, and ignore the HUGE dark circles. I've actually been getting good sleep, so I'm not sure what that's about.

//

I'm crocheting a hat a day for Hat-tember 2012! Each hat will be donated to the Chicago Food Pantry's annual holiday kid's party, and I'm attempting to raise $750 for Pencils Of Promise at the same time!

Help me reach $750 this month by sponsoring this hat for just $25 - the cost of sending a child to school for a full year through Pencils Of Promise!

Hat-Tember 12

Sep 12, 2012



pattern: Basic Beanie from Sweet Kiwi Crochet  
yarn: K-Mart Sayelle yarn from the 80's; 120 yards  
hook: size I-9 / 5.5 mm

 I'm crocheting a hat a day for Hat-tember 2012! Each hat will be donated to the Chicago Food Pantry's annual holiday kid's party, and I'm attempting to raise $750 for Pencils Of Promise at the same time!

Help me reach $750 this month by sponsoring this hat for just $25 - the cost of sending a child to school for a full year through Pencils Of Promise!

Hat-Tember 11

Sep 11, 2012



pattern: Basic Beanie from Sweet Kiwi Crochet  
yarn: stash yarn (vintage, not sure of the brand) approximately 135 yards
hook: size I-9 / 5.5 mm

I'm crocheting a hat a day for Hat-tember 2012! Each hat will be donated to the Chicago Food Pantry's annual holiday kid's party, and I'm attempting to raise $750 for Pencils Of Promise at the same time!

Help me reach $750 this month by sponsoring this hat for just $25 - the cost of sending a child to school for a full year through Pencils Of Promise! Just click the "donate now" button below to donate!

Hat-Tember 10

Sep 10, 2012



pattern: Basic Beanie from Sweet Kiwi Crochet  
yarn: Red Heart Super Saver in navy, 135 yards (approximately 1/3 of the skein)  
hook: size I-9 / 5.5 mm

I'm crocheting a hat a day for Hat-tember 2012! Each hat will be donated to the Chicago Food Pantry's annual holiday kid's party, and I'm attempting to raise $750 for Pencils Of Promise at the same time!

Help me reach $750 this month by sponsoring this hat for just $25 - the cost of sending a child to school for a full year through Pencils Of Promise!

Hat-Tember 9

Sep 9, 2012




pattern: Basic Beanie from Sweet Kiwi Crochet
yarn: I Love This Yarn (Hobby Lobby) in lightest grey; 135 yards (about 1/3 a skein)  
hook: size I-9 / 5.5 mm

This morning on College Game Day (we watch it every Saturday during football season), a few of the USC players were sharing their time in Haiti. Back in May, the entire USC football team flew to Haiti for a week to build houses and work with the folks affected by the hurricane.

Listening to those players talk I was reminded of why I do what I do. Phrases like, "there is a smell to that kind of poverty," and "I will never be the same, my life was altered because of this experience" resonate deep down for me.

When I was 14 I spent 2 months sleeping on the floor. Not because I was poor (we were very well off, in fact) but because I went on a house-building trip to Mexico for a week. Not only was I blown away at what I saw while I was there, I came home to a house stuffed full of things and just couldn't handle it.

I slept on my bedroom floor for a week, next to my super comfortable bed, because I couldn't deal with the fact that I had so much when so many people had so little. I packed up 3/4 of my clothes and had my mom help me mail them to the organization we built the house with, so the folks I had met could have some clothes. And I started to look at my life not in terms of what I could get, but what I could give.

That first trip marked me in a way I know the trip to Haiti has marked those USC football players. Since I was 14 I've gone to Mexico three more times and the Dominican Republic twice, all to build houses and bond with folks who are not so different than I am. It's why I make hats, and then give them away. It's why to this day I don't own a hat that I've made - I always intend to keep one but then someone will comment on how they like it or I'll see someone who looks cold and the hat will come off. It's why I'm making a hat a day in September - because there are children who deserve to go to school who cannot for whatever reason, and this is one small way I can help, I can make a difference.

 //

I'm crocheting a hat a day for Hat-tember 2012! Each hat will be donated to the Chicago Food Pantry's annual holiday kid's party, and I'm attempting to raise $750 for Pencils Of Promise at the same time!

Help me reach $750 this month by sponsoring this hat for just $25 - the cost of sending a child to school for a full year through Pencils Of Promise!

Hat-Tember 8

Sep 8, 2012



pattern: Basic Beanie from Sweet Kiwi Crochet
yarn: Red Heart Super Saver (vintage skein wrapper, unsure of color), approximately 135 yards  
hook: size I-9 / 5.5 mm

 I'm crocheting a hat a day for Hat-tember 2012! Each hat will be donated to the Chicago Food Pantry's annual holiday kid's party, and I'm attempting to raise $750 for Pencils Of Promise at the same time!

Help me reach $750 this month by sponsoring this hat for just $25 - the cost of sending a child to school for a full year through Pencils Of Promise!

Hat-Tember 7

Sep 7, 2012



pattern: Basic Beanie from Sweet Kiwi Crochet
yarn: Red Heart Super Saver in brown bear; 135 yards  
hook: size I-9 / 5.5 mm

 Scrunchy sun face today! We've all been feeling a bit under the weather around here - nothing major, just a cold running its way through the family. This means not as much sleep, and couple that with the afternoon sun and I have a scrunchy face! (and some super rockin' dark circles!) I'm loving taking photos of the growing pile of hats every day.

This cubby on our bookshelf is about the only spot where one of the cats or curious Mr. Owen won't get at them while I let the pile grow. Other than the two books on top of my Harry Potter books (they were lent to me to read), this is my entire book collection - I read almost exclusively on my Kindle now, and couldn't be happier!

//

I'm crocheting a hat a day for Hat-tember 2012! Each hat will be donated to the Chicago Food Pantry's annual holiday kid's party, and I'm attempting to raise $750 for Pencils Of Promise at the same time! Help me reach $750 this month by sponsoring this hat for just $25 - the cost of sending a child to school for a full year through Pencils Of Promise!

Hat-Tember 6

Sep 6, 2012

Instagram