I don’t normally keep much bulky yarn on-hand – if I’m honest,
working with size 15 needles starts to give my hands an ache after too
much use. But I was recently given a friend’s entire stash of Lion Brand
Thick & Quick after the minimal wool content started to mess with
her allergies, and if I don’t use it fast, it’ll languish in my stash
for far too long!
It didn’t take long for me to know which pattern to use for this yarn; I’ve been eyeing Abi’s
Vermonter Hat pattern for many months now, wishing I had some bulky yarn in my stash so I could finally make one.
I plan to knit through the entire box of bulky weight using the
Vermonter Hat
pattern, making solid hats where I can and using the smaller bits to
make up some striped Vermonters as well (I’ll explain how I do that when
I’ve got a few done). Because I’m not sure how many hats I’ll be able
to make this way, I’m not challenging myself to make a specific number.
Once the bin is done, this project will be added to the completed list.
DONATING THE HATS:
The hats will be donated locally through the
Nebraska Hats for Hope Initiative
to the local Leavenworth Homeowner’s Association (in my neighborhood).
Each year at Christmastime they make up backpacks full of food (fruits,
snacks and such) and warm gear (hats, scarves, mittens) for the kids at a
local elementary school with a high percentage of kids receiving
assistance (free lunches, etc) – last year they made up around 300 bags!
This year
Hats for Hope is teaming up with them to provide hand knit hats for the bags, and so these hats will go into that pile. I’m hoping
Hats for Hope
can contribute enough hats that each kid gets a handmade one, and in
order to get there I’m dedicating a fair bit of my knitting this year to
the cause. Learn more about this campaign over at the
Hats for Hope Facebook page.
KNITTING ALONG:
For
those of you with bulky yarn in your stash, I’d love for you to
consider knitting along with me! Abi makes her patterns available for
free download, and this is the perfect hat for charity donation –
whether you send it to
Hats for Hope or donate it locally!
If you choose to knit along with me, I'd love it if you share links to your finished hats in the comments of any of the
Vermonter hats I share - that way I can see your lovely creations and share them here on the blog as well!
And
I'd of course love it if you would send your hats to the Nebraska Hats
for Hope Initiative for the LNA hat drive! Here is the address:
Nebraska Hats for Hope Initiative
PO Box 6093
Omaha, NE 68106
Your hats will go to good use, warming up kids in my neighborhood all next winter!