Fiber Activism
It's always been political, thoughts on the Melt the Ice hat plus donation opportunities
All opinions and thoughts expressed are simply mine as I’ve been thinking about the role that fiber arts have in protest. Coming from the prospective of a queer knitting business owner in South Minneapolis.
Also quick note that fiber book club is being postponed to 3/12 - we will be reading Knitting Pearls in two essay chunks, edited by Ann Hood.
Fiber arts and politics are and have always been intertwined. This could be a whole series of essays about craft and protest. Over the past month those of us in the fiber world have seen the rollercoaster of the ‘Melt the Ice’ hat. To be honest, I waited about one week after its release to see how the pattern was going to land in the community. Being a Norwegian and knitter, people were sending the pattern my way right and left.
If you don’t know, the ‘Melt the Ice’ hat is a red knit hat inspired by the Norwegian resistance movement in WWII. Norwegians wore red knit caps, similar to those worn by the Norwegian nisse (a mischievous holiday creature), to symbolize their dissent of the Nazi occupation. This new version by local Minnesotan knitter Paul Neary was designed for the store Needle & Skein as a fundraiser for local organizations in support of those at risk of being detained by ICE.
This week marks over 70 days of ICE presence/”surge” in Minnesota. Families are still in hiding and unable to go to work or school. Our communities are coming together as best we can, but it is still bad here and will be bad wherever they go next.
On January 22nd, I shared the pattern link on facebook as a way for those who are out of state, or as it turns out - out of the country, to support Minnesota. The response from that post was absolutely overwhelming. Knitters from all over the world were commenting their support and even people who did not know how to knit bought the pattern or expressed that they were going to learn just so they could make this hat.
It made me feel like people really wanted to connect, help, and support in the ways they could.
The following week, Needle & Skein posted that they had been able to donate over $250,000 to Minnesotan organizations thanks to this pattern. Let that sink in.
This week, the donation number surpassed $650,000 and the story has been picked up by some of the biggest news outlets. Find stories here and here.
Now, I know the other side. I’m a chronic over thinker. Red hats, really? In 2026? I know. And to those who wouldn’t wear a red hat in public right now, that is OK! So many people commented to say they were going to make the hat in a different color. And if buying and making this pattern doesn’t appeal to you, then don’t make it. Another pressure point for some was that the pattern was not free (it’s $5). I think the numbers really do speak for themselves on this point. The financial impact has been able to help so many more people than raising awareness alone.
Find the Melt the Ice hat pattern here.
Art of all mediums is crucial to where we are right now. Movements like this hat really can help bring people together and also start a conversation. Yarn stores across the country have hosted nights where people are gathering to make this pattern. Community is the strongest defense we have against fascism.
Some people are going to take the popularity of this hat and move in the wrong direction. Every good thing has an opposite side of the coin. But seeing so much beautiful textile art has been a small ray of light during this time.
Let’s all continue showing up as much as we can. Two organizations that we have donated to this year are Community Aid Network MN, a grassroots neighborhood organization that works to distribute resources, and Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Committee, an organization that dedicates its time to fighting deportation and anti-immigration laws. If you have extra funds, we recommend donating here.
Looking for an even easier way to donate? We are donating 100% of proceeds from the sale of our Pride Bandana knitting pattern through Valentine’s Day to MIRAC. Find the pattern here.
Please continue to talk and share about what’s happening in Minnesota! Take care of each other.
Laila
Quick update: we were able to donate $250 from Pride Bandana pattern sales! ❤️