Knitting for Social Action, One Hat at a Time

Two months ago, I was manning the Welcome Table at the Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church, recovering from some sort of unfortunate holiday virus and still feeling a little under-the-weather, when Wendy approached me and invited me to join in the Have A Hat initiative. She explained the basic idea to me — that we would meet about twice a month, knit hats, and then give them out to others, with the idea that those people in turn would do something of value for someone else, whether that be a charitable act, a donation of time, or a financial endeavor. I thought it was an amazing idea, and I wanted to be a part of it somehow.

“I can’t knit,” I told Wendy. “But… I can do web design!”

“Well, then,” she said, “you’re perfect!”

I have met with these women for quite a few sessions, now — sat across the table from them as they break out their knitting needles and share beautiful, multi-colored yarn, watched as they pour over knitting patterns in books and discuss the inherent differences between knitting and crocheting. They make these beautiful, intricate creations with their hands, and I stare dumbfounded — occasionally tapping away at my keyboard or taking the occasional picture to document the process, but mostly just to soak it all in. As much as we are working to help people and inspire good works with our delightful creations, we are also stitching together something else during these long evening meetings and our often wayward conversations — we are stitching together a community, one that seems to inspire whoever it touches.

There’s something almost magical about watching these women at work. Without fail, an innocent bystander becomes interested in what we’re doing, with our satchels full of yarn and knitting needles. They walk over to us, make conversation. Almost always, this person will confess to dabbling in the knitting arts at some point, at creating something small out of their cursory knowledge of the craft. Inevitably, however, the conversation deepens, and we hear stories of a more personal level — cancer survivors, advocates for LGBT rights,  or simply ladies who want to share pictures of their favorite dog. In those few minutes we provide an audience for these strangers, they become part of the Have-A-Hat project, because they are sharing their experience and energies with us, even if only for a fleeting moment. Watching this magic at work has been one of the greatest gifts of the whole experience for me, and has helped me realize that there are many, many ways to make a difference, and to touch the world around us in positive and worthwhile ways.

Personally, I feel incredibly blessed to be a part of this project, in whatever small ways I can contribute. And maybe — just maybe — before it’s all over, I’ll pick up a pair of knitting needles, and a ball of yarn, and just see what it is I might be able to create from that mysterious combination.