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1. WINTER HATS: Winter in the Northern Rocky Mountains is LONG. We are working with Hopa Mountain to get them a large supply of winter hats for the Elementary aged children they serve. FOCUS KIDS AGES 5-12. While this age group is our primary focus, the request is for all sizes of hats infant through adult. They are looking for "generational" hats that will last. By generational we mean super high quality hats that are made with great quality yarn, have been made with great technique and have used a pattern. We have knit, crochet and sewn patterns.

 

Our requirements are:

• Are they functional and do they keep a person warm?

• Are they crafted with a pattern and high quality, did you use good technique, would you wear it or give it as a gift to your Mom or best friend? 

• Are they durable and washable?

• Are they safe and free of embellishments that would be a choking hazards for children?

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You may use any crochet or knit pattern for this project (please peek at our suggested patterns to get an idea of what Hopa Mountain has asked for). Looking at our suggested patterns prior to starting this project will give you a good idea of what we are looking for before you begin making your first hat.  Keep in mind that we are looking for functional, warm winter hats, not decorative hats. These need to be a tight weave without holes. But not so tight that the hat is a bowl or helmet.  It is very cold in the Northern Rockies, so this is very important.  These need to cover the ears of the person wearing them.

 

Our Advisory Board is continuously testing yarn by using it and washing/drying it at least 5 times to see how it holds up.  Please review our Recommended & Tested Yarn List for our suggestions, though this list is by no means exhaustive. Please check our Recommended & Tested Yarn List to see which types have passed our rigorous testing and we prefer, however you are welcome to do your own at home testing on other yarns to see if they will also hold up and be able to be "generational".  

 

As a reminder, using yarn that is more than 5 years old, yarn without a label where you do not know where it came from is ill advised. Yarn technology has changed a lot in the last few years.  If you are in doubt about your pattern or your yarn, please send your questions to our Advisory Board Member Robyn Peters robyn@craftingchange.org. 

 

We also have a few sewn patterns for polar fleece hats. We ask that you buy high quality fleece that does not pill. Due to the harsh winters, we are asking you use only 2 layer hats to keep the children warm, no single layers please, Questions about sewing hats for Hopa? Contact Kathy at kathyl@craftingchange.org 

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