Hello Ravelry friends,
Sad American here. The last two weeks have been quite an emotional time for a lot of us. And though I typically like to leave politics outside the happy, fibery, knitting space, I just couldn’t this time.
Things have started to calm down a bit. My news feed is starting to refill with cat and dog videos….which on some level comforts me. And on another level, really, really upsets me. I can feel the urge to just check-out and go about my business…ever oscillating between wanting to stay informed and just not being able to handle the information and retreating.
So, I made this hat. Inspired by this fantastic video, I knew I had to find a way to keep myself reminded…This is Not Normal. Don’t check out. I’m not going to go into all the ways that this isn’t normal (it would take way too long and many people are more eloquent and better informed than I), but if you need a little help channeling your post-election feelings into knitting that will be a warm and wonderful reminder for you, make this hat!

All the proceeds from this hat pattern will be donated to the ACLU (it was hard to choose an organization, but I think they are very worthy!). If you have your own organization that speaks to you more, donate to them and forward me a copy of your receipt (send to islandyarn AT gmail DOT com and make sure your cc# is NOT on it) and I’ll send you a PDF of This Is Not Normal.

And if you are or you know someone who is going to the March on Washington on January 21st, consider making one of these to keep warm!

As an added fun benefit….when you wear it - the “not normal” can easily land around the front, which delights me to no end as a knitter! Who of us is normal, anyway?