Lion Brand Yarn TRON

Use Crafting to End Bullying: #HatNotHate

Home/CommunityUse Crafting to End Bullying: #HatNotHate
Lion Brand Yarn

Use Crafting to End Bullying: #HatNotHate

- Ally Carey
Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Nowadays, younger and younger kids are reporting instances of bullying, with negative behaviors showing up as early as elementary school. Lion Brand Yarn Company is excited to announce the anti-bullying campaign #HatNotHate. Lion Brand is partnering with STOMP Out Bullying, the leading national anti-bullying and cyberbullying organization for kids and teens in the U.S. to launch an anti-bullying campaign, and you can help, too! Let’s increase awareness about the impact bullying has on children and teens by rallying together and crafting blue hats to wear proudly on World Day of Bullying Prevention, October 1, 2018. Read on about our plan to eradicate bullying, one blue hat at a time.

What is STOMP Out Bullying

STOMP Out Bullying is a non-profit organization that provides tools to learn to respond to bully behavior quickly and consistently. Since launching in 2005, STOMP Out Bullying has become the leading national non-profit dedicated to changing the culture for all students. Kids are growing up faster than ever, due to the presence of media in their lives at earlier ages. Sadly, all of these conflicting messages, plus the average pressures of being a kid, have given rise to a more insidious trend – cyberbullying. STOMP Out Bullying provides specific resources for dealing with bullying that begins after the last class bell has rung. It works to reduce and prevent bullying, cyberbullying, and other digital abuse. In addition, it educates against homophobia, LGBTQ discrimination, racism and hatred.

Below is a video from their celebrity anti-bullying campaign, featuring star Logan Browning.

One important part of the campaign is visiting schools to talk about how to create a positive school climate. So we’ll be joining them in their in-school work to talk about standing up to bully behavior.

How Knitters & Crocheters Can Help

With your help, we hope to create a new ‘craftivist’ movement to send the message that bullying is unacceptable. Help spread the word by using the hashtag #HatNotHate when you post your hat projects on social media to show your support.

  • 1. Make a hat using one of our free patterns below, using blue yarn.
  • 2. Share a photo of you in your blue hat and hashtag #HatNotHate. We’ll share, too!
  • 3. Let people know you’re participating, and why. Encourage others to join in.
  • 4. You can donate blue hats to Lion Brand Yarn Co.; HAT NOT HATE; 135 Kero Road; Carlstadt, NJ 07072. Lion Brand will be outfitting a local school of 1500 to empower the students to stand up to Bullying.
  • 5. Wear your hat during October, which is Anti-Bullying Month, and encourage others to do so as well.

Why Blue Hats?

Blue is the color of awareness, and also solidarity. We’ve picked our bluest hues, and came up with the idea, Hat Not Hate. Since a hat can be worn any or every day, you can demonstrate your commitment to end bullying every time you wear it. We’ve created 23 knit and crochet patterns, and we want you to whip one up. When you’re finished, post a picture on social media – make sure you use the hashtag #HatNotHate. Let’s work together to create reminders in our timelines and newsfeeds, for whoever might need them, that we’re all in this together.

Make Your Own Blue #HatNotHate

Here’s a list of 23 patterns to make to join the #HatNotHate campaign. If you use one of the yarns recommended, you’ll be contributing even more. 2% of the proceeds from each of the blue yarns used to make these hats will be donated toward this cause.

13 Free Knit Hat Patterns

All three of these knit patterns use our Super Bulky Hometown USA Yarn.

Next, three hats to craft with our Medium Weight Jeans Yarn. The #HATNOTHATE (Knit) is easy to craft, and is another one that will stretch to fit multiple sizes. If you’re looking for a project that’s simple, then David’s Hat (Knit) is perfect. Or the Tula Slouch Hat (Knit), which is still relatively easy to craft, but with a little more texture.

Both our New Direction Hat (Knit) and Docklands Hat (Knit) will use our Heartland Yarn.

Or to cast on something cozier, like Wool-Ease Thick & Quick, you could check out our True Blue Hat (Knit) or the Pike Street Hat (Knit).

Lastly, three more knit options with a little variety. Our Garden State Beret (Knit) is very fetching, and will be unlike any other toque in your rotation. Our Judie Hat (Knit) uses Scarfie Yarn, so there will be fun variation without the headache of colorwork. The Chloe Hat (Knit) also uses Scarfie, and will also stretch to fit anybody.

10 Free Crochet Hat Patterns

All four of these cute crochet patterns call for our Hometown USA:

For three cute ways to crochet with Vanna’s Choice, check out the patterns below:

Our last two patterns are both one-skein wonders:

Let’s Use Crafting to End Bullying

For those of us who experienced bullying growing up, we know the lifelong impact it can have. But it’s time to take action to make sure no more kids grow up with that experience. Whether you want to make one for yourself, gift to a friend, or organize a #HatNotHate hat-making party, let’s use crafting to end bullying. Join Lion Brand and STOMP Out Bullying in our #HatNotHate campaign to spread kindness and understanding.

Donate a Hat
In addition to making a hat for yourself, we invite you to make one to share! We’re collecting 1,500 hats on behalf of a local school, who plan to give them to all their students for World Day of Bullying Prevention on October 1st. This is a beautiful gesture of solidarity, so we hope you’ll join us in supporting their effort.

Check out our list of 23 #HatNotHate knit and crochet patterns, which can be found here. You’re welcome to whip up a hat on your own or you might choose to host a hat-making party! This would be a wonderful way to spread the message, and encourage friends to join in. In addition, if you purchase any of the yarns recommended in these patterns, 2% of the proceeds will go towards STOMP Out Bullying’s work.

Small Gestures Make a Big Difference

We hope you’ll join us in this special effort to positively impact the lives of students at this school. By making a hat to wear, planning to donate a hat, posting on social media, and talking about it with friends, we’ll create an atmosphere of kindness and understanding that will spread, one person at a time.

Share this post

83 Comments

  • I’m trying to figure out where to get the tags to put on the hats once I’m finished. I can’t find them!

  • I dont see a pattern for the Nevins Street Hat anywhere here. It’s one of the first 2 hat images at the top of the page. Am I just missing it? I actually dont see the other one pictured next to it either? I love the slouchy hats and am going to do some for our school here.

  • Where do I find the patterns. I love this idea, but can’t figure out where those “free” patterns are:) (I acutally did something similar in my home town last year, so would love to do this again.

    Donna

  • Your ‘New Direction Hat” is stated as being a knit. The directions for this hat are for crochet.

    • Hi, Winnie – thank you for the heads up! I’ll pass along this information, and we’ll get it straightened out.

  • 1’m with you! ! whatever works,,try.

  • If a child is a devout Catholic and endeavors to live out their faith, will your anti-bullying beliefs extend to that child as well or will they be tagged as haters because they believe in marriage between one man and one woman and are pro-life, anti-death penalty, etc.? Because to be honest, I feel a lot of hate from the “tolerance” crowd for merely expressing a belief that is counter to the culture of today.

    Karen Cooper

    • Hi, Karen – of course, cyberbullying can happen to any child, for any reason. This campaign is an effort to raise awareness and address the issue for all young people.

  • # I stand against bullying.
    Hi my name is Ashley Rose Johnson and i am a 32 year old adult and i was born with learning disabilities and well people picked on me and called me many names i didnt like. They would bullying me because the considered me a teachers pet, four eyes when i have vision problems and have to wear glasses, my disabilities you can’t see on the outside. Sometimes it takes longer for me to process things thru in my mind.

    I have set up a page called stop cyberbullying on facebook to stand up for many other people like me who have been bullied just like i have. I am a member of lionbrand mikeys The crochet crowd and many other groups on facebook and try to raise awareness no one needs to be bullied or cyber bullied.

    I knit and i crochet and loom right now i am getting ready for my local county fair
    Thank you for taking the time to read my statement.

    Ashley Rose Johnson
    The Dalles Oregon USA 97058

    • Hi, Ashley Rose – thank you for your feedback, and for the work you do to raise awareness for this issue that you understand so personally.

  • The pattern that is there for the Delray hat is the wrong pattern. It is the same exact pattern as the First Fall Hat. Could someone please fix this and post the correct pattern for the Delray hat? Thank you!

    • Hi, Kate – we double-checked the link, and it appears to go to the correct site! Not sure why it may not have worked for you.

  • I think this is beyond inane. Is this actually something you want taken seriously? Thank you for forcing my hand to unsubscribe from your website, AND to NEVER purchase ANY PRODUCT related to, or bearing the Lion Brand name. One more thing: if you spent as much time investing in the QUALITY of your yarns (which have become substandard in the past few years) as you have with this ridiculous campaign you might not have had to resort to such stupidity to get people to buy your yarn.

  • My aon and daughter-in-law work with special needs students and this is wonderful! I, too, was bullyed when I was younger!

    • Bernice, how lucky for those students that they have your son and daughter-in-law! We hope this campaign will bring more awareness to the issue.

  • I am a loom knitter and would love to support the #HatNotHate program. How can us Lookers support the cause?

    • Hi, Jenine – while we don’t have any patterns specifically for loomers, you could use any pattern you love with one of these blue yarns!

  • I absolutely love this idea. I was wanting to use my love If knitting and crochet as a way to help others since there are only so many things I can make for myself or family.

    I would love to see if there would be a way to purchase yarn at a discount to use for charitable causes such as this and others including, but not limited to “little hats big hearts” or hats for the homeless.

    Even without I plan on enlisting my friends to take up the cause. Thank you for showing up in my email.

    • Thank you, Deneise, so glad you will be participating and asking friends to do so, too!

  • Great idea

  • I didn’t see an answer to Deneise’s question regarding a possible discount on the yarn for the bullying project.?

    • While there’s no specific discount for this campaign (since 2% of the proceeds will go to STOMP Out Bullying), we are currently having a sale on blue yarns for our August Color of the Year, Sapphire: https://blog.lionbrand.com/sapphire/

  • I would be glad to make hats for a great cause. Is Lion brand donating yarn to anti bullying groups?

  • How do you know if your local schools are involved in this project? Is there anything we can print out & take to the schools beforehand?

  • Is there information we can take to our local schools so we can get them involved?

    • Hi, Anjanette – we’d suggest giving your local schools a call, to see if they’re aware of this project, and already have plans to participate. If not, you could definitely visit the STOMP Out Bullying website and check out some of their resources.

  • Ridged Hat listed as crochet but pattern is for a knitted hat.

    • Thank you for the feedback, Susan! It’s very helpful. 🙂

  • The Ridged Slouch Hat (Crochet) pattern is actually for knit not crochet. Do you have the same hat pattern converted for crochet you can post to fix this?

    • Thank you for the feedback, Samantha! We’ve updated that information. Unfortunately, we don’t offer that pattern in both knit or crochet, but hopefully another one of these looks enticing!

  • To Karen who posted above re: being a devout Catholic & issue of marriage vs bullying.

    There are a lot of devout (whatever religion) and still love and accept all people for exactly who they are. Jesus taught love and acceptance of everyone without exception.

    Respectfully, if someone belongs to a religion or organization that teaches to dislike or discriminate against a person or group of people, is that really a righteous path?

    Kudos to Lion Brand for this campaign. Maybe a program can be implemented to teach kids how to knit or crochet these blue hats. Maybe LB can help make this affordable for teachers to incorporate this into the art classes.

    • Hi, Elise – this is a great idea, and we’re currently working with some partners to see what we can do in the NYC area. Hopefully, crafters and teachers (and any crafty teachers!) will be inspired to try something similar in their classrooms.

  • Do you have any patterns for machine knit hats? I could use a standard gauge pattern, but would prefer a pattern for a bulky gauge machine.

    • Hi, Kris – unfortunately, it looks like we don’t offer machine-knitting hat patterns on our website. Let me ask and see what I can find out, but in the meantime, you could check out Ravelry (you need a free account to search for patterns there!).

  • Where does one post the selfie? Is it OK to use yarn that I already own.?I have Heartland Thick and Quick and would love to use that.

  • I own the local yarn store in Central NY and we are working with some local school districts to donate hats to and get them more aware of this organization. I think this campaign is awesome!!!

    • Hi, Lauren – how wonderful! Love that you are doing this work in your community. 🙂

  • Will there be a Ravelry Group for this effort?

    • Hi, Deebee – that’s a great question! Let me ask, and see what I can find out. 🙂

  • Where do you buy the tags for the hats Thank you

    • Hi, Peggy – thank you for this question. I know we’re working on making those available soon, let me see what I can find out!

  • Hi,
    I am against bullying as are all decent people and especially out First Lady. I think you are making two mistakes however…
    I think you should choose green instead of blue since green is the color of nature. Choosing blue is too much like making a statement that you are aligning yourself with some who claim to be tolerant but advocate hate and violence. They personify the very things they say they are against. You would have to send a hat to Maxine Waters who tells people to hate and harass and you would have to make enough hats to pass out to Antifa groups who act out violence. I’m sure that any legitimate anti-bullying group would not want to be mistakenly aligned with them.
    The second mistake is to take children who should just be thinking about their safety, simple lives and the three R’s and you are hijacking them to make an adult political statement about adult subjects. Then parents have to do damage control when their children come home all confused.
    I think you should make green hats. Then you should pass them out to all the groups that I have seen on TV who are respectful Americans – “Gays for Trump”, “Blacks for Trump”, Hispanics for Trump”, Women fro Trump” and other minority groups. I am sure that they would wear them since the hats would express genuine support for respect and fairness and no bullying while not hijacking them to wear a politically charges color hat which also carries with it dishonesty.
    We love all Americans who love truth, fairness for all and peace. Those who call good evil and evil good… who love to lie and “take forcefully” what they believe is rightly theirs even if they break laws to do it… are not good people nor are they good for America.
    Please consider changing the hat to green… neutral… truthful… and genuinely to protect kids without any ulterior motive.
    This is politicking in disguise. I am disappointment in Lion Brand. I will have to start using different yarn.

    • Hi, RM – thank you for this feedback. The choice of color comes from STOMP Out Bullying’s work, so we are unable to make any changes, since the campaign is already underway. The campaign is certainly not intended to be political, merely an effort to raise awareness about an issue that effects all children.

  • Thought I would re-post after correcting typos due to the small print..

    Hi,
    I am against bullying as are all decent people and especially our First Lady. I think you are making two mistakes however…
    I think you should choose green instead of blue since green is the color of nature. Choosing blue is too much like making a statement that you are aligning yourself with some who claim to be tolerant but advocate hate and violence. They personify the very things they say they are against. You would have to send a hat to Maxine Waters who tells people to hate and harass and you would have to make enough hats to pass out to Antifa groups who act out violence. I’m sure that any legitimate anti-bullying group would not want to be mistakenly aligned with them.
    The second mistake is to take children who should just be thinking about their safety, simple lives and the three R’s and you are hijacking them to make an adult political statement about adult subjects. Then parents have to do damage control when their children come home all confused.
    I think you should make green hats. Then you should pass them out to all the groups that I have seen on TV who are respectful Americans – “Gays for Trump”, “Blacks for Trump”, Hispanics for Trump”, Women for Trump” and other minority groups. I am sure that they would wear them since the hats would express genuine support for respect and fairness and no bullying while not hijacking them to wear a politically charged color hat which also carries with it dishonesty.
    We love all Americans who love truth, fairness for and peace. Those who call good evil and evil good… who love to lie and “take forcefully” what they believe is rightly theirs even if they break laws to do it… are not good people nor are they good for America.
    Please consider changing the hat to green… neutral… truthful… and genuinely to protect kids without any ulterior motive.
    This is politicking in disguise. I am disappointed in Lion Brand. I will have to start using different yarn.
    I would be happy to participate if the hat color is green. Please do not discriminate against my comment being read by your readers.
    That would be censoring and bullying! I am against bullying.

    • Hi, RM – it is against our policy to discriminate against any comments, and we only delete what our program detects as spam (advertisements, gibberish, etc.). You will see on many of our posts comments of all kinds, since we believe our crafters have the right to share their views with us, if they feel moved to do so.

  • To Elise Carter,
    Hi,
    Just would like to clarify something that you wrote in your comment to Karen Cooper.
    You wrote:
    “Jesus taught love and acceptance of everyone without exception. Respectfully, if someone belongs to a religion or organization that teaches to dislike or discriminate against a person or group of people, is that really a righteous path?”

    First you seem to misunderstand Karen’s point. She was asking if her child as having religious views different from some, would also be protected from the bullying. I guess you are saying that you already hate her religion and that she doesn’t deserve respect and protection since she believes differently from you and you decided that hers is not a righteous path.
    I thought that only God who is the only one righteous… can judge someone’s heart and path.
    His word says, “There is not one who is righteous.”
    (I am not Catholic .) While He taught love for others whom He loved and died for, He did NOT teach overall acceptance of their life choices.
    His Word which is beyond reproach, is clear about us avoiding evil and the definition of what He calls evil is clearly laid out.. He Himself decried some as hypocrites, snakes, vipers… in Matt 23

    While I love all who do not believe as I do, I do not follow their path nor do I wish to attack or harm them. Jesus died for them. They answer only to Him, not to me. Likewise, I should be able to expect the same tolerance from them. Today many have decided that since they disagree, that gives them the right to harass, attack and even kill. Only God has that right.

    Karen has a God-given right to expect her child to be safe from bullying, just as everyone has a right to their beliefs as long as they don’t intentionally hurt others. I am not talking about the nonsense today where the red group would be offended because the sky happens to be blue or the blue group is offended at someone’s red dress. Too much nonsense. If the red dress offends your eyes, don’t look at it. That person has a right to wear whatever dress they want.There was a time in the past when we all respected each other’s different holidays. We didn’t have to participate, but we have to RESPECT. Sometimes we even chose to celebrate differences and enjoy each others’ food and festivities. NO ONE HAS THE RIGHT TO CENSOR AND BASH OTHERS THAT DISAGREE EVEN IF THEIR CHOICES SEEM WRONG. Each one will answer to the Almighty Creator when it’s time.

    Will Lion Brand allow our respectful comments to appear here or will they censor and bully us into silence if they disagree??? Hmmm

    • Hi, RM – again, we do not censor any comments. We do prefer to keep the conversation to our crafting, and would ask that all our crafters who choose to comment do so, as well.

  • For those who are having trouble finding patterns, go directly to the Lion Brand website and search for the particular pattern there.

  • Sorry, but I fail to see how religion, hate, etc.etc. have ANYTHING to do with a project against bullying??? This should be a crafting website, and not a space to airs views that are not actually related to the subject!

  • I was wondering if there was a Lion Brand address that I count use to send the hats to. I don’t think I could make enough for local schools, but I would like to participate in this effort. Thanks!

  • I am making hats for every child and youth in my church. With the suicide of Jamel Myles, this becomes so much more important. I am not on Twitter but will post to Facebook but I think you need to create a Facebook page. Also a label for us to download and attach to each hat. /Users/pamelathiele1/Desktop/IMG_2917.JPG

    • Hi, Pamela – so lovely to hear you are including your church in this way. The Facebook group is a great suggestion, I’ll pass that along. We’re still working on making tags available, but a download is a good idea!

  • We already have Pink Shirt day to show solidarity against bullying. Seems someone is starting something new to profit from it. We need to get behind the program that has already existed for years!

    • Hi, Millie – we aren’t affiliated with Pink Shirt Day, though of course every group working to draw attention to this issue is a good one! I think the idea is that blue is a color everyone would feel comfortable wearing, and of course hats are much easier to knit or crochet.

  • can we buy the #hatnothate labels I’ve seen on instagram?

    • Hi, Lola – we’re still working to make the labels available, but we’ll keep you posted!

  • My daughter is a paraprofessional in grade four with 24 students. Starting today, September 1, I will be crocheting a hat a day for her class, her and the teacher she works with. This will give me a few extra to ship to your campaign as well as any extra for new students. I’m hoping you have the tags to attach before the month is out.

    • Hi, Pam – what a wonderful gift you’re creating for her classroom! Please be sure to share a photo with us of all of them in their beautiful gear. You can find the info to send to us on our most recent post: https://blog.lionbrand.com/hat-not-hate-donate-a-hat/ We’re working to make those tags available ASAP, we’ll keep you posted!

  • Is there any way to purchase a #hatnothate hat? I don’t know how to knit or crochet, but I’d love to buy a bunch for my sister’s fifth grade class with the hope that proceeds would go to support the cause. Any details/suggestions would be great.

    • Hi, Liz – this is great question! You could definitely purchase any blue knit hat, and you could probably find them in bulk online. I think in this case it’s the thought that counts most.

  • What a Fantastic Cause! Wish we didn’t need to create hats for such a cause though. My daughter has been bullied most of her High School years, but especially Junior Year. She is going to be a Senior this year and I am praying that the bullies stay away since we made sure that they are not in any of her classes. She is such a great kid but to live with this every day is exhausting for her (and me). I wanted to know if this campaign is something that you do every year as the timeframe is short and I know that my Prayer Shawl Group could make a bunch of these but need more time. Please let me know. We would love to be a part of this event!

    • Hi, Diane – thank you for writing! So sorry to hear about what your daughter has gone through at school – high school can be a rough time. We’re definitely excited about this new project with STOMP Out Bullying, so hopefully it’s something we’ll return to every year that it’s necessary. We’ll be sure to post again next year, and would love to have your group involved.

  • Just to confirm, we can use any shade of blue? I don’t get into town often so I will have to work with what I have to meet the deadline but I would like to participate. Also, do we have to use one of the specified patterns or would any child’s hat pattern work? Lastly, would it be alright to mail them in a large, padded mailer? I like to participate in events like this but unfortunately, shipping adds up and I find a padded mailer can decrease the price a fair amount. Thank you for reading my questions, I am very much looking forward to your answers.

    • Hi, Cici – of course! Any blue will do. And you can certainly use any pattern you have that you like to work. You’re welcome to mail them in whatever way is most convenient & affordable for you – let us know if you have any other questions!

  • Can we use our own pattern?

  • Can I donate a blue had that I made the other day, but it’s my own favorite pattern? Do I HAVE to use one of the patterns YOU provided?

    • Hi, Shannon – of course! Every pattern is welcome. 🙂

  • Trying to get a few more done, so I can send a dozen! Will they still be accepted if it’s a day or two after the 24th?

  • I’ve only found out about this campaign a few days ago, so I won’t be able to meet the September 24th deadline for mailing hats in. The article states though that ” If we receive more than the requested 1,500, we’ll be able to make additional donations (to) other lucky schools.” If more than the 1500 are received, will the campaign be extended to include these other schools, or will hats still have to be received no later than the 24th? What happens to hats that come in after the deadline?

  • I love to donate. I was late seeing the request, however I was able to make 5 blue hate which went into the mail on the 20th of September. Delivery to you is scheduled for Saturday September 22. Hope it get there on time.

  • What school received the 1500 hats on Monday, October 1, 2018? I have been scouring the internet. But, I have been unable to find the identity and location of the school. I mailed 39 blue hats to arrive by September 24, 2018. Each hat had a paper tag asking the recipient to text me a photo of the recipient wearing the hat. I have not received a single photo! Does this mean that the paper tags were removed? Or, were the recipients young elementary students who do not yet have smart phones and cannot text a photo? I am mystified.

  • I was looking at the Ridged hat and it says that it is crochet, but when I click on the pattern it is showing for knit.

  • Is there an update on the hats? I was wondering how many were received and which school received them.

  • Hi there – this is my daughter’s website about promoting kindness. I just wanted to show that she referenced you as one of a few organizations to consider as a donation resource. Please feel free to link or comment on her site in whatever way makes sense.

    • Leave A Comment

    You must be <a href="https://blog.lionbrand.com/wp-login.php?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.lionbrand.com%2Fend-bullying-hat-not-hate%2F">logged in</a> to post a comment.