Got Red Wool?
From Bootie and Bossy Eat, Drink, Knit by Bootie and Bossy
February 13, 2026 · 10 min · Season 1
About this episode
The episode discusses a knitting movement inspired by historical protests against oppression, focusing on the 'Melt The Ice Hat' pattern created to raise funds for immigration aid.
There's a quiet but powerful movement afoot in the knitting community. It started at Needle & Skein, a full-service yarn store in Saint Louis Park, Minnesota. Wanting to do something to protest the presence of ICE in his state, Paul Neary decided to look back in time for inspiration, and he found it in 1940s Norway. As Neary explains in his "Melt The Ice Hat" pattern, "In the 1940s, Norwegians made and wore red pointed hats with a tassel as a form of visual protest against the Nazi occupation of their country. Within two years, the Nazis made these protest hats illegal and punishable by law to wear, make or distribute. As purveyors of traditional craft, we felt it appropriate to revisit this design." Paul Neary, "Melt the Ice Hat," available on Ravelry and through Needle & Skein ( needleandskein.com ) " We felt it appropriate to revisit this design. " We love the understatement. All proceeds from the sale of the pattern ($5) go to Minnesota Immigration Aid organizations. Over $650,000 has been raised, and the pattern has been sold in 43 countries. The movement might have started in a quiet corner of a Minnesota yarn store, but it's big now, and it's growing. This is what…
People in this episode
Hosts: Bootie, Bossy
Topics covered
- knitting
- protest
- immigration
- craft
- history
Keywords
- knitting
- protest hats
- immigration
- Melt The Ice Hat
- Paul Neary
- Needle & Skein
- Minnesota
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Needle & Skein, Minnesota Immigration Aid
Books & works: Melt The Ice Hat
Places: Minnesota, Saint Louis Park, Ancient Greece, Rome
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