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.

From LionBrand.com

Read about the initiative here: Hat Not Hate

As a mom of two children with special needs, bullying is a constant worry of mine.

Honestly, sometimes the thought of my kids hitting their tween/teen years keeps me up at night…I know how cruel kids can be.

However, unlike when I was a kid, bullying is taken very seriously in schools now…but jeez, facebook/instagram/snapchat…they scare me where kids are concerned.

When I heard about the Hat Not Hate campaign I decided to cast on.

I followed a pattern from Two of Wands, the Peace Hat KAL.

Although this hat is for my six year old, I cast on the 80 stitches.

It is indeed a very stretchy hat and it fits him perfectly!

I chose not to the peace sign, instead using duplicate stitch to make a capital E.

(my technique became noticeably better by the bottom of the E…the key, don’t pull too tight)

Via the KAL, there was a link to a great tutorial by Purl Soho.

Tutorial here: Duplicate Stitch

I used Lion Brand Jeans yarn for both the hat and E and I found it easy to work with and super soft!

Now, if past years are any indication, Eamon will not wear this hat if I give it to him.

He will only wear hats that Grampaw buys him…so I’ll sneak it to my dad and ask him to give it to Eamon…six years later and I’m learning!

Have a great day!