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Homeless Man Knits Hats for Others

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Homeless man loom knits hats for others in need.I know we all love a heartwarming story about knitting, right? This one comes to us via the Medford Mail Tribune (that’s in Oregon) and profiles Trinidad Flores, a homeless man who spends his time loom knitting hats to give to other homeless people and for babies.

He’s knit more than 1,000 hats, and he gives them away to people he meets on the street, as well as to a local WIC office and a hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

He says he’s been homeless for about three years, and he started knitting to help combat his depression. Local business owners support him and give him donations, and many know him only as “the hat man.”

“When you give a person something productive to do, it changes the mindset. When you change the mindset, other things start to change, too,” he told the paper, saying that he might like to start his own nonprofit to teach homeless people to knit for charity.

What a lovely story, proof of the power of knitting and the fact that anyone can help other people with the work of their hands.

[Photo by Jamie Lusch of the Mail Tribune.]

Comments

  2. This really warms my heart. I have done the same thing in my area, Modesto, Ca.(Really Ceres, but no one knows where that is.). I have a lot of yarn , I would love to give to THE HAT MAN,as soon as I get the extra money to send to him. Of course I would have to have an address. We are planning a move to Arkansas. It would be wonderful if I didn’t have to move it. Please let me know, Thank You.Mary

Have you read?

Double Knitting Hot Pad Patterns

Double knitting is a lot of fun to do, but if you’re new to the process it can be intimidating to start with a big project. That’s why I have a little set of double knit coasters on my website that takes you through the basics, but these double knit hot pads are also a great option when you’re learning double knitting or just looking for a small project. 

My love of quilt themed projects is well documented, so you can imagine how I feel about the Folksy Hot Pads from Shelli Can (Ravelry). These quilt block inspired hot pads use DK weight yarn and there are two pattern options and three size options for you to choose from. 

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Cat’s all Folks by Susan U is a free pattern on Ravelry with a checkerboard cat design. This one is so cute and looks like a lot of fun to knit in sport weight yarn. 

As knitters we love our sheep, and there’s also a sheep themed double knit potholder from AMHIYU. This design calls for worsted weight yarn and looks great in black and white, but you can use any colors you like. 

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Ready to take on a bigger project? Check out more double knitting patterns.