“PUSSY HAT,” 2017
Within days of the 2016 presidential election, a woman’s march was planned in Washington DC, with additional locations nation- and worldwide. Almost immediately, the notion of wearing home-knit pink hats spread rapidly. Photos of the march’s hundreds of locations on all seven continents show participants’ hats forming a “sea of pink.”
Worn in Washington, DC. Acrylic. Made by Stephanie Szurek. Lent by Sarah Kirspel
2: The “sea of pink” the Pussyhat Project envisioned was visible on the National Mall. Photo by Brian Allen, Voice of America.
“VOTE” MITTENS, 2020
Craftivists are not just knitting on the sidelines; many volunteer for related causes. In addition to knitting these mittens and a banner to carry at marches, Jennifer O’Brien volunteers to register voters and organizes events for citizens to meet candidates and become informed on legislative issues.
Wool. Lent by Jennifer O’Brien
3: Banner designed by Jennifer O’Brien and knit by O’Brien and Dawn Carlson, Sarah Fisher, and Holly Robbins, carried at numerous marches and rallies. Photographed at the Water Protectors Rally at the Minnesota State Capitol in August, 2021. Courtesy of Jennifer O’Brien.