Lion Brand Yarn Company is excited to announce the anti-bullying campaign #HatNotHate. We are 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! We’re working to increase awareness about the negative impact of bullying by crafting blue hats to wear on World Day of Bullying Prevention, October 1, 2018. You can join us by crafting your own hat, or make one to donate at our Studio in New York City. Lion Brand will be collecting 1500 hats to donate to a local school, so we’ll need to receive all donations of blue hats by September 20th.

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.

Why Blue Hats?

Blue is the color of anti-bullying awareness, and also solidarity. 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.

How Knitters & Crocheters Can Help

Make Your Own Hat

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.
3. Let people know you’re participating, and why. Encourage them to join!
4. You can donate blue hats to your local school, or participate in our in-Studio drive (details below).
5. Wear your hat during October, which is Anti-Bullying Month, and ask friends to do so, too!

Here’s a list of 23 free 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.

Make a Hat to Donate

Lion Brand has also partnered with a local school to outfit their entire student body in blue hats by October 1st. Our goal is to collect 1500 hats, so every student can participate. We’d love for you to help us reach this goal! We’re accepting donations at our Manhattan Studio, if you’d like to make a hat or two and drop them off. Hats will need to be donated by September 20th, so they can be collected and sent to the school in time.

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.