In an act of defiance, Minneapolis yarn store Needle & Skein owner Gilah Mashaal and employee Paul have turned their weekly knit-alongs into a "protest stitch-along" to show resistance against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The group created a pattern for a red knit hat with a ribbed brim, pointy top, and tassel, inspired by the Norwegian woolen caps worn during World War II.
The idea was conceived as the federal immigration paramilitaries occupied the Twin Cities for weeks, forcing Mashaal to reevaluate her store's policy of "no politics." The red hat pattern quickly gained popularity among knitters, selling nearly 70,000 copies in just two weeks and being adapted for crochet and other yarn weights. Local shops are now offering special deals on red yarn and hosting their own knit-alongs.
The trend has spread beyond knitting circles to online communities where users have shared their own anti-ICE messages through various mediums such as nail art, quilts, and hand embroidery. The hashtag #MeltTheIce has become a rallying cry for those seeking change in the face of government oppression.
Historian Mats Tangestuen attributes the origins of red hat resistance to Norway's World War II history where wearing red was seen as a sign of defiance against Nazi occupation. Today, this tradition is being adopted by those seeking to show solidarity with immigrant communities facing detention and deportation under the Trump administration.
The protest movement has also inspired new generations of crafters who are using their skills to express outrage and frustration in creative ways, such as knitting or quilting. While some may view these acts as trivial, the significance lies in the collective power of grassroots movements that can bring about meaningful change through subtle yet potent means.
The idea was conceived as the federal immigration paramilitaries occupied the Twin Cities for weeks, forcing Mashaal to reevaluate her store's policy of "no politics." The red hat pattern quickly gained popularity among knitters, selling nearly 70,000 copies in just two weeks and being adapted for crochet and other yarn weights. Local shops are now offering special deals on red yarn and hosting their own knit-alongs.
The trend has spread beyond knitting circles to online communities where users have shared their own anti-ICE messages through various mediums such as nail art, quilts, and hand embroidery. The hashtag #MeltTheIce has become a rallying cry for those seeking change in the face of government oppression.
Historian Mats Tangestuen attributes the origins of red hat resistance to Norway's World War II history where wearing red was seen as a sign of defiance against Nazi occupation. Today, this tradition is being adopted by those seeking to show solidarity with immigrant communities facing detention and deportation under the Trump administration.
The protest movement has also inspired new generations of crafters who are using their skills to express outrage and frustration in creative ways, such as knitting or quilting. While some may view these acts as trivial, the significance lies in the collective power of grassroots movements that can bring about meaningful change through subtle yet potent means.
! The way Gilah and Paul are using their yarn shop to show support for immigrant communities is so cool 
. It's not just about knitting a hat, it's about making a statement and showing solidarity. And I love how the design is inspired by Norwegian history - it's like they're tying in with something bigger 
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. And let's be real, who doesn't love making things? It's like the ultimate form of protest - you get to create something beautiful while also expressing your message 
.
. It's not just about opposing ICE, but about supporting communities that are being oppressed. This movement is all about finding creative ways to fight for what you believe in 
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. I mean, who needs just a t-shirt with a logo when you can literally knit a hat to make a statement? 
It's amazing how something as simple as knitting can be used to spark such change. I'm so inspired by Gilah and Paul's initiative, it's like they're creating their own school spirit event but instead of fighting for a better cafeteria food 
, they're fighting for immigrant rights.
. I'm all for it!
I'm loving this whole "protest stitch-along" thing! It's amazing how something as simple as knitting can be a powerful statement against injustice 
. I mean, who needs loud protests when you can just knit something beautiful and share it online? 
It's like Mats Tangestuen said - grassroots movements can bring about real change through subtle means 
. And let's not forget the joy of crafting something with community! 
. It's all about finding creative ways to express your frustrations and bring attention to issues that matter, you know? And let's be real, 70,000 red yarn hat sales in two weeks? That's straight fire 
.
! I mean, who knew making a red hat could be such a powerful statement? It's amazing how something as simple as yarn and needles can be used to spark a movement 
. It's all about finding your voice and using your passions to make a difference 
.
anyway i was thinking it's kinda cool how a simple yarn project turned into this whole movement its not just about the hats tho, imo what's important is that people are using their creativity to raise awareness and show support for those affected by ICE. I've seen some amazing stuff on social media with ppl using knitting as a way to cope and express themselves, it's like this whole community is coming together to send a message. And yeah, i can see how the Norwegian WWII thing fits into all this too, its like we're drawing from history to make a point about what's going on today.
and the fact that it's inspired other crafters to express themselves in creative ways is amazing 
#MeltTheIce is literally spreading like wildfire 
. Can't we just be chill about it and focus on being kind to everyone? I mean, I'm all for showing support for immigrant communities, but do we really need a fancy hat to do it? 
The fact that 70k copies sold in two weeks is pretty cool, though! It's like people are coming together to show their solidarity. And I love the idea of using knitting and other crafts as a way to express yourself - it's just so... creative 
.
I'm literally loving this! The idea of a "protest stitch-along" is genius 
. It's amazing how this movement has spread beyond just knitting and quilting to nail art, hand embroidery... even online communities are getting in on it 
! The #MeltTheIce hashtag is a great reminder that even small actions can add up to make a big impact 
!
It's like, their store is a space where people come together, you know? And now it's all about protesting ice, which is kinda cool, I guess... 
I'm kinda torn about this whole thing...
... I mean, don't get me wrong, it's awesome that people are using their crafting skills to express themselves and support a good cause, but can't we just simplify things? Like, do we really need 70,000 different variations of the pattern? 
The #MeltTheIce hashtag has been trending for days and I've seen so many amazing crafts popping up online - nail art, quilts, embroidery... the creativity is INSANE 
. The fact that this grassroots movement is gaining traction among new generations of crafters is SO heartening 
i feel like this is exactly what we need right now, more ways to express ourselves and show solidarity with those who are fighting for their rights. and you know what's even cooler? The fact that this tradition comes from Norway's history of resistance during WWII 
it just goes to show how important it is to learn from the past and carry on the fight for equality 
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. Will we start seeing more red hats popping up in cities all over the country? 
! I love how a small act of defiance from a yarn store has turned into this huge movement 
. The idea of adapting knitting patterns for crochet and other mediums is genius