https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jan/29/ice-knitting-protest-immigration
Rage knitting’ against the machine: the hobbyists putting anti-ICE messages into craftsGilah Mashaal
Mashaal and her team quickly put together a pattern for a red knit cap with a ribbed brim, pointy top and jaunty tassel. They published the “Melt the ICE hat” pattern on Ravelry, the social network for knitters and crocheters, and made it available for download for $5, with proceeds going to the St Louis Park Emergency Program (Step), a group that is helping people affected by ICE raids to pay their rent and bills.
“We thought we’d have a group of 10 people come and knit, and it turned out to be over 100,” Mashaal said. “Then it started spreading and it’s just been crazy.” Nearly 70,000 copies of the pattern had been sold by Wednesday, less than two weeks after it was first published online. It has been adapted for crochet and other weights of yarn, and has become ubiquitous on knitting social media. Local yarn shops across the country are offering specials on red yarn and hosting knit-alongs of their own.
Mashaal is now planning to disburse the funds raised, which exceed $250,000, to other immigrant aid groups in addition to Step.
“Red is the color of resistance,” Mashaal said. “Here’s our chance to take the red back. Red doesn’t belong to Maga.”
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