In Minnesota, we are being used as an example, a testing ground. The Trump regime is using brute force and gestapo tactics to get us to bend the knee to Trump’s “new America.” The Constitution is a mere memory. But guess what? They picked the wrong state. We are fighting back, in the tens of thousands, in brutal below zero temps. To those who say, it’s about illegals and criminals. That is a lie. If that was the case, they would be in Texas and Florida, not here. They are here because we are a blue state and Governor Walz has stood up to Trump.
How does knitting fit in? During WWII, Norway was occupied by German troops. In way of resistance, they wore red, pointy hats with tassels. Like Santa or elf hats. Eventually, the Nazis banned the wearing, making, or selling of these symbols of resistance. Well, they’re BA-A-A-A-C-K! Needle and Skein in St. Louis Park, MN put together a pattern called Melt the Ice. All proceeds go back into the community. Here is an archival photo of the original hats.
Here is the Melt the Ice prototype:
These are my two Melt the Ice Hats. They tend to run short, so I recommend knitting 8″ of ribbing if you making the original hat, or add some stockinette before the decreases. I don’t like to knit 1×1 ribbing, so I made my second one with seed rib (1×1 rib on row one, plain knitting on row two) and made it not to fold up. I wear the “fold-up” one unfolded and slouchy. The tassels and cord are my own modification, the original uses a braid. I describe what I did on my Ravelry project page, but if you have followed me at all, you know twisted cord and tassels are my signature embellishment!!
Red yarn is selling out like crazy here! The one on the right I made with Malabrigo Rios, Ravelry Red. The one on the left is Malabrigo Worsted, Cereza. I love them both and love the message. A MAGA turd ex-friend commented on FB that we were fools because these hats would get mistaken as symbols of MAGA. Nope. No one will ever mistake me for MAGA. And let’s take the color red back! Please make one of these hats. We need to take a stand against tyranny.
PS: If you are offended by this post, let the door hit you on your way out…really hard.
PS2 to Michelle: Thanks for commenting on the blog! You asked about resources to help Minnesota. Nicole Aufderhar (aka tenthousandbakes on Instagram) shared this link in a newsletter today:
Stand With Minnesota Donation Directory
https://www.standwithminnesota.com/
I became aware of Nicole because she was a finalist in the Great American Baking Show. Her showstopper featured the Minnesota State Fair!! She started getting recognition for entering her baked goods and winning ribbons. I was gobsmacked to see our fair discussed by Paul and Prue!
PS3 to Celeste: I emailed you about your question. Basically all my notes are on my Ravelry project page.
I’ve got mine on the needles thanks to your earlier post!! I’m only a few rows in and may swap to your slouchy plan as I am. Or enjoying the 1×1 rib at all.
No words for the latest atrocity but so much support and rage.
Comment by Bethh — January 24, 2026 @ 3:32 pm
Also I saw a green version of the pink hat, and they’d sewed big eyes into the corners to make it a frog hat – it was super cute!
Comment by Bethh — January 24, 2026 @ 3:33 pm
You are my HEROS! Resistance in NOT futile.
Comment by Marie — January 24, 2026 @ 3:55 pm
From France : may the force be with you, and I love that you resist with knitting red hats. It makes me want to make one (or more) just to say that we stand against brutality, racism and stupidity.
Comment by viviane — January 24, 2026 @ 5:04 pm
Good for you, Susan! We will resist.
Comment by Elaine in NYC — January 24, 2026 @ 10:59 pm
Thank you, Susan! I have about 4” of ribbing, and I’ve been debating going for 8” instead of 6”, so I appreciate your comments. My heart is with you all in Minnesota — resist in good health!
Comment by Camilla Trondsen — January 25, 2026 @ 1:04 am
Purchased. Will be casting on this afternoon.
Comment by mary — January 25, 2026 @ 9:16 am
ICE are murderers and TRUMP’S GESTAPO. Minnesotans are the heroes, real Americans stand with you. Thank you for speaking up.
Comment by Barbara — January 25, 2026 @ 10:21 am
Love this and just learned of this history yesterday. I am going to attempt to make one. I crochet and haven’t knitted since I was little. Decent Americans are with Minnesota and they far outnumber the MAGA fools.
Our hearts and thoughts are with you.
Comment by Shellie — January 25, 2026 @ 12:51 pm
Thinking of Minnesota from Washington (the state), with love and support.
Comment by Pam Henager — January 25, 2026 @ 1:20 pm
I totally love the one on the left.
Comment by Chloe — January 26, 2026 @ 8:26 am
I bought the pattern the first day it came out, and ordered red yarn from Wool and Co. (I don’t have a LYS and refuse to go to Hobby Lobby). I received the yarn in the mail on Saturday and will start knitting my hat today. Can you recommend an organization I could donate to in Minnesota? God bless you and all the patriotic Minnesotans.
Comment by Melissa — January 26, 2026 @ 9:49 am
Thank you Susan — red white and blue Cascade 220 from BeWoolen is being delivered today to make your Olympics hat. But first the Melt Ice hat using your rib modification (hooray) and probably less brim. Hang in there good woman — I’m off tonight to a prayer service at my parish St. Frances Cabrini. Keeping all of us in my prayers and also donating groceries and money to Church of the Ascension and Our Lady of Guadalupe — they’re on the front lines.
They picked the wrong state to “make an example of.” I will invoke the response of the MN DFL — F off.
Cheers, Emmy in Minnetrista
Comment by Emmy Nelson — January 26, 2026 @ 1:39 pm
This is such a wonderful idea!! Is there anyone who knows how to knit or crochet who would be willing to make one for me? Happy to pay for yarn, labor and shipping. Thanks so much!!!
Claudia
Comment by Claudia — January 27, 2026 @ 12:23 am
thanks for this post.
Hang in there.
Minneapolis’ community is inspiring.
Great hats!
Comment by Lisa in Toronto — January 27, 2026 @ 5:49 pm
Yay! Behind you all the way. Just made a donation at the link you included. Thank you. Onward.
Comment by Kris from Boulder, CO — January 29, 2026 @ 12:46 pm
I stand with MN & will be knitting up this hat & donating to the charities at the link. Stay strong – we will prevail!
Comment by Samina — February 1, 2026 @ 11:54 am
Sending warm supportive thoughts from California. I am on my third hat so far.
Comment by Ann — February 2, 2026 @ 7:45 pm
I’m a Minnesota girl currently living in another state. Proud of the way Minnesota is confronting these events.
I appreciated your variations and continued with some of my own. I did an i-cord with a knot in it and put a paperclip at the end.
Comment by Carol — February 2, 2026 @ 10:17 pm
My hat is on the needles but alas I had to rip back because, apparently I can’t follow directions. After my sister in law in Saint Paul reported she couldn’t find red yarn for love or money I mailed off 4 skeins of Cascade 220.
Comment by maureentakoma — February 3, 2026 @ 9:15 am
Would you kindly publish your method for how you decreased to make the crown lie flat? I find these directions very confusing (and I have been knitting for 55 years). At first I did K2 together, knit 4, K2reverse together on four different needles that produced a very short crown. I ripped it out and did decreases on just 2 needles and it looked better but still not like your very tidy triangle top. How???? Please???
Comment by Celeste Y. — February 8, 2026 @ 6:23 pm