The New Crafting Kit That Helps Stop Bullying

Blue hats are key assets of the #HatNotHate campaign.

Lion Brand Yarn Company and Faber-Castell USA teamed to release a special, anti-bullying edition of the Quick Knit Loom. The collaboration supports the #HatNotHate campaign and Lion Brand’s premier advocacy initiative.

Targeting ages 7 and up, crafters will receive everything they need to create two EZ-knit blue hats. Each kit contains four balls of blue yarn, one round loom, one tassel/pom-pom maker, one loom hook, one plastic needle, two needle threaders and two branded #HatNotHate faux leather tags. Easy-to-follow instructions come in the box, or kids can watch a video online.

Founded in 2018, #HatNotHate was inspired by Shira Blumental’s own experience with a female classmate getting bullied. To help raise awareness and denormalize childhood bullying, Blumenthal began collecting homemade, blue-stitched hats and distributing them to U.S. schools in an effort to show solidarity during National Bullying Prevention Month in October.

“Bullying can often stifle the self-expression of our youth,” says Jamie Gallagher, CEO of Faber-Castell USA. “With this kit, we’re proud to help Shira and #HatNotHate prevent that from happening.”

This year, #HatNotHate joined hands with The It Gets Better Project, a like-minded LGBTQ youth charity. It also extended its goal of collecting 100,000 hats into 2021 due to restrictions caused by Covid-19. In turn, distribution of hats and in-school assemblies will resume next October.

The #HatNotHate Quick Knit Loom kit is available for purchase at specialty toy retailers and major crafting retailers, as well as through Amazon.com,  CreativityforKids.com, LionBrand.com and HatNotHate.org.