Caps Off to Generous Knitters and Crocheters

For the past 15 years, Shaker Library’s Caps for Kids project has invited community members to knit or crochet caps for children for Project Act, which benefits homeless children in the Cleveland Municipal School District. Through the years the response has been so great that the Library expanded its creative donations to other organizations that serve those in need.

The project grew from the Library’s Knit Mornings led by Elfriede Heaney and Knit Nights led by Fern Braverman, both Shaker residents and talented women in the needle arts who worked at the Library. Their knitting groups’ enthusiasm attracted others who wanted to know how they could help. (Read more about Fern and Elfriede in a 2008 article published in Shaker Life magazine.)

The Library placed signs and bookmarks with a simple pattern for people to take and make. As the deadline for donations approached the Library displayed the caps at the Circulation desks for all to enjoy. Some donations were simple, colorful, cozy hats; others were works of art. All the donations proved that the Shaker Library’s community of readers—and knitters and crocheters—is not only talented but also generous.

When 2020 Knit Nights went virtual, participants still wanted to knit for others and filled three bags with cozy creations that were delivered to Project Act.

During the winter months, readers might want to try these easy patterns for making a basic child’s hat for a toddler (small child, larger child). Shaker Library has many books on knitting and crocheting filled with how-to instructions and patterns for hats, sweaters and more—and librarians are happy to help you find what you need.