FAQ
What is Pussyhat Project™?
The Pussyhat Project™ launched November 23, 2016 in anticipation and commemoration of the Women’s March on Washington. Pussyhat Project™ formed with two aims:
1. Provide the people of the Women’s March on Washington a means to make a unique collective visual statement (a sea of pink hats) which will help activists be better heard and
2. Provide people who cannot physically march on the National Mall a way to represent themselves and support women’s rights by creating and gifting Pussyhats™.
Underlying this project is the idea that in the process of making Pussyhats™, participants would be connecting with each other and laying the groundwork for future political activism. Pussyhat Project™ is about creating a platform for people to support women’s rights and each other.
Why is “pussy” in the name Pussyhat™?
We love the clever wordplay of “pussyhat” and “pussycat,” buy yes, “pussy” is also a derogatory term for female genitalia. We chose this loaded word for our project because we want to reclaim the term as a means of empowerment. In this day and age, if we have pussies we are assigned the gender of “woman.” Women, whether transgender or cisgender, are mistreated in this society. In order to get fair treatment, the answer is not to deny our femaleness and femininity, the answer is to demand fair treatment. A woman’s body is her own. We are honoring this truth and standing up for our rights.
What was Pussyhat™ Global Virtual March?
In honor of International Women’s Day / A Day Without a Woman (March 8, 2017), Pussyhat Project expanded its outreach globally. We firmly believe Women’s Rights are Human Rights. This includes all women everywhere!
Who created Pussyhat Project?
Pussyhat Project was created by marcher and non-marcher coming together. Krista Suh and Jayna Zweiman co-created and co-founded Pussyhat Project. Kat Coyle designed the Pussy Power Hat and Aurora Lady created the original illustrations.
What’s a Pussyhat™ and why wear one?
A Pussyhat™ is a handmade pink hat made in support and solidarity for women’s rights.
The pattern is simple: a rectangle folded and stitched on the sides. Once the rectangle is put on a person’s round head, the corners peek out like “cat ears.” The designer of the Pussy Power Hat is Kat Coyle. Participants of Pussyhat Project™ have taken the diagram of the hat and customized it and individualized it. Participants have contributed knit, crochet and sewing patterns.
Who can wear a Pussyhat™?
Anyone who supports women’s rights is welcome to wear a Pussyhat™.
Who wears Pussyhats™? Feminists wear Pussyhats™! And lots of different people are feminists.
Some people have questioned whether the very name “pussyhats” means our movement is saying only people with vaginas can be feminists. No way! Trans people and intersex people and people with any genital anatomy can be feminists and wear Pussyhats™. Feminists who wear Pussyhats™ fight transmisogyny and support ALL women.
Can men wear pussyhats?
Absolutely! Anyone who supports women's rights is welcome and encouraged to wear a Pussyhat™.
Why pink?
Pink is considered a very female color representing caring, compassion, and love- all qualities that have been derided as weak, but are actually strong. Wearing pink together is a powerful statement that we are unapologetically feminine and we unapologetically stand for women’s rights!
We chose the color pink for the Pussyhat™ because pink is associated with femininity. We did not choose the color pink as a representation of some people’s anatomy. Anyone who supports women’s rights is welcome to wear a Pussyhat™. It does not matter if you have a vulva or what color your vulva may be. If a participant wants to create a Pussyhat™ that reflects the color of her vulva, we support her choice
Where is the pattern on ravelry.com so I can link my hat to it on Ravelry?
The pattern: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/pussyhat-project
The group: http://www.ravelry.com/groups/pussyhat-project
See you on Ravelry!
Can I use a different pattern? Can I crochet the Pussyhat™ instead? Can sewers sew pink polar fleece cat ear Pussyhats? Can I loom it instead?
YES! Please just make sure that at the end of the day it is a PINK hat made with love. Any shade of pink. Any style of hat. It can have cat ears or pom-poms or whatever you like (though we are partial to the cat ears!) The only requirement is that it be a pink hat so that the marchers in Washington D.C. can make a unified statement.
Knitters, crocheters, seamstresses, loom knitters, et al are ALL welcome! Thank you for contributing your talents to supporting women's rights.
Is there a crochet pattern for us crocheters?
YES! Please check the site under PATTERNS, under CROCHET, for the new crochet pattern! We love our single-needle ladies, our co-founder Jayna is partial to crochet as well.
Is there a good place for a beginner knitter/crocheter to ask questions?
YES! There are so many people here to help you. If you need more instruction than what you see under PATTERNS, you can reach out to another knitter, post on social media, go to knit along at one of our LOCATIONS, or ask on our ravelry group page: http://www.ravelry.com/groups/pussyhat-project
How can I get a hat?
Check GET INVOLVED! on our website to see how you can help with the efforts of matching hat-maker with hat-wearer. Also look at LOCATIONS to see if there's a yarn store near you that is an official #pussyhat Pick Up Point for marchers (we are currently adding more locations every day). We also encourage you to continue spreading the word - perhaps ask a knitter in your life to knit you a #pussyhat, or visit your local yarn store to tell them about the project and ask if they know a knitter who'd be willing to make you a #pussyhat :) You could offer to buy the necessary supplies like yarn and needles for the knitter. You can also blast across social media a link to our website with a note: "This project is so cool will someone make me a #pussyhat please?" :D Part of the joy of the project is connecting to other women and men who support women's rights in a fresh surprising and warm way.
How can I give a pussyhat?
You can make and give a pussyhat to an old friend or a new friend, you can bring it with you to a march and give to a stranger (to be new friend!), to your local yarn store, or send it to us at:
Pussyhat Project
The Little Knittery
1808 N Vermont Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90027
What should I do with my #pussyhat after the march?
1. We hope you continue to wear your Pussyhat™ loudly and proudly everywhere and anywhere for years to come. Be prepared to don your Pussyhat™ for future marches.
2. If you do not want your Pussyhat™ after the march, please give it to a feminist who will wear it loudly and proudly.
3. The Michigan State University Museum is collecting stories, selfies, Pussyhats, and other items related to women’s participation in the Women’s March in Washington, DC, and in Lansing, Michigan. Please consider donating your stuff and the stuff of your memories to the MSU Museum to document this historic event. Before you send anything, please contact Shirley Wajda, Curator of History, 517.432.4582 or (better) wajdashi@msu.edu.
4. Give it to someone who needs it to keep warm.
