Saskatoon, Canada (PressExposure) September 27, 2010 -- The Easy Hat Patterns website is offering an easy fleece hat pattern to keep people warm this winter. This free hat pattern is simple and fast to make, even for the most novice sewers. It uses a scrap of fleece, one pattern piece and only two seams. One yard of fabric will yield 4 hats using this free fleece hat pattern.
As the air turns crisper and many of us think of the holiday celebrations that the winter season brings, there are also many who dread facing a cold winter with insufficient resources to provide food or warm clothing.
In this time of economic struggle, unemployment and jobless rates are increasing. According to September statistics, almost 10% of Americans and over 8% of Canadians are unemployed and unable to find work. While the national level in lower across Canada, in some areas, unemployment rates have soared to match American rates. Thousands upon thousands of people are struggling to provide for even basic needs.
Over 1.5 million American children are homeless and 15 million live in poverty. It's not much better across the border. While the Canadian government does not maintain statistics on the homeless, it is estimated that as over 65,000 children are homeless in Canada. 1.4 million Canadian children live in poverty and 81% of single mothers with children under 7 live in poverty, unable to afford enough food or warm winter clothing.
The staggering need surpasses not only borders, but oceans. 13.5 million people in the UK live in poverty, a figure that represents over 20% of the population. Over 4 million of those are children living in poverty.
While a free hat pattern may seem like so little in the face of such staggering global need, a handmade warm hat is a small comfort that speaks of caring to a person who struggles every day just to survive. For a child that might otherwise wear a tattered and worn hat from a hand-me-down depot, a new hat says someone cares. The gift of caring is the most important gift of all.
Many entrepreneurial Moms are making fleece hats and selling them at craft fairs and online to supplement their meager income, while angels in human form generously stitch hats for the homeless and the needy, knowing that the act of giving transcends the size of the gift. Everywhere that there is poverty, there are associations that are happy to accept gifts for the needy. Perhaps you could sew and donate one hat?
Whether you are in financial distress as a result of the economy, or whether you would like to help someone who is, Easy Hat Patterns will provide a free hat pattern to help you help keep someone warm this winter.
This easy fleece hat pattern includes all sizes from newborn to adult. You may download it, free, at http://EasyHatPatterns.com.