Every child needs a warm hat in winter, but not everybody has one. Unless, of course, they attend the Mettawee Community School, where thanks to former student and prolific crocheter, Hanna Carson, every single one of the children at the school now possesses a snuggly warm winter cap.
“The original inspiration came from my older sister,” says Carson. “She asked what I planned to do with all the excess yarn in the house. Then I thought about my old school, where I had such great memories, and the winter months ahead. Then it occurred to me, why not a hat for every kid at Mettawee?”
Why not, indeed!
Carson grew up in Pawlet and attended Mettawee through sixth grade. She recalls fondly events, such as the annual all-school plays and the Thanksgiving Feast with senior citizens. But Mettawee memories always begin and end with her teachers.
“I was a shy kid, and they always encouraged me to get involved,” said Carson. “They were supportive, always there for me when I needed them.”
Carson’s vocation actually began at Mettawee. She learned to knit in the fifth grade. It was in high school at Granville Jr/HS when Carson began crocheting in earnest.
“Both my grandma and dad used to crochet,” she says. “I felt like I should continue the family tradition.”
Carson graduated from Granville last June and now attends Castleton University, majoring in business. Crocheting calms the stress of college for this freshman. In October, she started making hats to warm Mettawee heads. She used up to 50 pounds of yarn and 130 hours on her time to create the 120 caps for students and staff. Some are single color, while others mix up to four hues to create colorful patterns.
“What a wonderful surprise gift for our students,” says MCS Principal Brooke DeBonis. “It just takes one look to see that these beautiful hats were made with lots of love.”
Carson visited the school to distribute her creations just before the Thanksgiving break. She started in the pre-k classroom and ended her gift giving with the sixth graders.
“What struck me most were all the happy surprise smiles,” she says. “Many of the kids, especially the younger ones, started to jump with joy. It’s something I’ll never forget.”
(Photo above: The Mettawee Pre-Kindergarten class looks forward to warm, outdoor play this winter with the help of Hanna Carson’s new colorful home-made caps.)
Mettawee alum, Hanna Carson (hatless), returns to the second grade to hand out hats to the students and her former teacher, Ross Harmon.
Selfie photo! Mettawee Principal Brooke DeBonis (right) and school nurse Mandy Mayer (left) welcome Hanna Carson (center) back to school with her home-made hats for every student.