Here in the area of Vermont known as the Upper Valley, we are blessed with a fleet of amazing non-profits that serve our community in a wide variety of ways.

One of the best known is a homeless shelter/food shelf (and so much more) known as the Upper Valley Haven.

I was teaching a sewing class there a few years ago when I got into a conversation with an administrator about clothing needs in the winter time. And she remarked that the Haven was always in need of warm hats, scarves and mittens because kids without them cannot go out at recess. It is just that cold.

Now I’ve crocheted (and knit some) for years and I’d been dubbing around with adapting a pattern that was simple (so I could work on it while watching TV) and versatile enough to use up smaller amounts of yarn, of which I always seem to have an abundance.

After a bit of trial and error, I created the Haven Hat.

Simple, great for beginning crocheters and that bit of froth on the top—that’s not a pompom, it’s a top knot created by loops of chain stitches.

(I actually don’t like pompoms because they fall apart.)

Every year at this time, I put my Haven Hat pattern on my website to encourage all of you who crochet to use your skills to keep others warm. Here’s the pattern: Haven Hat pattern.

And if you don’t crochet, how about donating some warm hats or mittens to folks in need.

After all, we should be able to play in the snow, right?