Pete Seeger in a Socklady Hat

January 18, 2009 by Lisa

Wow. Today I got a call from Marianne who got a call from someone else telling her that they saw Pete Seeger wearing a Solmate Socks hat while singing with Bruce Springsteen at the 2009 Inaugural Concert at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC. It’s kinda crazy, exciting and extremely flattering when we see our stuff on TV – stuff from our happy little company here in Vermont – being worn by famous people… at the 2009 inaugural concert!

So of course I went looking online for an image and I was lucky enough to find a great pic of Pete, Bruce and our hat on Flickr.

If you’re wondering, the hat he’s wearing is one of our older styles of hats – a wool hat. No longer available… but I did just put our cotton thinking caps back in stock and up on our website.

Thanks Pete for enjoying our fun & colorful hat – it suits you well.

UPDATED: I just found a video of Pete Seeger singing in his Socklady hat!

UPDATE #2 (Patterns): Again, wow. We are incredibly flattered that so many people noticed Pete’s hat and went searching for its origins. The shear number of comments on this blog posting shows that. Thank you so much to everyone who has commented about how much they enjoy the hat. However, there seems to be some confusion. A great number of comments are asking for us to post the pattern so they can knit the hat themselves. We don’t actually sell our patterns – we never have. We only sell our finished products. Mainly we sell socks, but we also take our sock seconds and manufacturing overages and cut them up and sew them into our hats. We’ve discontinued our wool socks (and subsequently the hats – which is what Pete was wearing). So we don’t have more wool socks or hats around to make available.

Our little company got its start based on Marianne’s (the Socklady) passion for knitting and her creative use of color and patterns. We don’t sell our patterns, but I hope that all the other very enthusiastic knitters out there grab their needles, a couple different skeins of yarn and get creative.

Posted in Uncategorized | 56 Comments

56 Responses

on January 19, 2009 at 1:21 am | Reply carlene

Woah, maybe you might want to think about making it available again!!
on January 19, 2009 at 2:01 am | Reply gkramer

Love the hat! It is so Seeger and so us and so U.S. Please bring it back or share the pattern??

Thanks. What a day!
on January 19, 2009 at 2:07 am | Reply DixieHellcat

I love that hat! Is there any way of getting a pattern? (begs nicely)
on January 19, 2009 at 2:17 am | Reply Beth

Love the hat!!!!!!!!!!! I would LOVE the pattern!
on January 19, 2009 at 4:02 am | Reply sue

Can you please consider making that wool hat pattern available again? I would love it even as a stand alone pattern .
on January 19, 2009 at 6:19 am | Reply Nan Dodge

Would gladly BUY a pattern. Please?
on January 19, 2009 at 9:41 am | Reply Susan

I adore Pete Seeger, and I Looove that hat! Speaking of folksy music, it puts me in mind of an old turn-of-the-century American tune that goes like this:

Say, where did you get that hat?
Where did you get that tile?
Isn’t it a knobby one!
In just the proper style.
I should like to have one
Just the same as that.
Where ‘ere i go they’d shout:”Hello,
Where did you get that hat?” …

BTW, The word “tile” was slang (at least in old New York) for “hat”.

Now I’ve got the song stuck in my head along with the image of dear Pete Seeger in that awesome hat. I should like to get one (just the same as that!)?

Susan
on January 19, 2009 at 10:58 am | Reply Colleen Gasiorowski

The hat is great. Lots of knitters would love the pattern. I’ve got yarn already to go.
on January 19, 2009 at 12:36 pm | Reply D. Sahouani

Please consider reissuing this pattern. My dad would LOVE this cap. I would really appreciate it.
on January 19, 2009 at 12:46 pm | Reply Beth

Yes. Please make the hat pattern available again. It’s wonderful!
on January 19, 2009 at 2:47 pm | Reply Rob Weber

That is a VERY cool hat. You have to bring it back because I have to have one! I don’t believe I am alone in my sentiment.

Thanks,
Rob
on January 19, 2009 at 2:49 pm | Reply Wendy

I thnk you should bring it back – I loved that hat!
on January 19, 2009 at 3:19 pm | Reply buttercup

You could probably sell a lot of patterns for that hat if you do it soon.
on January 19, 2009 at 3:21 pm | Reply Vikki

I would love to get the pattern to make that gorgeous beautiful hat.
on January 19, 2009 at 3:36 pm | Reply patricia towle

i want that hat!!!!!!!!!!!!!! how do i get it??? thanks and PEACE
on January 19, 2009 at 3:40 pm | Reply justanotherbrick

Ditto – I’d love to make this hat. Please, pretty please, bring back the pattern?
on January 19, 2009 at 4:21 pm | Reply Songbird

I agree with the other posters, would love the pattern!
on January 19, 2009 at 5:58 pm | Reply rams

God bless Google. Came looking specifically for the source of that fine hat. If you’re not willing to put it back into production (and presumably you had a reason for removing it?) selling the pattern would save some of us a lot of eye strain…
on January 19, 2009 at 6:24 pm | Reply Irma

PLEASE, PLEASE share the pattern with the hundreds of thousands of knitters out here who would LOVE to knit that hat!
on January 19, 2009 at 6:32 pm | Reply Joan Brausch

The minute I saw Pete, I told my husband “LOOK! He’s wearing a ‘Socklady” hat!” And so it is. I was sooo tickled for you! He looked great in it – I wish you still sold it – in cotton…. (hint, hint…)

Joan
on January 19, 2009 at 9:05 pm | Reply Norma Horan

Bring it back! Bring it back!! Bring it back!!!
on January 19, 2009 at 9:43 pm | Reply TallGrrl

I also agree…you really need to bring that hat pattern back!
I know I’D wear it!
: )
on January 19, 2009 at 9:52 pm | Reply Julie

That’s a great hat. If you’re taking a poll, I’m also hoping you revive the pattern for the “Pete Seeger inauguration concert hat.” See? You could change the name and start all over
on January 19, 2009 at 11:21 pm | Reply rho

Pattern please —- pretty pretty please ;D
on January 19, 2009 at 11:54 pm | Reply Amy

Joining in the chorus — my friends and I would love to see the hat pattern!
on January 20, 2009 at 5:11 am | Reply Susan

Please bring the pattern back!!!
on January 20, 2009 at 1:56 pm | Reply Kay

Please please please bring back this pattern!!!!!!!
on January 20, 2009 at 4:07 pm | Reply Jan

Putting in my “vote” for you making the hat pattern available for sale.

It had THREE threads going on ravelry.com (now swooshed together) in minutes.

Put it online as a PDF, and you don’t even have to worry about printing it.

PLEEEEEEEEZ!!!!!
on January 20, 2009 at 5:56 pm | Reply Marla

Add my plea to the chorus……
Please make the hat pattern available.
Thanks..
on January 20, 2009 at 6:00 pm | Reply Sonya from Boston

Please give us the pattern! My father is fighting cancer and will soon be losing his hair. I would LOVE to knit this hat for him to keep warm and ‘cool’ during this time in his life. He LOVED the hat and I would just be thrilled to be able to make it for him.
on January 20, 2009 at 6:22 pm | Reply Melissa

Another knitter begging for the hat pattern!
on January 20, 2009 at 6:54 pm | Reply Dyanne

Yes, please. I’d like the pattern too.
on January 20, 2009 at 9:59 pm | Reply Mokihana

Please bring back the pattern! I would love to make one! PDF would be great!
on January 20, 2009 at 10:13 pm | Reply PattyM

Add my name to the growing list please. I would love the pattern to knit myself in wool…or would buy a kit or finished hat. Would prefer the pattern though.
on January 21, 2009 at 1:47 am | Reply margie

Pretty pretty pretty please put the pattern on the site.

I would buy it in a heartbeat.

thanks
on January 21, 2009 at 5:07 pm | Reply Jeanne

Another knitter wanting the hat pattern, please!

And Thank You!
on January 21, 2009 at 7:01 pm | Reply Ellen Bloom

Bring back The Pete Seeger Hat!!! Please! This hat was made for you and me.

I’ll bet if you contacted Pete, he’d be more than happy to have his name associated with this warm bit of history.
on January 21, 2009 at 8:48 pm | Reply Allstonian

Hee! By sheer coincidence, I was wearing a pair of Socklady socks on Monday when I opened my newspaper and saw the photo of Pete Seeger with Bruce Springsteen, wearing what was OBVIOUSLY a Socklady hat! Congratulations on the unbeatable publicity!
on January 21, 2009 at 8:58 pm | Reply Beth

You must be thrilled that so many who love your handiwork – and especially that Pete Seeger loves it enough to wear it for such an awesome event – historical time for all of us!!

I went web-searching the day I saw Pete Seeger in your awesome hat – could find nothing. And today I find you! How wonderful!! Like the others I hope you will resurrect the hat or sell a similar pattern. Just love it.

The one you have for sale doesn’t seem as “floppy” at Pete’s – that is what makes the hat so perfect – esp. for Pete.
on January 21, 2009 at 9:01 pm | Reply Kathy

any chance? this australian knitter would love to make a socklady hat for her dad.
on January 21, 2009 at 9:02 pm | Reply Kathy

oh sad… ignore my last comment i finished reading the thread. oh well if we can just get pete to put his hat down so we can get a good look at it.
on January 22, 2009 at 3:03 pm | Reply Lev

Must. Make. Hat.

Please oh please. I would pay =actual money= to buy the pattern for that hat, and that’s sayin’ something.

I know you don’t sell your patterns, but historic times call for historic exceptions.
on January 22, 2009 at 6:58 pm | Reply Allison

Please bring back the hat!
on January 23, 2009 at 3:12 pm | Reply merseaknitter

Loved the hat – please please put the pattern up – if you don’t want money – happy to give to your favourite charity – just really want the pattern!!
on January 23, 2009 at 11:33 pm | Reply Susan

Please add my name to the long list of others who would love to have the pattern to Pete Seeger’s hat. I promise to donate some to charity!!!!
on January 25, 2009 at 6:39 pm | Reply Hashi

Oh please please … my husband would love one of those hats! Please share the pattern!
on January 25, 2009 at 10:23 pm | Reply Dena

Any chance you would consider selling a kit with the pattern and yarn? I’ve just started making socks and hats and would love to make an original Pete Seeger version.
on January 26, 2009 at 4:46 pm | Reply Christine

Oh, my gosh I love that hat! I’m so happy I found your website.

By the way, PBS aired an American Experience show featuring Pete Seeger, and he was wearing another hat — somewhat similar to this one, but with a “ball” on the top of it. I loved that hat, too, and wondered if it’s a Socklady hat?

I don’t knit, but I’d buy either of those hats in a heartbeat. And if you’ll only sell the pattern, I’ll pay somebody to knit it for me. I love it that much!!
on February 15, 2009 at 7:04 am | Reply Spencee

Pete’s is the coolest hat I’ve ever seen!
on February 17, 2009 at 9:54 pm | Reply debby chappell

I love the hat, and I need to make one for my sweetheart who is almost as cute as Pete Seeger. Lets get this pattern out into the knitter’s world!

This hat is our HAT!

THANKS,
Debby!
on March 3, 2009 at 8:05 pm | Reply Rebel Girl

Love thd hat – can’t knit though – but do add my voice to the folks who would love to see you bring it back!
on March 10, 2009 at 3:34 pm | Reply Katherine

Let me know when you bring the hat back.
on April 21, 2009 at 11:35 pm | Reply Pete Seeger Hat | Leela Knits

[...] Pete Seeger Inauguration hat. I’ll be doing my own version If you want one, please visit the Socklady. I’m making this one for my wonderful mom Nilda. She’s Puerto Rican and therefore will [...]
on April 27, 2009 at 9:36 pm | Reply AlisonH in California

Cool! Although–I came via googling, specifically hoping to find the wool version of your socks. I hope someone out there still has some in stock.
on July 30, 2009 at 9:11 pm | Reply Znkp

After someone like Pete Seeger has worn your hat, you should maybe make a million of them and distribute for free!
on August 14, 2009 at 4:35 pm | Reply sandy

please bring the hat pattern back.