Hanna knitted a warm surprise for her 21 students—thank-you messages poured in

What a lovely gesture, Hanna! Where did you get the idea to knit socks for the entire class?

I wanted to leave the students with a more lasting memory of me, so I decided to knit them wool socks. I’ve taught this wonderful group for four years now, so I know them pretty well. I tried to pick socks that would fit each student’s personality. As I knitted each pair, I thought about the student who would receive them.

Was the gift a surprise for the students?

The students had no idea beforehand. During class, the classroom aide discreetly checked their foot sizes at the coat rack.

Hanna teaches textile crafts to third through sixth graders. She also runs a crafts club at the school and organizes a knitting café.

Hanna started knitting the socks after Christmas, finishing them by mid-May. She wanted to work at a calm, stress-free pace, believing that rushing would have taken away the joy of making them.

Tell us about when you handed out the socks. How were they received?

I packed the finished socks in paper bags and added a short message on a card. The students thanked me politely, and I sent them on their way feeling bittersweet but hopeful. Families also expressed their gratitude. One mom wrote: “Thank you on behalf of my son for the absolutely wonderful wool socks; they mean a lot to him, and they immediately received the honor of being his nighttime socks (and not just any socks will do for him).”

Do you knit a lot of gifts?

I also knitted socks four years ago for the class I had back then, and there were 21 of them as well. I’ve made countless pairs of socks for charity. I knit gifts for my family, other relatives, and friends whenever needed. Most recently, I knitted a yoke sweater for my sister’s husband as a birthday present. The idea came just a couple of weeks before the party, so it was a bit rushed.

Along with the socks, Hanna gave the students cards featuring these words from Martin Luther King: “If you can't be a pine at the top of the hill, be a shrub in the valley. But be the best little shrub on the side of the hill. Be a bush if you can't be a tree. If you can't be a highway, just be a trail. If you can't be a sun, be a star. For it isn't by size that you win or fail. Be the best of whatever you are.”

There are 21 students and therefore 21 pairs of socks. While knitting each pair, Hanna thought about the specific student who would receive them.

What kinds of crafts will you make next?

I have several projects in progress and many more in the planning stage. I’m knitting summery ankle socks, crocheting a baby blanket, and finishing some weaving projects. I also have a patchwork quilt, a bag waiting to be sewn, a dress that needs altering, and a few fabrics set aside for sewing. I’ve also got yarn ready for my mom’s yoke sweater and a couple of mohair-silk sweaters. I doubt there are many days in a year when I’m not crafting!