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Teacher knits hats for students based on their designs
To surprise her class, Jody Abraham spent six weeks knitting 18 hats.
ALBANY, Minn. — Jody Abraham still has the hat her grandma crocheted for her as a child.
She remembers “how special it felt” to wear the pink stocking cap with the matching scarf.
Now, the Albany Elementary School kindergarten teacher has borrowed a page from her grandma’s playbook — for her students.
“It’s two of my favorite things,” the veteran teacher says, “knitting and kindergarteners.”
Inspired by a TikTok video from a teacher in another state, just before Christmas break last December, Jody invited each of her students to draw a picture of a cap in whatever colors they would like.
“At the time they didn’t know it was a pattern,” she says. “They were just drawing a hat.”
Jody took those patterns and knitted brightly colored stocking caps that match what her 18 students had drawn.
“I maybe didn’t do my dishes or my laundry,” Jody says with a laugh.
During that time, Jody’s principal took some snapshots of her knitting in the stands during her son’s varsity basketball game.
Yet, Jody never considered the work a burden.
“As I knit, each student, I like to think about them and wonder: Who are you going to be someday? And what are you going to do? And right now, these are the amazing qualities you bring to our class.”
By President’s Day, Jody had finished.
“When I gave them to the kids, their eyes sparkled and they were so excited,” Jody says.
Kindergartener Harrison Lomheim treasures the custom cap made by his teacher.
“There’s a husky dog on it,” he explains, “for our school.” Albany teams play under the Huskies mascot.
Harrison’s mom, Gina Lomheim, says her son has been wearing the cap wherever he goes, even to bed.
“He tells everybody that his teacher made this hat for him,” Gina says.
Jody likes to think of the hats as hugs for her students’ heads.
“It says, ‘I care about you.’ It says, ‘My teacher thinks I’m pretty great. She took what I drew and brought it to life,’” Jody says.
Meantime, her students are drawing their own conclusions.
“Maybe it’s because she likes — loves us,” kindergartener Lizzy Schmitz says.
Jody’s grandma passed away in 2016, but her granddaughter is certain she would be pleased.
“She’s the one who taught me to knit,” Jody says. “I think she’d be very touched to know it’s partly because of her that I love to do this.”
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Police are investigating after three men were shot early on Saturday morning.
MINNEAPOLIS — Minneapolis police are investigating after three men were shot in the Ventura Village neighborhood early Saturday morning.
According to Minneapolis police, officers were called to the area around East 21st Street and South 15th Avenue around 5 a.m. Saturday.
Officers found three men had been shot. One of the men died and the two others were taken to the hospital with what police described as life-threatening injuries.
Officials said the shooting happened at a small homeless encampment.
Police have not announced any arrests as of Saturday morning.
KARE 11 will update this story as more information is made available.
This Halloween the chocolate shop is getting very festive.
MARINE ON SAINT CROIX, Minn. — A small sweet shop in a Minnesota river town has won some BIG awards for its chocolates.
St. Croix Chocolate Company in Marine on St. Croix has won national and international awards including Best of Show in this year’s America’s Division of the International Chocolate Awards.
Their chocolates are available at the St. Croix Chocolate Company kitchen or online.
This Halloween they are selling a Halloween Countdown Calendar that features 14 prize-winning recipes made into ghosts, bats, skulls and other spooky configurations. They also have a Boo Bag-handled tote that comes with their “best of” Halloween assortment.
Owner and Chocolatier, Robyn Dochterman, joined KARE 11 Saturday to share what St. Croix Chocolate Company has to offer.
MINNEAPOLIS — Making pasta at home is relatively simple, as long as you have the right tools.
October is National Pasta Month and Red Rabbit‘s Corporate Chef, Adam Lerner, joined KARE 11 Saturday to show us how to make homemade noodles in the confines of your own kitchen.
