...Tell Me a Yarn: Knitting Pattern: The Riveter

Note: Click on any image below to enlarge it.

Me, modeling the kerchief

Inspired by the famous Rosie-the-Riveter "We Can Do It!" poster from World War 2, I designed a knitted version of the red-and-white polka-dotted kerchief worn by Rosie:

J. Howard Miller, 1942
Public Domain

During WW2, millions of men were sent overseas to fight the Nazis, leaving labor shortages stateside, and American women rose to the occasion and and began doing traditionally-male jobs. Even women who didn't work outside the home entered the workforce (some for the first time), making massive contributions to the American economy and the war effort, helping the Allies win the war.

Rosie the Riveter (Vultee), 1943.
Public Domain

Besides Miller's 1942 "We Can Do It!" propaganda poster, there were other posters and ads released encouraging women to join the workforce. Much of the propaganda assumed that it was temporary - that once our men came back from the war, the Rosies would leave the workforce and return to the home:

Monsanto Ad, 1943.
Public Domain.

And many were forced out of the workforce, but in the end, only temporarily (today, women make up 58% of the American workforce).

There was even a song about Rosie:

Today Rosie is a feminist icon representing the women who strive not just to get by, but their efforts to create a world in which we are *equal* partners to the men in our lives, that we can do anything we set our minds to ... even holding the highest office in our land.

I am using this pattern as a fundraiser for Kamala Harris. Between now and election day (November 5, 2024), I am giving the pattern away for free to incentivize people to donate the difference (or whatever you can afford) to the Kamala Harris campaign.

Here is how to donate:

Send a donation directly to her campaign (here’s one place you can send money: https://kamalaharris.com/ ).
Optional: Send me a message telling me about your donation so I can squeal in excitement. <3

Be careful where and how you donate so you don't inadvertently donate to a scammer. Act Blue is handling donations for Vice President Harris's website at https://kamalaharris.com. If you prefer to type it yourself, it's https: // Kamala Harris. com but without spaces. However, you MUST spell her name correctly. If you misspell it, a fake anti-Harris page loads.

If you have any questions about the pattern, ask your question in a comment at the bottom of this post, along with your email address. I have comment moderation turned on, and will reach out to you privately via email, then I'll delete your comment without publishing it, to avoid exposing your email address to spammers. If you are on Ravelry, you may also choose to reach out to me via PM.

You may (of course!) also choose to simply download the pattern without donating. Here is the link to download it (after Election Day, I'm raising the price to $7): download from Ravelry for free.

Liberty Ship Scaler, 1943. You can see a scarf peaking out
from under her hard hat. Public Domain

Women at work on a bomber, 1942
Public Domain

About the pattern:

Note: This pattern has not been tech-edited (yet!) and has only been partially tested. I'm a tech writer by trade, so it's in good (if not perfect) shape. If you find an error, I'd LOVE it if you'd let me know, so I can fix it sooner rather than later.

The headscarf is knitted flat from the bottom up, and is intended to be custom-fit to the wearer as you knit it (and so I recommend you use a 24" (70cm) circular needles rather than long straights).

You can use any yarn weight, from light fingering up to heavy worsted/Aran, and the white polka-dots are represented with beads (I like the white pearlescent ones as a nod to Kamala's pearls, but any color is fine), either pony beads for heavier yarn, or large seed beads for thinner yarn, and the border and ties are knitted in seed stitch to echo the original offset polka-dot design.

The pattern includes:

Written and charted instructions.
Two different very simple lace patterns to choose from (a plain one that looks more like the poster, and a diamond lace pattern that hints at a bandanna design).
A three-tie version that allows you to tie it at the top of the head as Rosie does, and also at the nape, and a two-tie version that ties only at the nape.
Blank chart for your own designs.

Techniques used in the pattern:

Wearing it like Rosie

There are a couple of ways to tie the kerchief:

Clockwise from upper left.

Drape the kerchief around your shoulders, right-side DOWN, bottom tie dangling down your back, top ties draped in front of your shoulders.
Bring the top ties up to the top of your head, and tie them (single cross only) like a headband.
Pull the bottom tie up the back of your head, and forward, tucking it under the top ties, and pulling it forward so it drapes in front of your nose. Neaten and flip the edges so they aren't inside-out. Tighten the top ties so they are both secure and comfortable
Flip the bottom tie from your nose, over the top ties so that it's pointing toward the back of your head
Tie the top ties again, this time over the bottom tie.
Neaten, tighten, artfully tuck.

Here's a video tutorial. The tying starts at about 27 seconds in, if you want to skip forward:

Another way to get to the same end result:

Drape the kerchief on your head right-side UP, with the top ties at your shoulders, and the bottom tie draping down over your face/nose.
Pick up the top ties and draw them up to the top of your head, and tie them (single cross only), so that they hold down the bottom tie. Release the top ties so they drape on either side of your head.
Pick up the bottom tie from your nose, and flip it back over the top ties, so that it points toward the back of your head.
Pick up the top ties again, and tie them in a knot. From there, pick up with step 6 in the first set of instructions

And finally - admire your results!