How a Rosemount woman turned a hat-making hobby into philanthropy

For almost a year, Jennifer Adascheck has spent her spare time making and donating at least one hat every day.

Since the beginning of 2025, she says she’s created and donated more than 500 hats to friends and strangers, including those in need. Adascheck, of Rosemount, said her craft started around two years ago, when she was in need of a new kind of leisure.

“I needed to have some sort of hobby other than shoe shopping and hanging out with friends,” Adascheck said. “I needed a hobby to make me settle down and sit.”

That’s when Adascheck’s daughter recommended she try looming yarn hats.

“I’m like, ‘What? I don’t think I’m a hatter,’” Adascheck said.

After a couple of YouTube tutorials, Adascheck said it clicked. From there, she started creating hats and posting them to her Instagram.

Since then, Adascheck has been looming and donating hats to anyone who might want or need them. This year, though, she aimed to make at least one hat every day.

The hundreds of hats she’s made so far have been given to friends and strangers, as well as donated to cancer centers, veterans service organizations, Pride celebrations, people experiencing homelessness and more. Each hat takes about an hour and a half to make.

She said it’s one way for her to spread kindness in an increasingly bleak world.

It’s just something from the heart,” Adascheck said.

Adascheck’s sister, Jolene Danca, has gotten involved with the effort, too, as a sort of marketing manager.

Danca, a gym owner, campsite host and principal of an alternative learning center in Winona, has used her local connections to build awareness. Helping to run social media accounts and promote the hat-making, Danca hopes to boost her sister and her work.

With all of these hats being loomed, branded and shipped, the costs start to accumulate. Adding up the entire routine, from yarn, pom-pom balls, custom markings and shipping, Adascheck said the process can sometimes cost her more than $10 per hat.

Still, Adascheck isn’t worried about the financial side of her efforts. She doesn’t want her hobby to become a business to her, she said.