Knitter makes good on special request

Some puzzles require a bit of unraveling. That was the case when tracking down a young lad who had requested a special-colored hat during a Halloween giveaway in October. But through the connectivity of social media and the close-knit community of Superior, the hat maker was able to tie up loose ends and locate the boy’s family to surprise him with a heartfelt gift. 

For Halloween the past two years, St. Regis resident Ed Holterman has fashioned and given out hundreds of knitted winter hats to trick or treaters young and old. Last fall he attended the St. Regis Harvest Festival to give away his handmade caps, and the most recent Halloween he set up a table handing out beanies in front of Mountain Grounds Coffee Company. 

During the evening, dozens of families came and went, but one particular boy visited their booth looking for a blue and orange cap. He simply asked, “Next year could you make me one?”

Wanting to fulfill the boys wish but lacking a name Holterman’s wife, Angie, took to Facebook to try and track the little fella down. After Halloween she posted that a young boy came to their hat table and asked for an orange and blue knitted cap for next year. Through the web and a series of who-knows-who, the mother of the boy noticed the considerate plea and reached out to Angie. 

By November, the Holterman’s made contact with Jackie Allard, the mom of MJ, the 7-year-old who made the sweet appeal. 

“MJ has loved the color orange since he was little, not really sure why.,” Allard said. 

Once the mystery was solved, Ed Holterman set about making MJ the color combination he desired. But not only would he knit him one, but five all together. 

At first glance, Holterman, standing over 6 feet tall donning a Vietnam veterans hat and a Santa-like beard, one wouldn’t envision him sitting down knitting winter hats. It may knot be an average man’s pastime, but Holterman came into the craft in a unique way.

His knack for knitting and years of experience came through numerous physical hardships he has overcome in his life. 

Holterman explained holding out his scarred left hand, “When I was a young boy, I had an accident with some broken glass.” 

It cut deeply into the palm of his hand, and made his fingers nearly unusable. Doctors were considering amputation.

Their family lived on a farm and weren’t well off, so his father tried a clever technique using the suction of a cow milking machine to work out some dexterity of his fingers. It helped to a degree, but the best therapy for his hand came from learning how to crochet, and later knitting. 

As Holterman has faced physical setbacks like a knee injury and cancer treatment, whenever he was laid up and recovering, he’d pick back up his yarn and needle. 

“The movement and the motions of knitting keep my hand working and feeling better,” said Holterman. 

So, what better way to maintain fine motor skills in his injured hand, than to knit a pile of hats for the community? He’s become so well known for his winter caps that he even has a nickname. 

“They call me the crazy hat man,” laughed Holterman, who frequently asks people when out and about if they would like a newly knitted creation. 

Needless to say, he’s hooked. 

MJ Allard, the young boy with the special request, got his wish just in time for winter weather. He received five blue and orange caps from Holterman on Jan. 2, which makes them a very early Halloween gift for this year. 

In exchange, MJ present Holterman with a handmade thank you card and drawing. 

As for Holterman handing out caps next year, he plans to continue knitting along and keeping his hand nimble, he’s just not sure which town he’ll distribute them in come Halloween. 

Keep an eye out for Ed Holterman’s hats, and he’ll keep his hook and yarn going.