Museum Partners
Knit for Mental Fitness
In celebration of the 50th anniversary of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, filmed at the Oregon State Hospital, the Oregon State Hospital Museum of Mental Health is proud to announce Knit For Mental Fitness, a 2025 community initiative supporting mental fitness awareness and benefiting both the Museum and Project ABLE. The Museum, along with the Salem Millstream Knitting Guild, and Wild Knits invites the public to join in knitting iconic “watch cap” style hats, inspired by the ones worn by Jack Nicholson’s character, Randall P. McMurphy, in the film.
A Year-Long Community Effort
Knitting for Mental Fitness will host monthly knit-ins at Wild Knits store in Salem. These inclusive gatherings are open to all skill levels. Participants will create hats to support the Oregon State Hospital Museum of Mental Health and Project ABLE. Watch-cap “knit-kits” will also be available for purchase, perfect for gifting or for knitting at home.
How You Can Participate
Join us in this exciting project by knitting and donating hats to the museum to sell in the gift shop, visiting the museum, and sharing “knit-kits” with friends and family. Knit-in events will take place on the 3rd Saturday of each month through 2025 at Wild Knits storefront, where you can create, connect, and contribute to the cause. Owner of Wild Knits, Holly Marshall, said, “Knitting and crochet can be such an important part of an individual’s mental health journey. Both are known to help with anxiety, PTSD, ADHD, and grief recovery. Every stitch contains a piece of a person’s heart, and when a project is finished, it’s a tangible reminder of intangible progress.”
Every hat you knit and donate to the Museum, and every “knit-kit” purchased, helps to promote mental fitness, builds community connections, and supports the museum and Project ABLE.
Knit for Mental Fitness Kit
Thanks to generous contributions from Cascade Wool, Bryson Distributing (knitting needles), and Shaniko Wool Company.
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