How Embroidered Logo Hats Turned A Creative Outlet Into Support

Crucible member and volunteer Robert Graf is a self-identified problem solver. He has taken classes in fourteen of our nineteen departments since 2014, including Blacksmithing, Glass Flameworking, Machine Shop, and his personal favorite, Neon & Light. For Robert, every failed project is an opportunity to improve his skills.

“The most important thing for me in my practice is not necessarily the product or the thing that I create, it’s really about the experience of going through it and what I’m going to learn.”

Not only is Robert a committed maker, he is also a dedicated Crucible volunteer, having helped out during our in-person events and as a Neon Lab monitor. “As I took more and more classes and got more involved I became a volunteer,” Robert shared with us. “I wanted to give back after everything I’ve gotten from The Crucible.”

Adapting creativity during the pandemic

When we closed our studio doors at the start of the pandemic, Robert had to pause his making and volunteering. But in true Robert fashion, he had an idea about how to solve that problem, too. He had recently invested in a digital embroidery machine and wanted to practice his new skills and show his support for The Crucible.

I really enjoyed the embroidery process. In my normal day job, I’m working with images as well, so I like the aspect of being able to create two-dimensional art, but on three-dimensional surfaces. That opens up a whole new range of possibilities.

With the help of some new equipment, Robert started embroidering The Crucible logo onto baseball hats to help raise funds to support The Crucible’s relief work  and industrial arts programming. But it was also an opportunity for him to keep growing his skills.