Crochet

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2013 Crochet, Here We Come!

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Time is running out for 2012 and we’ll soon be welcoming 2013.  I’m not huge on making New Year’s Resolutions, but this year I’ve decided to make a few resolutions regarding my crochet.

1. Use up stash on hand

2. Get rid of yarn that in my stash that I’ll never use

3. Purchase only the best yarn for each project rather than looking for the least expensive alternative.  Given all the time I put into each project, it deserves the very best.

These are my resolutions.  What are yours?

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And, here’s a bonus for you.  You can get the free pattern Clock Pattern and fantastic tutorial (including non-crochet elements) on Matt’s site.

Comments

  4. I agree with your 3. And add make sure I really like the pattern. And if its something for me, it will look good on me and fit properly! I don’t even like to think how much time I have wasted starting something, only to end up pulling it out because it didn’t look right!

  5. Yours are all good but I would add for me 4. Finish all unfinished projects from 2012 before starting any new projects in 2013. 5. Plan better so that my crochet gifts can be completed without having to stay up late for multiple nights to finish gifts in time. 6. Stop downloading every “cute” pattern I see but know I will never make (pin to Pininterest instead). 7. Finish setting up my blog so that I can share more with others (this is for all crafts).

  6. I love your intentions for 2013, especially the one to purchase quality yarn (and supplies) rather than the most affordable. I am also going to add to my list to be more active on ravelry to check patterns rather than getting frustrated and using this resource after the fact.

  7. I would like to finish all uncompleted projects before starting new ones but I think I might make it work if I do one old and then one new.

  8. 1). Using stash yarn…
    2). Try not to buy yarn for “just because, or just in case”
    3). Finish at least one wip per quarter
    4). If any yarn is leftover from a project, add it to one of the many long term projects…crochet versions of scrap quilts – no time limits on these, as they are driven by yarn type/weight/content
    5). Work on any project every evening – destress and be creative

  9. I made your #3 a resolution a few years back and I have never regretted it! Now yes I do have a stash, but it’s all good stuff! So if I need something for a particular project, I’m very likely to find it in my “yarn shop” in the attic! Life is short, I spend a lot of it crocheting, and I refuse to crochet with scratchy yarn I can’t stand. Instead I buy only “good stuff” that’s pleasing to both my eyes and hands, using coupons and sales when I can.

  13. If you’d like to add CrochetGossip to your twitter feed, there’s a link on the upper right side of each page of my blog. Just click on that and add this blog to your account. And, Thank You! I have quite a number of twitter followers – always an honor.
    jd

Have you read?

Red Melt The Ice Slouch Beanie Crochet Pattern Review

Some crochet projects are made simply because we need a warm hat. Some are made because we need a quick gift, a stash-busting project, or something easy to work on while watching television. And then there are crochet projects that carry a message.

This Red Slouch Beanie Crochet Pattern PDF sits firmly in that last category.

Inspired by the Melt the ICE craftivism movement, this red crochet beanie is more than just a wearable winter accessory. It is a handmade political statement — soft, practical, visible, and rooted in the long tradition of protest through craft.

You can find the Red Slouch Beanie Crochet Pattern PDF here.

Crochet as Protest

Crafters have always had a way of saying things with their hands. Quilts have carried coded messages, embroidery has documented women’s lives, banners have marched through the streets, and yarn crafts have wrapped public spaces in colour and defiance.

This beanie belongs to that same creative lineage.

The phrase Melt the ICE gives this pattern its political edge. It connects the humble red crochet hat to conversations around immigration enforcement, detention, family separation, human rights, community care, and the role ordinary people can play in public protest.

And that is what makes this pattern interesting. It is not loud in the way a placard is loud, but it is visible. A red handmade hat catches the eye. It invites questions. It gives the maker a way to wear their values without needing to shout over anyone.

Sometimes craftivism works because it is disarming. People expect political protest to be hard-edged, but handmade work brings something different to the conversation. It says, “I cared enough to make this stitch by stitch.”

About the Pattern

The pattern itself is beginner-friendly and refreshingly straightforward. The hat is worked flat in rows, then seamed and gathered to create a relaxed slouch beanie shape. That makes it especially approachable for crocheters who are still building confidence with wearable projects.

Instead of needing to work in the round or fuss with crown shaping from the start, you are essentially making a rectangle and turning it into a hat. I love that kind of construction because it gives beginners a real sense of achievement. You are not just practising stitches — you end up with something wearable and meaningful.

The design uses a textured crochet fabric, giving the finished beanie a cozy, slightly chunky look. The slouchy shape keeps it casual and modern, while the bold red colour gives it that unmistakable activist feel.

Why Red Matters

The red yarn is not just a colour choice here. It is part of the visual language of the project.

Red is urgent. Red is warm. Red is visible in a crowd. It can suggest anger, love, warning, solidarity, courage, and care all at once. For a political crochet project, that matters.

A red slouch beanie can be worn to rallies, community events, mutual aid gatherings, craftivism meet-ups, or simply out in everyday life as a quiet statement of support. It is one of those pieces that can be as bold or as subtle as the wearer wants it to be.

Of course, you could make the pattern in any colour, but for the Melt the ICE inspiration, red feels intentional. It gives the hat its message before a single word is spoken.