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MY MOTHER IN LAW’S MOTHER IN LAW’S TOTE

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By now, you all know that I’m not the world’s best photographer.  But, I had to TRY to show you this lovely tote.  Here’s its story.

My mother in law is 87 years old.  She married my now deceased father in law when she was 15 and he was about 20 years old.  My father in law’s mother died when he was two, leaving him and his elder brother.  She was about 19 years old in 1914 when she died.  My FIL’s father remarried a few years later to the woman my husband called periamma (grandma).  At some point early on, periamma crocheted this lovely tote. When I was in Chennai, India (the family home) in November, 2009, my MIL gave the tote to me, knowing that I would appreciate both its history and the lovely thread work.

What surprised me, and what does not show up in these photos, is the vibrance of the colored threads.  They are very strong, bright yellow, red, blue, pink, and green.  The thread is size 20 and the stitches are amazingly even.  This is the kind of tote that a housewife of the era would have carried to the market or have used to tote around her crochet projects. However, this tote is in mint condition so I don’t believe it was ever used.

I feel so honored to have this piece.  It was yellowed but in otherwise excellent condition when I received it.  I soaked it for about a week in Oxyclean, rinsed it thoroughly in cool water, blocked it and laid it to dry on my glass-topped dining room table.   Many of you will know that during the era when this piece was crocheted, there were virtually no patterns for crochet.  My MIL also knits and she has told me that she never had an actual pattern.  One knitter would pass along her knowledge to another so patterns spread around the world this way.  Each artisan would interpret the piece in her own way, adding or subtracting elements to please herself.  It’s amazing to me how reliant we have become on patterns, altho’ there are still places and people who have no access to patterns or can’t read them.

I have very few mementos of this ancestor.  I wish I had known her.  But, I’m sure she would be happy to know that her grandson’s wife cherishes her work.

Looking for more Crochet patterns for totes, shopping bags or oversized bags ? Check out these crochet patterns we found on Etsy.

Comments

  1. I have a crocheted tablecloth that my grandmother made for me in 1969! I don’t dare put it on a dining table. Thinking of hanging it but not sure how to. Treasures!

  2. Barbara,
    How fortunate you are to have this treasure. You might consider basting the tablecloth to a firm cotton backing – like a high quality sheet – and hang it like a quilt – either over a rail like a towel rack mounted on the wall or by those huge wooden pieces that are designed to hang a quilt from one corner. I have a cherished afghan made by my aunt that has been tacked to foam core by Michael’s years ago and is mounted on the wall. I really enjoy having it hanging in my family room.
    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.