Crochet

Patterns, projects and techniques

FASHION FORECAST 2009

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If you’ve read my blog before, you know I’m certainly no fashion maven.  My idea of fashion is somewhere between Vintage Goodwill and Discount Digs.  If I find something I love, I’ll buy every color that suits me.  However, at thrift stores, the major source of my ‘fashions’, one seldom has multiple color choices.  So, I tend to stick to whatever will fit reasonably well into a wardrobe with basic black, gray, and brown slacks.

For years, I could find nothing in pink – my favorite color.  No tops, no sweaters, no nothing.  Then, several years ago, that changed and the stores were suddenly full of pink.  Pepto Bismol pink – my favorite on me – began showing up with regularity.  I began spending money at the mall!  Then these same goodies became available at the thrift store. Bonanza!!  Now, my closet is full of pink tops and I’m set for a while.

However, as we all know, we sometimes need to coordinate between, say a pair of black cords and a icy pink shell.  So, crocheted sweaters, scarves and vests become important.

I decided to go looking to see if I could determine what colors would be fashionable this Spring.  I ran across this website:

http://www.fashiontrendsetter.com/content/fashion_events/ciff/CIFF-Spring-Summer-2009.html

which contains not only color trends, but other information about what will be ‘hot’ this Spring and Summer.  Decided to share with everyone so we can all, finally, be ‘in fashion’.  Well, maybe I will be for a change.

What I especially was interested to see on this site was some of the profiles of the garments.  It seems that boleros and the looser constructed sweaters will still be stylish.  Hooray!  Easier for me than the tailored styles when it comes to crochet.

The colors they’re predicting are an interesting combination of pinks, lavenders, and yellows, a bit darker than pastels, but very attractive IMO.  I’m gonna find some yarn in one of these colors for the chevron cardigan I posted yesterday.

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.