Crochet

Patterns, projects and techniques

Book Review- Floral Blocks To Crochet

by

Looking for a fresh new block to crochet?  This book will have it for you.  Betty Barnden has created 75 delicious floral inspired blocks for us to play with!  Fortunately, ‘block’ doesn’t mean square or even rectangle.  There are hexagons, circles, triangles and other shapes of ‘blocks’.  I am especially fond of the diamond shaped motifs that would make wonderful centerpieces for table runners, afghans, and, since there are both flat and dimensional motifs, the side of a tote bag or back of a sweater.  As always with crochet, application and adaptation are limited only by the crocheter’s imagination.  Barnden gives us the lovely building blocks and it’s up to us to crochet them into something special.

In addition to the wonderful array of shapes and designs, there is color in this book.  I find color so inspiring!  Barnden uses color combinations to enhance her designs – often using unusual color combinations to add zest or calmness to a motif.  Red pops, yellow draws attention, while a beige and white combination gives a serene feel to the piece.  I’m not great with color.  I know what I like when I see it, but I’m far more likely to be motivated or inspired by the color combinations I see in the work of others than to come up with a pleasing interplay of colors on my own.  Obviously, these motifs can be made in the colors of the crocheter’s choice – but I love the way Barnden has mixed colors to add dimension and charm.

Two notes that increase the value of this book to me, as a crocheter.  First, Barnden has a nice photo display to demonstrate how a change in gauge can create a vastly different outcome.  She shows the same square worked in six different sizes – from three inches to seven inches – achieved by increasing hook and yarn/thread size.  We all know this can be done, but the side by side comparison is quite helpful.  Second, while there are only four projects in the book, you’re gonna love the Flower Purses I’ve never seen anywhere else!

Book Specs:

75 Floral Blocks to Crochet by Betty Barnden

St. Martin Press, September 2012

144 pages, 8X8 inch square soft back

ISBN 9781250013323

$21.99 USD

 

 

Comments

  1. This sounds like the perfect book that I need. I recently acquired 3 bins of various yarn in different colors and I need help with the mix of colors and ideas. This would be the perfect book to help me out. Unfortunately, English craft books are far and few around here (suburb off-island of Montreal) Thank you for the chance to win this book.

  3. I love crocheting “squares” or whatever shape they may be. It’s so easy to take along your project and get something done on it in the few minutes you may have to wait for an appointment, auto service, or an enjoyable outing in the park.

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.