Crochet

Patterns, projects and techniques

Have you created a Crochet Heirloom?

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heirloom-pic.jpg

Dictionary.com defines ‘heirloom’ as:

 

1.a family possession handed down from generation to generation.

A crochet heirloom is pictured above.
That got me to thinking about crochet and our heritage. Do you have any crochet items made by your predecessors – mom, grandma, auntie? I have only one. It’s a small doll sweater crocheted by my mother’s mother for my mom when mom was about 5 years old. To my knowledge, my mamaw had no interest in anything domestic. I never saw her sew or crochet or knit. Of course, she cooked every day and kept her huge kitchen garden in her small town in rural Arkansas. She LOVED being outside. The summers I spent there were filled with fishing, picking berries, swimming in the ‘hole’, visiting neighbors, and eating her exquisitely delicious fried pies made with peach peels leftover from making peach pies. No crochet! So, I cherish even more this single item I have inherited from her. My mom is 84 and I am 58. My mamaw has been gone since 1985. The little doll sweater is a soft pink, moth eaten, and attractive to no one but me!

My mother remembered mamaw participating in quilting bees in my mom’s youth. I have some precious quilts composed of fabrics that my mother can readily identify as having come from her brother’s shirt, her sister’s apron, her grandfather’s tie, etc. Some of the patches are signed by women I knew as ancient ‘relics’ – probably the age I am now – when I was a child.

So, I take these messages, few as they are from my own family, and try to assure that my children and other family members have heirlooms from my hands. I have crocheted an afghan for each of my three kids. I routinely crochet baby afghans for all suitable occasions, but especially for my two cherished grandnephews who are now 4 and 6. Since I have no grandchildren as yet, Dominic and Nicholas are my crochet beneficiaries. I just completed a tiny poncho for the 1 year old daughter of my husband’s secretary. My friends and their children now receive baby afghans for each grandchild and something crocheted as a token gift for each birthday. Maybe some day, these will become heirlooms, valued by their owners as the love tokens they are.

So, go make an heirloom!

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Comments

  1. My grandmother had crocheted my mother and each of the granddaughters a sunburst centerpiece doily. Over the years and many moves, my sister lost hers. While it could never totally replace the one Grandma made. I reproduced that doily for her. The look of gratitude and joy when I gave it to her was awesome.

  2. My husband has an afghan his grandma made, one his mom made, and I’m making one for him. He says they are very special to him and he thinks of the person who made it while he snuggles in them. For some reason, crochet and family go together. Something about making it yourself or home made. We need connections across generations and across distances. I agree, go make an heirloom!

  3. Karen,
    I’m so moved by your brief story! How sweet and thoughtful of you to reproduce that cherished doily for your daughter. It’ll always be a memory of both you and her grandmother.
    jd

  4. Jennifer,
    I agree that crochet and friend go hand in hand, across the generations of families and distance. How well stated! I have a few things, few crocheted however, that I cherish from my grandmother and aunts. Your husband is very special to have three afghans made just for him!
    jd

  5. I loved your story! I guess I am very lucky. My mom and her mother were both avid crocheters. I have a huge pile of their doilies that I inherited after each passed on. I would give anything if I could spend an afternoon with a good cup of coffee spent crocheting doilies with my mom and gramma! Thanks for the smile. Your “crochet beneficiaries” are lucky indeed!

  6. I never knew my gradparents, my family moved away from them before I was born. I have this big hole in my life. my mother was a advid crocheter. She taught me to crochet when I was about 8yrs. I have lots of her (and my)stuff. I don’t crochet much now but I do weave and have a trunk full of weaving for my kids and grandkids probably enough for the greats, also. I have a wooden trunk my great great grandfather made in 1859, which is my pride and joy. All my heirlooms are in it. “In case of fire.. grab that first!!”

Have you read?

Pattern Review: Georgie Granny Square Bucket Hat Crochet Pattern

The Georgie Granny Square Bucket Hat Crochet Pattern is one of those fun wearable crochet projects that has just the right mix of retro charm and modern festival style. If you have been seeing granny square bucket hats popping up everywhere and thinking, “I could make that,” this pattern is a lovely place to start.

This crochet bucket hat is worked in the round using granny-style clusters, giving it that familiar textured look without requiring you to join lots of separate squares. That is a definite win if, like me, you enjoy the look of granny motifs but don’t always feel emotionally prepared for a mountain of seams and ends.

The pattern uses worsted weight #4 yarn, with cotton or a cotton blend recommended, which makes sense for a summer hat. Cotton gives the hat a bit more structure and keeps it feeling breathable rather than floppy and sweaty. You’ll need around 80g of yarn, a 5.5mm crochet hook, scissors, and a yarn needle. The finished hat is designed to fit a head circumference of approximately 51–55cm / 20.1–21.7 inches, which puts it in the adult small/medium range.

What I like about this pattern is that it includes practical fit notes rather than pretending every head and every crocheter’s tension is magically the same. The granny mesh has stretch, and the pattern suggests trying the crown on after Round 5 before continuing with the body section. That is such a useful little check-in point, especially with hats, because nobody wants to finish the whole thing only to discover it either perches on top like a teacup or slides down over your eyes like a lampshade.

The instructions are written in US crochet terms and include a clear stitch key covering chains, clusters, double crochet, repeats, slip stitches, and spaces. The pattern also explains how the rounds are closed, how the beginning chain functions, and how to count the clusters at the end of each round, which is helpful for keeping the shape on track.

The construction is straightforward: you begin at the crown, continue down into the sides, and then work the brim. The brim shaping comes from an increase round that helps kick the edge outward into that classic bucket hat shape. Rounds 15–17 then hold steady to smooth out the brim edge, giving the hat a neat finish without making the shaping feel overly complicated.

I would call this an easy to confident beginner crochet pattern rather than a very first crochet project. You’ll want to be comfortable working in the round, counting repeats, and making double crochet clusters. Once the rhythm clicks, though, it becomes a relaxing, repeat-friendly project — the sort of crochet you can work on while half-watching TV, provided you don’t lose count during the increase rounds. Ask me how I know.

This pattern also has great colour-play potential. The yellow version feels sunny and wearable, the scrap yarn version has brilliant festival energy, and a red-and-green version would make a surprisingly cute Christmas market hat. It would also be a good stash-busting crochet project if you have leftover cotton yarns hanging around from dishcloths, bags, or summer tops.

Overall, the Georgie Granny Square Bucket Hat is a cheerful, wearable crochet pattern with strong Etsy appeal. It hits that sweet spot between nostalgic granny square style and modern handmade fashion, making it a great pattern for festival outfits, summer wardrobes, handmade gifts, and market sellers looking for a trendy crochet accessory.

Best for: confident beginners, granny stitch lovers, summer crochet projects, festival fashion, scrap yarn makes, and crocheters who want a wearable project that feels fun rather than fussy.