Crochet

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IT’S YOUR TURN – A GIVEAWAY – WEEK THREE, MAY, 2010

by

FELT ME A SMILE by TOYOKO SUGIWAKA

You’ve read my book reviews.  You’ve perused my website reviews.  You’ve lingered over my reviews of ads in magazines.  Now, it’s your turn to post a review here.  I can’t read every book, visit every website, or click on every ad link.  So, I’m counting on my readers to share some of this information with other readers.  And, you can win a prize for your review – a fresh, new copy of the very cute book Felt Me A Smile, (pictured above) recently reviewed on this blog.

The prize will be given to the most valuable review posted.  It might be for writing about your favorite crochet book or sharing insights into your favorite blog or website.  I’ll read every entry, visit every link, and judge which one I think offers the most insightful review.  I’ll post a new category each Monday this month, so you have FIVE chances to win a great prize.

Here’s the category for Week 1 (of May, 2010):

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE CROCHET ‘CLASSIC’ CROCHET BOOK (PUBLISHED BEFORE 2009 OR SINCE THEN IF IT’S A CLASSIC IN YOUR MIND)? PLEASE GIVE US A BRIEF REVIEW OF THE BOOK, STATING WHY IT’S YOUR FAVORITE. Reviews should not exceed approximately 250 words.

Here are the contest rules:

The winner will have 48 hours to contact me with mailing information after the winner is announced.  If the winner doesn’t contact me, the prize will be offered on another occasion.

RESPONSES MUST BE POSTED HERE AND NOT EMAILED TO ME PRIVATELY OR POSTED ELSEWHERE FOR ENTRY.

TO MAKE IT CRYSTAL CLEAR, THE WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED ON THE LAST DAY OF EACH MONTH (OR SHORTLY THEREAFTER) AND THE WINNER MUST EMAIL ME ([email protected]) WITHIN 48 HOURS OF THE ANNOUNCEMENT.  So, for sanity’s sake, that deadline will really mean that I need to hear from you no later than 8 PM the following Monday (so you have plenty of time to email me and I’ll get the email for sure even if I don’t sign on to my email on a Sunday).


Comments

  1. Luv “Decorating With Crochet” by Anne Halliday, Houghton Mifflan Co. Boston, 1975. There are so many wonderful wall hangings, rugs, bedspreads, pillows etc. that would still apply to decorating a home even today. Simple single crochet & double crochet make any of the projects in the book something even a beginner can accomplish!

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.