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See Who Rocks The Crochet Look

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The crochet news is that crochet is rocking the fashion world – all over the world.  This article is from India where the picture here originates.  So, it isn’t just afghans and baby things – as all of us crocheters already knew.  Now, crochet is front page news in the world of fashion.

You can also purchase plarn ready made here via Etsy.

In India, the traditional garb for a woman is a sari – that one piece silk (traditionally) or more recently fabrics like polyester are wrapped around the female frame and cover all but the midriff.  Another traditional garb gaining greater acceptance, especially with more women entering the workforce, is the salwaar kamise, a tunic over very full pants tucked close at the ankles.  Both of these garments are cleverly designed to avoid the need for a new wardrobe for weight gain or loss or even pregnancy.  Only a very tall or very short woman will have any trouble buying a sari ‘off the rack’.  The shorter woman must simply tuck way more fabric into the waistband of her petticoat while the very tall woman is forced to purchase a length of edging and add it to the bottom edge of her sari so that it properly covers her legs right to her ankle.

Crochet is widely used in India to crochet scarves and useful, practical things for the household.  Very much like in the rest of the world.  In northern India where winters are cold, afghans and wool socks will be worked up.  But, in the very humid, tropical southern no such extra layers will ever be needed except for the occasional evening shawl or scarf.

A recent trend in India is using the myriad plastic shopping bags that would otherwise fill trash heaps and blow around streets to

create useful items like mats, totes, and slippers (sandals).  These are virtually indestructible and really contribute to the ‘greening’ of major cities as well as very small villages.  Plastic shopping bags are a scourge that are being banned in India as they are elsewhere.  Until then, unemployed women will take advantage of the detritus to make something useful and attractive to sell for a few rupees.

So, when you pick up your crochet hook and yarn of your choice, know that you are connected to women all over the world (and to some men too) who share our love of crochet and turn mundane materials into useful, attractive items.  Small world, huh?

 

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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.