Crochet

Patterns, projects and techniques

STRIPPING CROCHET ??

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Rug from Recycled Bed Sheets

 

 

If  you’ve been reading my blog very long, you know I love the idea of upcycling.  Kristen has taken some humble sheets from the thrift store and used them to make a really great rug.  I could see this rug used in all kinds of rooms, in a wide variety of colors.  This technique would also work for chair pads, place mats, and mug rugs.  So dig out some of your old sheets or go buy a few at your closest thrift store and follow Kristen’s tutorial to make your own fabric strip crochet project.

This is what my family room looks like most days.  So does Kristen’s!

This is just what ‘creativity’ looks like most days, right?

If, in addition to crochet, you are also interested in general crafts and/or home decor, poke around the rest of Kristen’s blog.  There are a lot of great ideas there!

 

 

 

Comments

  3. I love the look of this. It reminds me of my childhood (way, way back). I would mention something I make rugs and baskets from-fleece strips. They come out soft and thick. I hate wasting all the edges from fleece fabric so I have come up with several uses.

  4. Cool colors. I’ve been making these rugs for nearly fifty years. I also use old sheets because you get a lot of fabric from them.

    Well done.

  5. I actually just posted a blog about rag rugs on my blog, www. thehouseonadamsdrive.blogspot.com ! I’ve made 3 rugs so far, and I’ve used estate sale sheets for all of them. I love the patterns of old sheets!

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.