Crochet

Patterns, projects and techniques

Sweet And Simple

by

crochet picket fence square

 

Sheila is far too humble for her own good sometimes!  She has designed this adorable little potholder that is embellished with simple embroidery stitches.  She thinks this would be fine as a potholder.  I say it could be so much more!

I see it as one of many such blocks crocheted together to create a sweet babyghan.  I see this little square as a lovely patch pocket to add some pizazz to a solid color cardigan or to turn a simple rectangle scarf into a hand-warming pocketed scarf.  if I used this idea for patch pockets on a cardigan, I’d continue the delicate embroidery around the sleeve edges and maybe around the collar or neckline to add polish to the finished garment.  Same thing with the scarf.  Add some more embroidery to pull the design together colorwise.

The embroidery in this is truly simple – and a great way to make good use of those colorful little scraps of yarn we all have stashed.  Another idea is to make a simple, solid color babyghan or lapghan and create enough embroidered blocks to create a border for the afghan.  What would you make with this square?

To see Sheila’s pattern, visit her blog here.

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Comments

  2. I would probably make a baby blanket and put the squares in two directions alternated – up and down, side to side and would add flowers somewhere but not on all squares. I might use 2 shades of one colour like light and dark blue or green.
    I am hoping for a pattern please.

  3. First, Annette, you can find my pattern at http://www.squidoo.com/picketfencepotholder – so glad you like it!

    JD, you are so kind to feature my design! And what great ideas you have that I had not thought of! I love the idea of a sweater or sweater vest using this square for pockets! I can just see it, and you may have started something here that I have to finish!

    I call the embroidery “CroBroidery” because it is an entirely different method of embroidery using just a crochet hook. No needles required!

    Thanks again, I hope everyone enjoys the pattern.

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.