Crochet

Patterns, projects and techniques

WHERE DO YOU BUY CROCHET BOOKS?

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I’m fortunate to have some large book stores nearby, so I have a nice selection of new crochet books available to me.  Finding used crochet books locally has proved almost impossible.  Occasionally, I’ll find one at a thrift store, but that’s a rare thing.  Since I’m pretty much of a penny pincher and love bargains, I’ve taken to buying my used crochet books online.  I’ve blogged about this before, but I’ve found a few other sources worth checking out.  Here are a few great places to look for well-priced crochet books:

Crochet-The-Complete-Guide 1109

https://www.discountbooksale.com/ has hundreds of books, well sorted.  I have yet to use this site myself, but this particular crochet book is listed at half the cover price.  They offer $5 off your first purchase with them and FREE SHIPPING!  I want this book to review, so I’ll probably buy it soon.

A site I have done business with that has a huge selection of used crochet books AND leaflets is this one:

http://www.biblio.com/CRAFTS-and-HOBBIES-Needlework-Crocheting_640/shelf_1.html

They’ve got some of those old Beehive pattern books, hard to find in my area.

Overstock.com has become my ‘go to’ place for lots of online purchases, and they have 161 crochet books listed, including some of the latest publications.  Click here to see the crochet goodies:

http://www.overstock.com/search?taxonomy=sto3&SearchType=entertainmentsw&x=0&y=0&keywords=crochet+books

You, too, can google and find other used book sources.  I’d love it if all readers shared a link to favored online book stores that stock crochet books, especially used books.  It’s always best to research a site that comes personally recommended IMO.  List away, please!  List the sites and titles you’ve purchased if you’d like.

Comments

  1. http://www.yesasia.com for the cutest Japanese crochet books you will ever own, http://www.etsy.com for hard to find, out of print books, and also e-books. E-books, sent as a file to your e-mail address are the trend for many artists now. http://www.youcanmakethis.com also sells a large variety of crochet e-books.

    DEBBIE, I agree that http://www.yesasia.com is a good site. It’s a bit difficult to navigate and I haven’t actually purchased anything there because I’m unsure if the books are really crochet since knit is often thrown into the same category and I don’t like to knit. I have found that the search engine works better if you enter ‘crochet patterns’ rather than ‘crochet book’.
    jd

  2. I use Half.com. It’s part of Ebay and the prices are set (you don’t have to bid). They have every book you can think of and some can be as cheap as 75 cents! I allow myself to buy one book a week.

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.