Mad Hatter: Crazy, Colorful Crochet Designs To Hook and Show Off

Crochet artist Grealis (creator of the popular Instagram account @KnottedNeon) has transformed the topsy-turvy, eccentric spirit of Lewis Carroll’s Mad Hatter into whimsical, wild crochet designs, like a coral reef balaclava and a rainbow- and heart–covered bucket hat. Even more ingenious than the patterns themselves is the approach she uses to make them. Instead of offering a series of 10 or 12 designs, as many craft books do, Grealis provides foundational patterns for two basic styles of hat and two styles of bag, plus instructions for adaptations and modular crocheted embellishments (flora, fauna, and fungi), which fiber artists can mix and match to express their own aesthetic. Some of the embellishments (including an adorable bumblebee and a whole series of mushroom patterns) could also be fun stand-alone projects.