The Crochet Projects Nobody Makes Anymore (And Maybe We Should)

There was a time when every crocheter had a mission.

Not a vague goal like “use up my yarn stash” or “finish that cardigan before next winter.”

No, these crocheters had purpose.

Somewhere in America, a grandmother was furiously crocheting a toilet paper doll to protect the family bathroom from… something. Dust? Shame? Nobody really knows.

Another was creating a doily large enough to cover every flat surface in the house.

And someone, somewhere, looked at a perfectly functional tissue box and thought:

“This needs a crocheted cover shaped like a Victorian cottage.”

Crochet trends come and go, but some projects have quietly faded away. Today we’re taking a trip down memory lane to revisit some of the crochet projects that used to be everywhere—and asking whether they deserve a comeback.

1. The Toilet Paper Doll

If you’re under 40, you might think I’m making this up.

I assure you, I am not.

For decades, bathrooms across North America featured elaborately dressed crochet dolls sitting proudly on top of spare toilet paper rolls.

These ladies wore magnificent gowns.

They had hats.

They had lace.

Some looked like they were attending a royal wedding.

And underneath all that elegance?

Toilet paper.

Looking back, it seems ridiculous.

Looking back, I kind of love them.

2. Doilies on Literally Everything

There was a time when a bare table was simply unacceptable.

Coffee table?

Doily.

End table?

Doily.

Dresser?

Doily.

Television?

Believe it or not…

Doily.

If a flat surface existed, a crocheter somewhere felt compelled to decorate it.

Today’s minimalist design trends may have pushed doilies out of the spotlight, but there is something beautiful about knowing someone spent hours creating intricate lace simply to make a home feel special.

3. The Television Cover

Younger readers may need a moment here.

Televisions used to be giant wooden boxes.

And apparently, giant wooden boxes needed sweaters.

Crocheted TV covers were surprisingly common.

When guests weren’t watching television, the set could be covered with a decorative crochet piece, making it blend into the room.

Imagine explaining that to a teenager today.

“Back in my day, we crocheted clothing for the television.”

4. Tissue Box Covers

Crocheters once looked at ordinary household objects and declared war on boredom.

The humble tissue box was transformed into:

• Cottages
• Barns
• Flower baskets
• Churches
• Teapots

No object was safe.

Honestly, modern crochet could use a little more of this energy.

5. Bed Jackets

This one always fascinates me.

A bed jacket was exactly what it sounds like: a short sweater worn while sitting up in bed.

People wore them while reading, knitting, crocheting, writing letters, or recovering from illness.

They were practical.

They were cozy.

And somehow they’ve almost disappeared.

Considering how many of us spend evenings curled up on the couch with yarn, maybe it’s time for bed jackets to make a comeback.

6. Crocheted Pot Holders Hanging in Every Kitchen

Not just one.

A dozen.

Usually hanging from a hook somewhere near the stove.

Every color imaginable.

Some shaped like flowers.

Some shaped like fruit.

Some shaped like things no one could identify anymore.

They weren’t just kitchen tools.

They were little pieces of everyday art.

Why We Miss These Projects

The funny thing is that none of these projects were really about the project itself.

The toilet paper doll wasn’t about toilet paper.

The doily wasn’t about protecting furniture.

The tissue box cover wasn’t about tissues.

They were about making a home feel loved.

Every stitch represented time, patience, and care.

In a world increasingly filled with disposable things, there is something comforting about remembering the handmade touches that used to fill our homes.

Final Thoughts

Will toilet paper dolls ever return to mainstream crochet?

Probably not.

Although I’ve learned never to underestimate crocheters.

After all, we’ve recently brought back granny squares, bucket hats, and crochet hacky sacks.

Anything is possible.

And if I suddenly find myself designing a toilet paper doll pattern next week…

Please pretend this article had nothing to do with it.

What crochet project do you remember seeing at your grandmother’s house that you never see anymore? Leave me a comment and let me know!

24,500 Subscribers Later… Thank You

Today my YouTube channel officially crossed 24,500 subscribers, and honestly, I’m still trying to process it.

When I first started sharing crochet videos online, I never imagined that thousands of people from around the world would one day be watching my tutorials, following my crochet journey, supporting my designs, and becoming part of this amazing creative community.

What started as simply sharing something I loved slowly grew into something much bigger than I ever expected.

Over the years, HodgePodge Crochet has become more than just a crochet channel. It has become a space filled with creativity, learning, experimentation, encouragement, late-night crochet sessions, yarn piles taking over the house, cats supervising projects 😂, and people who genuinely appreciate handmade art.

One of the things I love most about this community is how supportive and encouraging everyone has been through every stage of the process — even the messy stages.

And trust me… there have been MANY messy stages.

If you’ve followed me recently over on Patreon, then you’ve probably seen me deep in the process of designing the new Lattice Top. This pattern has gone through more revisions, frogging, measuring, grading, and restructuring than I can even count at this point. Some days I’ve completely reworked entire sections just trying to get the drape, fit, and stitch flow exactly the way I imagined it in my head.

But that’s also the beautiful part of designing.

Sometimes crochet patterns don’t appear perfectly on the first try. Sometimes they evolve slowly through testing, experimentation, mistakes, and learning. And honestly, I think sharing that process openly has become one of my favorite parts of this journey.

Seeing people excited about the Lattice Top while it’s still being developed has been incredibly motivating for me. Knowing that people genuinely care about the work behind the scenes makes all those long design sessions feel worth it.

As my YouTube channel continues growing, I have so many exciting things planned for the future:

• New crochet patterns
• More detailed tutorials
• Behind-the-scenes design content
• Crochet vlogs
• Morocco lifestyle content 🇺🇸🇲🇦
• More pattern testing opportunities
• More creative experiments and projects

I’m genuinely excited about where things are heading.

And to every single person who has supported this channel in any way — whether you subscribed, watched a video, left a comment, purchased a pattern, shared my work, or simply followed quietly from the background — thank you.

Your support means more than you probably realize.

Creative work can sometimes feel very solitary behind the scenes. There are long hours spent designing, filming, editing, writing instructions, troubleshooting mistakes, and doubting whether anyone will even care about what you’re creating.

But moments like this remind me why I started.

24,500 subscribers may just look like a number to some people, but to me it represents years of learning, growth, persistence, creativity, and community.

And honestly?

I feel like we’re just getting started.

Thank you all so much for being part of this journey with me 💛

You can follow along here: https://www.youtube.com/@HodgePodgeCrochet

– HodgePodge Crochet

What Yarn Costs in Morocco vs the U.S. (Real Prices)

Since moving to Morocco, one of the first things I looked into was yarn—where to find it, what the quality is like, and how the prices compare to what I was used to in the United States.

If you crochet regularly, you already know that yarn cost matters. It affects what you make, how often you make it, and even the types of patterns you choose.

Here’s a realistic breakdown based on what I’ve seen.

Yarn Prices in the United States

In the U.S., yarn is widely available and fairly consistent in price.

• Basic acrylic (like Red Heart Super Saver): about $4–$6 per skein (~198g)
• That works out to roughly $2–$3 per 100g
• Mid-range yarns: $6–$12
• Cotton, wool, and specialty yarns: $10–$20+

The biggest advantage in the U.S. is convenience—you can usually find exactly what you need and restock easily.

Yarn Prices in Morocco

In Morocco, yarn is also easy to find, especially in places like Derb Omar in Casablanca, but pricing can vary more depending on where and how you buy.

• Standard pricing often starts around 20–25 MAD per 100g
  👉 roughly $2–$2.50 USD
• Prices can go higher depending on fiber type and thickness
• Bulkier or specialty yarns can get noticeably more expensive

Bulk Pricing (My Experience)

When buying in bulk, prices can drop.

In my case, I paid 20 dirhams (about $2 USD) per 100g skein.

This was a bulk price, and not necessarily what you’ll pay for smaller quantities. Prices per skein can vary starting from about $2.50 USD and can increase depending on the type of yarn, especially for thicker or higher-quality options.

So Which Is Cheaper?

When you compare directly, basic yarn prices in Morocco and the U.S. are actually pretty similar.

The difference isn’t so much the cost—it’s the experience.

The Real Difference

In the U.S., you can:

• Follow patterns exactly
• Use the same yarn brands consistently
• Easily replace yarn if you run out

In Morocco, you may need to:

• Work with what’s available
• Adjust your hook size or pattern
• Be flexible with yarn types and textures

What This Means for Your Crochet

This is where things get interesting.

Crocheting in Morocco encourages you to:

• Think in measurements instead of stitch counts
• Adapt patterns more freely
• Experiment with different yarns

This is one of the reasons I design patterns the way I do—so they work no matter what yarn you have access to.

Final Thoughts

Yarn in Morocco isn’t drastically cheaper than in the U.S., especially for basic options—but it offers a different kind of experience.

You trade convenience for flexibility.

If you’re willing to adapt and work with what’s available, you can still create beautiful pieces without needing the exact same materials every time.

Sunflower gift set for chrithmith

💙🩵💙
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