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So I’ve been toying with adding a monthly feature to this little blog o’ mine. I love the idea of having a fun blog project due every month. I also hate the idea of having a fun blog project due every month. You can see my dilemma.
This feature would be a way to share another of my obsessions with people that I think would enjoy it. See, I have an unnatural need to buy every vintage ladies magazine I can find. I have piles of magazines from the 20’s to the 70’s (and don’t think I haven’t been eyeing the 80’s ones lately). They cover subjects like homemaking, interior design, crafts, embroidery, crochet, and yes – knitting. I’ve also got lots of old pattern leaflets of all kinds. I went through a brief pot-holder phase which culminated in my going cold turkey from eBay for almost 6 months.
Occasionally, when I’m supposed to be doing something for the good of the household, I just sit in the corner of a room pouring over the images and articles which range from beautiful to hilarious to mind-boggling. Instead of actually baking a cake, I page through a 1952 Ladies Home Journal and just imagine baking one then twirling around with it in the kitchen while wearing a fluffy 50’s dress. And pumps. You know how it is. Humor me, just nod politely.
Having just scored another great mag stash, I am inspired to share. And this new batch is a doozy. Mostly McCalls Needlework and Crafts from early 70’s, AND some terrific booklets from the Creative American Craft Series. No cake-twirling here, nosiree! Nothing cakey OR twirly about the 70’s, you’ll see.
So without further ado, I present my new and tentative feature: The Museum of Kitschy Stitches
For this first edition, we will be heading into the East Wing which houses the Seemed-Like-a-Good-Idea-at-the-Time Gallery.
This is Evelyn Richardson of Long Beach, CA. She is this week’s Guest Artist. “Hi Evelyn!”
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According to the fine folks at the Creative American Craft Series, Evelyn’s enthusiasm for crocheted hats and purses led her to a unique brand of hand-crafting. That’s the understatement of the decade. Ladies and gentlement, I give you . . . Aluminun Can Apparel. All together now – “Thank you, Evelyn!”
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And just how did she come to realize that cans were to become the medium through which her muse would speak? “Evelyn discovered that aluminum cans offered her a greater variety of color and design and were always available from her son and his friends who collected them on weekend trips.”
So her beer-soaked son, who I can only assume lived in the basement, led her to it. It’s starting to make sense now. And how does a woman living in denial of her boy’s rampant alcoholism manifest her concern? Why, with a lovely Coors Ensemble, of course.
Says here that it’s “nice enough for an evening out but still casual enough for that weekend get away!!” Probably no one at the opera will notice the sound of crunching metal as you fidget in your seat.
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I wonder what’s worse. Having a six-pack of freezing cold aluminum cans on your head . . .
or piping hot ones?
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And finally, what would humiliating clothing be without involving Dad and golf? I know mine would beg for another fish-shaped tie if he saw me coming at him with an empty can of beer sewn into a spunky visor or a kicky hat.
‚ I swear to you that the caption near the photo says “every man should have his own hat which tells everyone that he drinks”. My guess is that if he’s willing to wear it, everyone already knows.
Stay tuned for next time when we will learn that it is in fact possible to make skin-tight hot pants out of crocheted granny squares.
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PRICELESS! I love this pattern book. :o) I’m actually almost inclined towards the beer can purse if only because I actually think that’s kind of fun and funny. Don’t tell anyone, though, I wouldn’t want that getting around ;o)
I’d avoid the 80s pattern books if I were you, I got one form ebay and it brought back floods of memories about giant shoulder pads. I’m not talking “shoulder pads,” I’m talking “SHOULDER PADS” in giant chunky knit sweaters. It’s something, I tell you.
I’m not sure, but I think…. oh, what the heck, let’s say, yes, I am…
VERY AFRAID of that kind of inspiration.
My goodness. I need a break. Someone get me a beer
It just so happens that on my desk RIGHT NOW is a copy of the March 1986 edition of Woman’s Day Super Special 101 Sweater and Craft Ideas. On pages 48 and 49 are, respectively, a yellow and black knit sweater with TAXI knit across it and little black checker cab squares, and a black sweater with ROCK & ROLL knit across the front in rainbow striped colors. How much will you give me for it? We’ll start the bidding at $10. What if I throw in some pattern booklets from the 70s I got from my mother in law? What a deal!!!
OMG. Hilarious!!!
-drew
That is AWESOME! I’m linking to you over at my blog just so I don’t accidently miss the next installment of this feature.
Back in the 70’s my mom used to make these doily things that were crocheted around plastic 6-pack loops that had been cut apart, but never in my life have I seen a thing such as this. I must show the world now.
Good Lord…My dad owned a floppy blue Budweiser hat…I remember it being in my toy box as a child. Says a lot about the 70’s, no? Of course, we also had the requisite oil painting of a woman with a bowl of fruit on her head in our kitchen, too.
I’ve linked over to your blog, too…Just too good to pass up!
Oh, the laughing… so much laughing! thank you.
OMGoodness, I saw the pictures and it so reminded me of my DH’s late memere. She was in her 90’s when she died and up until a a year before she died she “volunteered” at the local nursing home visiting the residents and playing cards with them. And she had a hat made out of playing cards much like the beercan hat. Giggles madly and remembers Memere’s silly hat.
UGGGGHHH. My mom crocheted those beer can hats for all her friends…. Dad emptied the cans for her. Oh how I detested those hats!!!
Now I will have nightmares again……. LOL
“This feature would be a way to share another of my obsessions with people that I think would enjoy it. See, I have an unnatural need to buy every vintage ladies magazine I can find. I have piles of magazines from the 20’s to the 70’s (and don’t think I haven’t been eyeing the 80’s ones lately). ”
I’ll be over with the dill pickles and pink lemonade!
You fellow former Star Hits reader,
Carrie
You are a very funny lady! I’m glad I discovered your blog.
This was the first time I’ve read your blog, and I’m SO glad I came across it. I laughed until tears rolled down my face !! Something you might like, if you enjoy kitschy things, is James Lilek’s book The Gallery of Regrettable Foods. It has all these great recipes (with pictures!) from the 60’s and 70’s. One example I’ll never forget is a jello mold made with HOT DOGS in it !! And the commentary is wonderful too.I’m sure a crocheted beer can hat would have been appropriate attire at any social gathering which featured a hot dog jello mold as refreshment.
Cindy B
I read this particular article and laughed my pants off. My co-workers read, too, and laughed their respective pants off. Unfortunately, a week or so later, one of them came running to my cubicle breathless to announce that they had seen a hipper-than-thou hipster in the post office with a beer can hat(pbr, of course). oh stupid hipsters.
I remember my grandparents making and wearing such can art. The new art is to make crafts out of Coffee packages. I am saving some for a friends as we speak. There is nothing new under the sun.
I totally loved this feature! I can remember finding these finished objects at flea markets and yard sales, slavishly made with acrylic yarns of course, and pitying the poor maker for the time spent on something so kitchy that it ended up on the yard sale table.
Does anyone know about using perle cotton to crochet mummify beer bottle caps which were then crocheted together into hotpads and other decorative flat things. I asked my grandmother why she coudlnt use soda bottle tops. She swalled the last gulp of her Rhinegold Ale and gave me the silent stare.
Holy Shameless Crafting, Batman. OMG, thank you so much for the laugh. I really needed it!!!! I will have to rummage through the “vintage” patterns I have…lol
good god… i must have one of those beer purses!!!!! and thanks to deborah for the flashback on the beer cap hot pads. i used to absolutely love playing with those when i was little…. funny…. wonder if that aided in my drinking habits…. i’d pay you dearly for a copy of that purse pattern!!!!
I have searched high and low for patterns for beer can hats. The only one I could find wasn’t NEARLY as great as these. And that purse is the best! Is there any way that I can get the patterns??
I was searching for black dog info and found this post. I agree totally!
Paul
Mrs. McYarnpants, Any chance you have the patterns for those beer can hats? I’d like to make one as a Christmas gag gift but the only patterns I’ve found so far are these: http://members.tripod.com/CarolynMurphy/canhat1.html
Don’t get me wrong, they’re ok – just not what I was hoping for. But the ones Miss Evelyn created (especially the Bud and Pepsi ones) are EXACTLY what I was hoping for.
I had a beer can hat. Well, it was a Pepsi Can hat, my mom didn’t think a beer can hat was appropriate for a 12 year old.
Waaay too funny! Makes you wonder what the blogs will contain in 30 years (will there be blogs in 30 years?).
What I find so amusing is yesterday, I rec’d an ebay item that contained, among other vintage fun stuff, (drum roll, please) The BeerCan Hat Pattern Page, Labeled: Crochet This Attractive Beer Can Hat. (wild applause). Sadly, this is the same page Debbie found at members.tripod…..canhat1.html; no purses or pepsi hats. My DH and I had fun laughing at the pattern; for some odd reason, he turned down my offer to make one for him. Go Figure.
I found your blog from the BellaOnline Crochet forum – and I’m bookmarking it for sure! thanks for your article on The Museum of Kitsch! Not everyone has your breadth of vision…
I would absolutely love to have the patterns for the beer can hats and the purse is to die for. Love your blog!!!
OMG!!!!!!! My mother MADE THOSE HATS!!!!
I have not seen them since the early 70s. Mom made Budwieser hats, Pabst Blue Ribbon hats, Coke Hats, Pepsi hats, 7-Up hats… She did not buy the pattern book. She looked at the picture in a magazine and figured it out for herself. She sold them at a local small flea market.
This was Deja-Vu, not in a good way…
We want YARNFACE! Merry Christmas to you Stichy, and to all of your listeners..
Great stuff! I have one of those beer can hats in my museum. Classics!
Great blog.
I too would love to have your patterns for beer/soda can apparel!! My mom wants to make some hats and I can’t remember how I did it 30 years ago!
Valo@clearwire.net
nice…..can i say, though, that at our parties in high school and college, that the “weird old guy” was always wearing a crochet and beer can hat. we made lots of fun. maybe they were this lady’s sons!
That is freakin’ hilarious. Just goes to show how creativity can sometimes go overboard!
I would like the pattern for beer can hats also if you have it thank you. love yours
Tell me how I can get the pattern or booklet with patterns of beer can hats. THanks!!
So I see the link to right with some patterns, but the one I’d pay to get is the one for the hobo style bag in the coors ensemble…is this available, or will it be, in the upcoming book?
These hats are so much better than any I’ve seen and I’m also looking for the patterns. I’ve read all the comments about others also looking… did anyone receive an answer. My son is so disappointed with me that I threw them away when I moved… I told him if I could find a good pattern I’d make him some new ones. love them all!
Thank you so very much for helping me to complete what seemed like and endless search. I was SURE someone else out there knew what I was talking about!
God Bless
Hey can I get a copy/tips on how to make those beer hats/purses? Thank you so much!
Hi
Did anyone have any luck fiding this? I have a copy but print is too small to read,it was a shared copy. judyyak
I really want to buy or make one of those kicky hats. Anyone know of the pattern for those or where I could buy one? Thanks!
any one willing to make these hats at an event? Phila, PA area
I am looking for the beer can hat pattern! I have looked all over the net and always have hit a dead end. I like the many styles you show! It’s really great to know that someone is recyleing cans in such a creative way! COOL!
where can I buy the book on how to make the purse from coke can, beer can,ect,
bought the book…no patterns…sent it back…disappointing…a knitting/crochet book with no instructions….wtf…
I am looking for the pattern to stitch the pepsi can hat. It is pictured on this web-site, but I do not see a pattern. Is this pattern in the Book? If you can tell ne how to get the pattern, I will aprreciate it. Thank you!
I am looking for the patterns for these beer can hats. Where can I find them.
Thanks
Sharon Holscher
Do you know long I have been looking for the pattern for this beercan hat..Can you plesase send m e the instructions for htis Budweiser hat..Thanks Linda send it to lfaschingbauer@yahoo.com
Just YESTERDAY I was at a yarn store learning how to crochet around an aluminum can! Yes…The trend is coming back! I am going to make a belt.
Thanks,
Ingrid
Surreal in Suburbia
Enjoyed your site. If you have the pattern for the white beer can hat or the pepsi hat would love to have it.
I have your pattern for the red hat you have on site but wanted to make these up with soda cans for the kids and thought one of these patterns might fit better. Like most people had all these patterns at one time but…hope to hear from you and thank you.
I see you have the patterns for some, but not all the hats featured on here. Where does one get the patterns for the pepsi and budweiser hats, the golf hats and ski hat on here?? My Mom also made these back in the 70’s, but she no longer has her patterns anymore.
watching a GB packer game last weekend we saw someone with a beer can hat and laughed-remembering the past. Just then the phone rang and my sister-in-law in Virginia (watching the same game)told me that her and my brother saw the same hat and he wants one for christmas. I can’t find the pattern. Can you help. I like the one for the golf cap too. It would make the perfect christmas gift for someone who has everything. Thanks Natalie (barnat10@aol.com)
I was able to resurrect the Crochet Cache beer can hat pattern. I hope it’s an inspiration and help to all of you.
http://extremecraft.typepad.com/extreme_craft/2007/11/i-can-has-can-h.html
Garth @ Extreme Craft
I would love to have the pattern for the beer can baseball cap (beige in color on the golf picture) Enjoyed this site immensely
This still makes me LOL after reading it a million times! The ski hat and the beach hat get me ev’ry time.
LOL
This is too funny. I just entered my beer can hat that I have had for years into a crappy gift contest on shopit.
My Great-Grandma used to make these hats for everyone! I have been dying to make one for my son. Thank you so much for posting this! Probably pushing my luck, but do you have the pattern for the crocheted ducks that you put a bar of soap in? I think they were shower favors. I’m the only crocheter left in my family and I’ve looked all over the internet with no luck. Either way, THANK YOU! for the beer hat pattern.
I’ve been knitting beer-can apparel for family and friends for years. Hats. Sweaters. Toaster mitts, Golf caddies. Even a pair of rainbow capris for my wife, Carla, O made with some vintage beer cans we collected on a bus trip through Bavaria. (Tough to sit down but they look great at a party ;>) !!!
Monte from Wheat Ridge
Monte’s hats are lovely! A true treasure! I wear the one he made
me to all my swap-meets!
I would really like the patterns for the beer can ball cap and the visor. ould you send them to me? Thank You.
I would really like the patterns for the beer can ball cap and the visor. Can I get a copy of the pattern or can I buy it from you? Thank You.
I love your hats may I purchase or get the patterns from you
thank you
These are just great! May I have the pattern for the ball cap?? Thanks!
Can i get a copy of the ball cap pattern or does anyone know where i can find the pattern? My little brother’s birthday is in august & i would love to make him a pbr ball cap.. He would love it! Thanks
How do i get the pattern for the coors crochet beer can cap in the golf picture? I have been lookig for a pattern for my son….he wants one for hid birthday. I had the pattern years ago and don’t have it any more…..thank you