🔶 …the F*ck AI Skeleton Sweater by creator EarthTricks is fighting back against AI. Tired of seeing AI generated skeleton sweaters that had nonsensical patterns, EarthTricks got mad and designed her own! The pattern has been on the Ravelry trending list for weeks now. And, in a bizarre twist that feels very 2025, AI ripped off her post and turned it into a skeezy Tedoo ad! 😲

🔶 …this rescue cat that was tempted out of hiding to help her new mom with her crochet and, take over in the process! Doing as a good cat does.

🔶 …recycling plastic bags into mats for the homeless. Each mat takes 500 plastic bags and this “bag lady” changes them into ‘plarn’, crocheting mats for the homeless.

This week I took the plunge and bought the Crazy Hexi Cool Cardi pattern you picked for me and plunged into the world of hexi cardigans. Here’s what I’ve discovered.

Despite the name, hexi cardigans aren't your typical six-sided hexagons. They're crafted from two crocheted pieces with six corners each—usually worked in classic Granny stitch—but all the corners are right angles!

Why does that matter? Math! Six 90° angles create 540° of fabric that naturally ripples and refuses to lie flat (unlike a square's tidy 360°). But that's not a flaw—it's the feature—and the magic! When you fold those ripples just right, they magically transform into perfect underarm sections!

That's the genius that separates these from regular flat hexagons with their 60° angles.

The red circled area in the picture below is the beginning of the hexi.

Rummaging through my stash, I decided on the Paton's Linen 3 weight yarn I scored at the Yarnspirations Tent Sale. The colorway is named after the world’s most disgusting vegetable: cauliflower. But the color is pretty!

The pattern recommended a 4.5mm hook. Now, I KNOW the cardinal rule is to make a gauge swatch. But I completely skipped it. I reasoned the design looked forgiving, the fit seemed adjustable, and I was too excited to wait! Oops. 😂

So far, the pattern has been easy to follow, albeit in UK terms. Fortunately it only uses double crochet stitches named as trebles in the pattern, so it's easy to interpret. Helpful photos guide you through those crucial first few rounds. I'm working on both hexagons simultaneously ( so there's a better chance of them coming out to the same size), and I've conquered the trickiest part. Now it's smooth sailing—just a simple 4-row repeat until I hit the right size.

We're traveling after Christmas, and this project will be the perfect companion for those cozy travel moments. Progress update: already obsessed!

👉 Are you making this pattern? I’d love to see your progress!

A curated selection of useful (mostly) crochet-related articles and tools I’ve come across recently for you to explore. All links have been vetted! 🧡

In case you missed it last week, my new mini tree skirt looks great under the mini tree! The Six Day Star Tree Skirt pattern was easy to follow, once I got my counting right.

I’m in love with the candy cane border that was quick once I got the hang of it. Tip: chain after the single crochet—it’s easier to crochet behind.

I originally planned do a bobble border, but it looked awkward. And the pattern was NOT WRONG when it warned that it would take forever! I had to get it off my hook before Christmas, so I frogged and was satisfied with the plainer border that is quite effective!

👉 Share your Christmas decorations with me! I’d love to see!

WEAVING IN THE ENDS

I wish you a merry Christmas and hope that Santa brings you everything you dreamed of! Next week we’ll look at the biggest stories of 2025. Stay tuned!

—Michelle 🧡

P.S. Thanks for reading - forward to a friend!

BEFORE YOU GO…