Mad Hatter

Artist Aynsley Grealis is the creator of the popular Instagram @KnottedNeon, where her whimsical balaclavas, handbags, sweaters, and bucket hats have become sensations. These creations attract eager buyers, who pay one hundred dollars and up for each custom piece, and have inspired a growing audience of crocheters eager to replicate her brilliant patterns.

In Mad Hatter, her first book, Grealis shares her unpublished designs and patterns to teach readers how to make three simple bases: a balaclava, a pull-on hat, and a handbag. She then demonstrates how to decorate each with layers of whimsical appliques. While the patterns appear complicated, they are designed for ease with a focus on embellishments.

The book includes patterns for crocheted flowers, bees, stars, clouds, an entire coral reef of fish and sea creatures, and a field of mushrooms, veggies, and exotic greenery. This enables readers to create wonderful hats and bags with lots of flair—or just a little!

Grealis’s approach encourages crocheters to innovate and playfully reinvent, using her easy-to-follow instructions as a springboard. Suitable for beginners and adaptable to all skill levels, these fun and fabulous designs open a world of imagination to readers.