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Showing posts with label crochet. Show all posts
Showing posts with label crochet. Show all posts

Sunday, October 13, 2013

Book Review: The Crocheter’s Companion Revised and Updated by Nancy Brown; Interweave Publishing /F+W Media #HolidayGiftGuide2013

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Explore a guidebook with over 65,000 copies sold! Get more stitches, over 70 new illustrations, and step-by-step techniques in this new edition of The Crocheter's Companion.


This indispensable resource includes all of the essentials, plus a few exciting extras you've been longing for: more tools, stitches, and techniques, as well as updated yarn information, complete abbreviations and symbols, and additional information on reading stitch diagrams. Also, due to popular demand, the section on Tunisian crochet has been expanded.
Still in its handy pocket-sized, spiral-bound format, the updated edition covers all the basics (and then some!). Thread and hook charts, stitch instructions with clear illustrations, and lots of helpful hints from one of crochet's most experienced authors will inspire beginners and serious crocheters alike. With impeccable illustrations, an easy-to-understand format, and the most updated information available, The Crocheter's Companion will soon become the only crochet resource you'll need.

My Review

The Crocheter’s Companion is a pocket sized spiral bound reference book that every crocheter needs in their project bag. The spiral bound design allows the book to lie flat while working on a project, which I love. Usually I have to add paper weights on both sides of the pages to keep the book on the page.

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This book is definitely packed with all the essential information that every crocheter needs, whether beginner or advanced. It has clear illustrations and detailed easy to follow instructions, so that even someone who has never picked up a crochet stick before can manage to follow along.

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Step-by-step instructions on all the crochet stitches from basic to advanced. Beginning the foundation chain, chainless foundations, & single crochet and taking it up a notch to double crochet, treble crochet, extended double and treble crochet, and ending with the slip stitch.

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I know how to crochet but not at an advanced level. I can make stitches and figure out how to put them together to actually make something out of it. I can make totes, bookmarks, tech cases and stuff. I haven’t managed to learn how to make clothes or anything that requires measuring anybody yet. This book has really take crochet to another level for me.

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It has taught me so many interesting advanced techniques and finishes that I’d been trying to learn. Most books are just patterns or teaches the essentials but don’t go in depth to the more advanced stitches.

This shows how to make buttonholes, how to block, add edging, and working with seams. How to add in the decorative touches that really make crochet amazing such as cords, braids, buttons, pompoms, fringes, etc.

If you can manage to teach yourself the most essential stitches and use that- you’ll be crocheting up a storm in no time. That’s how I taught myself. I’d take it one stitch at a time, and just kept practicing! Before you know it, you’ll be putting patterns together in no time.

This book shows you how to work rows of stitches, in rounds, joining in new yarn, and how to shape pieces. This book explains in detailed instruction and illustration on how to do each stitch. This is the next step to learning the essential beginning stitches.

Then it takes it up another notch with the more advances stitches (which are just combining several beginner stitches). These would include shell stitch, popcorn stitch, cluster stitch, picot stitch..etc. Then it adds the different ways to crochet; bead crochet, aran crochet, filet crochet, multicolored crochet..etc.

It also adds in Tunisian crochet, which I’d never tried to master before. This is also called afghan crochet which is a blend of crochet and knitting. Then the end consists of troubleshooting and helpful hints. This helps with any problems you may run into or questions you may run into.

I love this book! I am glad that I have gotten the chance to add this to my collection! This would make an amazing gift for someone wanting to learn crochet, someone who knows how but would like to learn more, or someone who’d like a reference book!

About the Author:

Nancy Brown is the author of the original edition of The Crocheter's Companion, and her work has been featured in Interweave Knits, Scarf Style, and Knitting Socks with Handpainted Yarns(all Interweave). A crocheter for almost 40 years, Nancy served as executive vice president of the Crochet Guild of America and was the West Coast representative for Skacel Collection Inc. She lives in the Pacific Northwest.

Interweave/F+W Media, Inc; $19.95

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-Jessica

Thursday, September 26, 2013

Book Review & Giveaway: Crochet For Dolls; 25 Fun, Fabulous Outfits for 18-inch Dolls by Nicky Epstein; Nicky Epstein Books

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Who better than design superstar Nicky Epstein to create an adorable collection of crochet patterns for today's wildly popular 18-inch dolls? Epstein's 25 playful, fashion-forward garments—from hats, coats, and jackets to dresses, skirts, tops, and pants—range from classic to chic to trendy, and she gives all the basics on measuring, getting a great fit, and choosing the right yarn and needles. Nicky's outfits make up a stylish complete doll wardrobe—perfect for a special little girl's special friend!

My Review

My daughter Adisyn turned 4 this year and so she got her first 18’ doll. I thought she was finally mature enough to care for one without losing it, breaking it, or stripping it naked and losing all it’s clothes.

Just like any normal girl, her “dolls” can never have enough clothes or accessories. What’s better as a mom then to be able to handcraft her those clothes and accessories? Something she can play with for years and years? Something she will love and cherish for a long time!Something she might want to keep to put in her memory box after she is through playing with them!

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The uniqueness and originality of the designs is just absolutely stunning! I can’t say that there is ONE design in the book that I don’t want to make at some point in the future. There are a huge variety of patterns to make to suit any girls vivid imagination of where her doll will be going in that particular outfit!

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My best friends daughter also collects dolls. She has almost the entire collection of American Girl Dolls, so making her a couple outfits would be the perfect Christmas gift for her! She would absolutely adore it, I’m sure!

Summer, Spring, Winter, and Fall. An outfit for all seasons. There’s an outfit for so many amazing things, to keep your “girl” interested in her doll, keep her imagination moving, and keep her playing for HOURS!

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Let her cast her imagination into the world of a Royal Princess with this beautiful dress. A gown and a crown are all a girl needs to feel like a princess. It comes with dainty rosebuds dot on the skirt and a beautiful matching purse.

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Let her be a wildflower. This beautiful hat, scarf, and mitten set is composed of colorful petals looks like it was picked from a flowerbed.

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Give it a Whirl with this airy dress that has a pretty pinwheel on the bodice. It becomes an anytime ensemble with a matching jacket & purse.

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Dressed up in Daises- A cozy turtleneck tunic embroidered with scarlet blossoms is pretty as a picture.

Pretty as a Picture- A loop-stitch skirt, a top with dainty buttons and ruffles, and a matching circle purse are a true work of art.

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There are also funky, hip, unique styled clothing like the Fit for a Fiesta dress! There are so many different textures of fabric, made of different stitches. Some are simple stitches yet look so elegant while some are made of more complicated stitches!

There are also a variety of accessories which makes it SO much more amazing! Hats and purses galore! It even shows how to make little doll jewelry in the back! There are also recipes to accompany these little “imaginative” places your daughter is going to visit!

This would make an amazing Christmas present for someone who loves to crochet!

Biography

Nicky Epstein is one of today's most prolific and versatile knitwear designers, authors and teachers. She has gained worldwide recognition for her artistic, distinctive and innovative work, whimsical sense of style and informative workshops. Her designs continue to be featured in many knitting magazines and publications, on television, and in museums.

Buy IT: Crochet for Dolls by Nicky Epstein $19.95 from Sterling Books

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Jessica Renee

Saturday, April 24, 2010

If you want to learn to crochet..

My aunt crochet’s & she is really good at it. When my mom’s sewing machine broke down on me last year (before I got mine)..I was thinking of other crafty things to do…so the book dork in me (as in: the librarians know me by name & the way I get things done at the library)..which is I research books I want before I get there & then browse around a minute… but anyway I went & checked out possibly every book I could on crochet. It taught me alot (but teaching yourself from a book is a lot harder than having someone there to show you what’s going on)..

Here are a few that have actually HELPED & not made me think “what I am doing to myself?”..

100 Flowers to Knit & Crochet: A Collection of Beautiful Blooms for Embellishing Garments, Accessories, and MoreCrocheting For Dummies

Warm Fuzzies: 30 Sweet Felted Projects

Here are some YouTube video’s that also helped..

1. How to do a slip knot stitch (the very first stitch)…

2. How to make a chain stitch

3. Single Crochet

4. Half Double Crochet

5. Double Crochet

6. Triple Crochet

7. Slip Stitch

8. Weaving in the ends

Happy crocheting…

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