Category Archives: Needlework/Arts/Crafts

“Knitting Fabric Rugs” has 28 stunning designs by Karen Tiede. I have crocheted rugs before but I have knitted one. I looked through the digital copy and was so enthralled by the possibilities that I immediately ordered a paper copy to have in my craft library.

There are so many lovely designs, that it is hard to choose which one to start with. The patterns range from fairly easy to more involved, so the book should appeal to beginning knitters to more advanced ones. I am what I consider an advanced beginner in knitting as I have only been knitting for seven years and most of my projects have been fashion accessories. I’m really ready to try something different and the idea of knitting a rug is very appealing.

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I was extremely happy to see a new book about Macrame with up-to-date jewelry and fashion accessories. I learned to macrame years ago and and it was a hobby that I had relegated to the sideline due to lack of updated materials and patterns. I recently just started to re-learn the craft and found that there are lots of new materials available. What I needed was some new patterns and “Macrame Fashion Accessories & Jewelry” by Sylvie Hooghe does a great job of filling that need.

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“New Methods for Crochet Socks” is a set of twelve crochet sock patterns by Rohn Strong. The socks look lovely and I would rate them to be intermediate and above. If you are a beginner at crochet, take your time, be sure you have a resource (friend or online) where you can ask questions if you get stuck, and you should be able to work your way through. I would not suggest these socks as first projects, though, so try a few less involved items first to become comfortable with crochet and then get ready to tackle these.

The book arrived and while I was thrilled with the material, I actually had to have Amazon replace the book because it arrived damaged in shipment. That has nothing to do with the subject matter of the book but it temper my enthusiasm for a minute or two.

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“101 Socks: Circular Needles, Felted, Addi-Express, Toe Up, Crocheted, and Spiral Knit” is a great book for someone, like me, who is more experienced in a single method of stitching but wants to try more varieties of styles. There are socks and slippers included. The sizes range from infant (knitted booties) to children to adult. At the back of the book, there is a fantastic guide that gives the number of stitches needed for various sizes in the different forms of handwork included in the book.

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This is a book of 23 truly stunning crocheted bags. I am inspired to crochet at least one of each bag for myself and then, perhaps, a couple of others for family and friends.

The book apparently was published in Germany in 2014 (though it is unclear if it was as a book or simply that the patterns were available from Coats GmbH), then in Great Britain in 2015, and finally, here in the US, also in 2015. The translators did a good job in providing directions in both the US format (default in this book) and in the English format.

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This book is an extremely thorough with regards to the steps needed to choose, measure, and make curtains for a variety of windows and in a large number of styles.

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It is important to note that this book, “Creating Hawaiian-Inspired Quilts” is for quilt patterns inspired by Hawaiian quilts and not patterns for traditional Hawaiian quilts themselves. There is considerably piecework involved in some of the quilts which is not at all traditional.

Given that, it is really easy to see where the author, Judith Sandstrom, has incorporated the look and feel of Hawaiian quilts. I love the look of a two-tone applique quilt and some of the patterns reflect that while others really seem to focus a bit more on piecing. It is really a matter of taste as to which a quilter would prefer.

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“Modular Crochet” by Judith Copeland is a reprint of a book originally published in 1978. Usually, one would think that a book that old would be out of date. This is not the usual book. It is a perfect example of what was old is new again. Before I had even finished reviewing the temporary digital version I had been provided by the publisher, I had gone back and ordered a paper version not only for myself but a second copy for my younger daughter who also loves to crochet. The original book is still around in the secondary market but the price is high and out of reach of many crocheters. By re-publishing this book, Dover has brought the price point down to a reasonable and doable amount for most of us.

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I had been looking for a great book of amigurumi fairy tale characters when I came across “Once Upon a Time in Crochet” by Lynne Rowe. I pre-ordered it a month or two ago and when it arrived, I was thrilled with both the selection and the imagination used to create the characters.

To start with, the cast of characters: The Princess and the Pea (including bed and blankets), The Ugly Duckling, Three Billy Goats Gruff (and troll), Goldilocks and the Three Bears, Puss in Boots, Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, Little Red Riding Hood (and standing wolf), The Three Little Pigs (and sitting wolf), The Frog Prince, Hansel and Gretel (and witch), and to finish, Rapunzel (and her castle.)

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I have been a sewist for most of my life but have always had problems with collared shirts. I chose this book to see if it could show me where I have been going wrong. I consider myself to be an intermediate as much of my sewing projects over the last ten years have involved quilting more so than garments.

The book is much more than I originally thought. It has so much information that it will take me quite a while to go through it all and put its suggestions into practice in my projects.

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