This is the almost the last stop on the fabulous blog tour ofCrochet Adorned: Reinvent Your Wardrobe with Crocheted Accents, Embellishments, and Trims by Linda Permann. And a chance to win a copy of this gorgeous book too.

First up congratulations Linda on a gorgeous and original crochet book. There are some truly innovative designs and super cute uses for crochet in this book – I am loving it!

Crochet Adorned ticks all points on my crochet must have list. Charts, instructions, detailed how-to and cool projects.

With super cute edging on clothing (perfect to give new life to loved outfits), brooches and earrings and even lovely edging on shoes – how adorable is that! I love the edged coat in the picture below and there is a lovely apron (with a pattern on how to sew it as well) with a crochet butterfly just to make you feel like a domestic goddess! As well as adorning your clothing and self with crochet you can also adorn your home with crochet cuteness – crochet bowls, table runners and pillows.

Just on my first flick through I was struck by how perfect Linda’s colour choices and style are throughout. Like most craft books there is always going to be something where you say ‘what the’ and this book is no exception – however with 99% fabulousness I am willing to forgive that 1%.

I particularly love the stitch dictionary at the back – showing swatches with charts, stitch key and detailed instructions. The stitch dictionary goes through different trims (there are 25) useful for not only trimming clothing and linens but also for making ribbon and fringing and jewelry. Next there are a variety of motifs, such as flowers and granny squares, hexagons and triangles. Then the stitch patterns – starting with single crochet, and moving on through double, treble and faux rib stitch and onto textured stitches – love the bobble stitch, and waffle stitch and puff stitch. Then on to mesh and netting stitches, and lace stitches – love the shells and scallops, strawberry stitch and daisy lace. The last of the stitch dictionary is on colour work – ripple stitch, cross stitch over single crochet, catherine wheel and more.

This book is a wonderful crochet resource for newbies and more advanced crocheters. It has to be one of the best crochet books I have seen in a long time – with fabulous instructions and projects that I will actually make.

Chance to win
Now after saying all that I have a book to give away – so leave a comment here telling us your favourite way to use crochet to adorn yourself, your clothing or your home. [open for 48 hours] Now closed – winner will be contacted this week.

I am very excited to be a stop on Kristen Rengren’s blog tour for her new book – vintage baby knits. Kristen will be stopping by here on 10 July to discuss the history of knitting from the 1920’s to the 1950’s. She will be talking about the styles and techniques and how these have or have not changed over time. I am really looking forward to it. In the meantime enjoy some lovely photos from the book – by the very talented Thayer Allyson Gowdy. More photography and more about the book at Melanie Falick Books website.

Vintage Baby Knits: More Than 40 Heirloom Patterns from the 1920s to the 1950s by Kristen Rengren. STC Craft/A Melanie Falick Book (June 1, 2009).

Here is the book tour schedule starts today (1 July) at the Panopticon Dolores the Sheep gets real w/ Kristen Rengren Most of these stops on the tour will be doing giveaways of the book as well.

July 6 – Yarn talk at Go knit your hat
July 8 – A book review at Sheep in the city
July 10 – Knitting in the 1930s-50s here at whipup
July 14 – Show and tell: projects from the book! at Grumperina
July 16 – Book review at Knit Smiths
July 17 – Book review at Hand made news
July 20 – Something interesting at Heather Ross’s blog
July 22- House at Hill Road will be hosting
July 24 – To finish off a Knitting Q and A at Hand made news

Sewing Green: 25 Projects Made with Repurposed & Organic Materials

Betz White is going blog hopping on her blog tour to promote her new book – sewing green. Whipup will be one stop on the tour – its already started so quick – catch up. (don’t you just love the front cover – that is Betz’s beautiful niece)

Friday 3 April – The Purl Bee – Review and signing announcement
Monday 6 April – True Up – Q&A, book giveaway
Tuesday 7 April – U-Handbag – Review, book giveaway
Wednesday 8 April – Craftzine – Project excerpt, book giveaway and Q&A
Thursday 9 April - This is love forever – Furoshiki, book giveaway
Friday 10 April - Knotions - Thrift Shop Savvy for knits: book giveaway
Monday 13 April – Craftypod – Review and book giveaway
Tuesday 14 April - Crafting a Green World – Review and book giveaway
Wednesday 15 April – Freshly Blended – Review and book giveaway
Thursday 16 April – Etsy Storque – Announcement of Etsy Lab Tyvek Tote project
Friday 17 April- Make Grow Gather - Q&A, book giveaway
Tuesday 21 April – Philly Etsy – Review, Q and A, book giveaway
Wednesday 22 April – Whip Up – Applique tips and tricks: book giveaway (that’s us – stay tuned)
Thursday 23 April – Wardrobe Refashion – Thrift Shop Savvy for sewing: book giveaway
Monday 27 April – Morsbags – Review and giveaway
Tuesday 28 April - Heart Handmade – Inspiration and ideas, Book giveaway
Wednesday 29 April – House on Hill Road – Eco-friendly lunch, book giveaway
Thursday 30 April – Craftsanity – Q & A, book giveaway

We welcome Heather Ross as she continues her blog tour for her new book – Weekend Sewing: More Than 40 Projects and Ideas for Inspired Stitching.

Such a great book – I particularly loved the hand-drawn illustrations. I also enjoyed the quirky indulgence of including a couple of weekend luxury cooking recipes. The photography – as always with John Gruen, is spotless – perfect combination of character and interesting details, with the ability to actually see the project in full focus.

And as well as all that the projects are pretty good too. Glamorous frocks and picnic skirts, stay-at-home slippers and dinner party aprons. A market shopping bag and lounging around all day unisex pants.

Today though Heather is giving us a lesson in sewing a “set in” sleeve
Take it away Heather.

One of the most intimidating things about sewing blouses, jackets, and sleeved dresses is the tricky step of sewing a sleeve into place. One of the things that I really hoped to accomplish with Weekend Sewing was to encourage new sewers to try sewing clothing for themselves, so it was really important to me that the book include some great “beginner level” sleeves that didn’t frighten anyone away. The method described below is one of my favorite sewing tricks and appears in several projects in the book including the Summer Blouse and the Shirt Dress.

Happy Sewing!
Heather

1. Prepare your sleeve by first adding a row of “ease-stitching” to the edge of your shoulder. This should be basting stitch, and you should leave extra long pieces of thread hanging from the ends. Don’t backstitch, you want to be able to pull these threads a little together this edge in order to shape it and push it into place in your arm hole.

2. With right sides together, sew your sleeves edges together. Turn right side out.

3. Turn your blouse or shirt wrong side out. Side and shoulder seams should be sewn already, so that your armhole is complete. Place your sleeve inside your blouse, pushing the sleeves opening into place into your armhole. Match your blouses side seams with the seam in on the bottom edge of your sleeve, and pin. Continue pinning the sleeve and blouse together. Use your east stitches to shape and even gather (by pulling your long threads) your sleeve if necessary to make it fit perfectly into your armhole.

4. Beginning at your side seam, stitch carefully around your armhole. Turn blouse right side out and press.