Crochet Me: Designs to Fuel the Crochet Revolution
I love crochet, but I really struggle sometimes to find patterns and techniques that aren’t daggy. Crochet has such a bad rap when it comes to granny squares and afghans, but it is a craft that can be stylish and edgy, when the designer has taken the time and care to make it so. Kim Werker’s crochet career started when she was online in 2004 and looking for cool crochet patterns, couldn’t find any, so started crochetme.com. Her site grew into an online magazine, and then she edited Interweave Crochet, and now she has (among other things) created “Crochet me” – the book.
This book takes all the best bits from crochetme.com and distilled them and pressed them between covers. Much handier to read on the lounge or sprawled on the lounge room floor than in front of the computer desk!
I love love love this book because:
1. The patterns are cool. Thigh high stockings, a heap of groovy jumpers and tops, a dress, a messenger bag, a mat, some very odd (but great) amigurumi dolls, even some crochet jewellery. All of them cool, all of them unusual.
2. The patterns are well written, very clear, and explain every little step. Special stitches are spelled out for each pattern, on the same page as the pattern, so no searching for what you are supposed to be doing. They are well photographed, and are illustrated with stitch diagrams! I got so excited by the stitch diagrams, they are excellent for impatient people like me that just want to have a glance and jump straight into it without having to try to imagine how the stitch pattern will work just from the written instructions. And each pattern offers some idea of substitute yarn, which is much appreciated by this crocheter that does not live in the USA and does not always have easy access to the suggested yarns.
3. It is full of little essays and anecdotes from the author, and photos and blurbs about each of the designers. And each pattern has a concentration rating! How cool is that? When I read crafting blogs and hear tell of a weekend of pure crafting, stopping only to eat and sleep, I get so jealous. I live in a very busy and noisy household, and being able to concentrate on just one thing is very rare. So having a book of cool patterns, each with a concentration rating, makes me very very happy!
All of the standard bits needed in a crochet book are included, such as a simple how-to of basic stitches, blocking, sewing together and abbreviations. All of these are well illustrated and clear. There are also sidebars about other crochet techniques such as tapestry and Tunisian crochet.
Thanks Kim for writing such a great book. It is a valuable addition to the growing catalogue of crochet books full of great patterns.
About the author: Kate is a busy mother of four and has far too many craft projects on the go at any one time. These could include, but are not limited to, crochet, sewing, dyeing, paper making, spinning, felting and bookbinding. Kate has challenges in the areas of finishing things, saying no and craft supplies storage. She also has a very very patient and tolerant husband.
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