INTRODUCTION
CHAPTER ONE: Crocheting in the Round
CHAPTER TWO: Crocheting back and forth
CHAPTER THREE: Textural pattern
CHAPTER FOUR: Working with colour
CHAPTER F I V E : MOTIFS BEYOND THE SQUARE
CHAPTER S IX: Finishing Off
INDEX AND CREDITS
Hannah Elgie has been crafting since she was a small child, taught
by her wonderful Mama. After moving to Essex with her husband Joe,
Hannah made many crafty friends and her business, Make, Do & Mend
was born. Teaching knitting, crochet, sewing techniques,
feltmaking, and pottery painting initially, Make, Do & Mend quickly
outgrew its tiny shop and moved to larger premises. By the time
Make, Do & Mend celebrated its first birthday, Hannah had published
her crochet patterns in national craft magazines, appeared on BBC
Radio countless times and filmed for Channel 4’s SuperScrimpers.
Since then, Hannah has
been asked to teach workshops with Twisted Thread at several
National craft shows in the UK. Hannah is now immersed in the world
of crochet, producing giant crochet hooks for those who dare to
hook it large. Kath Webber is an experienced journalist and blogger
with a confirmed addiction to crochet. She has worked on a variety
of magazines and styled for clients including Habitat, Laura
Ashley, Jack Wills, The White Company, and Hush. Kath now teaches
crochet at Make, Do & Mend in Chelmsford, Essex, publishes crochet
and knitting patterns on her blog and on Ravelry, and regularly
writes her craft blog, Inverleith, which details her crafty
endeavours in crochet, knitting, baking, and sewing, including
crocheted blankets, coasters, scarves, hats, baby clothes, and
dresses.
Mar 13 Here is an incredible 500 crochet blocks to keep you going
just about forever. The front of the book includes instructions on
how to crochet, showing all the stitches you need, how to read a
pattern and how to finish off. Chapter 1 deals with basic stitches
and there are some fabulous patterns that actually, if you don't
know, you would not necessarily assume were basic. I like
'Shelley', 'Fan Stitch', 'Ripples and Waves', 'Waffle', 'Seaside'
and more. Chapter 2 is all about crocheting in the round and is
based on granny squares. Chapter 3 moves on to colour work and
encourages you to experiment. I like 'Wedges' and 'Cornered' but
thought this section was rather old fashioned. Chapter 4 is about
motifs, shapes such as circles, stars, flowers and leaves. At the
end of each chapter there are alternative suggestions but the type
is far too small. It is small throughout the book, but really very
tiny on these alternative pages. You also have to cope with the
book closing whilst you are trying to work. However, this is a
great book. I liked it. super for anyone wanting to have a crochet
blitz and crete their own designs.
*Karen Platt Yarnsandfabrics.co.uk/crafts*
May 13 Meet the second entry in the new 500 series – a book of
crochet blocks. There is just about every block you can think of in
here, plus lots of other crochet know-how. Like 500 Toys by Nguyen
Le (also reviewed on this site) this is a small format but tubby
book filled with 500 projects. It’s proud cover boast is that this
is “the only compendium of crochet blocks you’ll ever need”, but is
this true? Let’s have a look… The book starts by giving the reader
the basics – what you need to buy in order to take up the hobby,
basic stitches with clear diagrams and pattern reading help. Slip
knots, chain, double and treble crochet are all shown clearly but I
wouldn’t recommend this book to the total beginner as the other
stitches are just briefly described in words alone. To be fair it
does not say “beginner” anywhere on the cover, so I would suggest
that improvers and up would be the target audience. The bulk of
this book is devoted to the blocks themselves which are divided
into rough sections. There are Back and Forth, Round and Round,
Color Work and Shaped Motifs which are basically all about either
appearance or method of working. Each section also has a useful
part at the end giving variations on the items (albeit in very tiny
print) and projects are all laid out in the same manner with a full
page photograph of the finished item one side and instructions plus
a chart on the other, plus a basic variation to try out. There are
also projects such as crocheted bunting, a floral corsage,
snowflake Christmas tree decoration etc. Although I have seen many
books with a wider variety of different blocks I have never seen
quite so many in one place. Great value for any crochet fan
(particularly those whose skills are not yet advanced), but for
anybody looking for something “different” I would look
elsewhere.
*Myshelf.com*
June 13 '500 crochet blocks – the only compendium of crochet blocks
you'll ever need' by Hannah Elgie & Kath Webber is a fantastic book
which is full of inspiration and variations on themes. There are
squares, circles, numerous colour collections and hundreds of
different stitches. After each chapter there are four suggestions
for variations on almost all of the crocheted blocks in different
colours or with different flowers or a different charted design. I
found this to be the most useful aspect of the book. You aren't
just getting 500 blocks, but a lot more for your money. The book is
a six inch square (15cm) which is what size the blocks come to when
you have finished crocheting them. It's the size I find is most
asked for when fundraising and makes adding up what size your
finished afghan will be that much easier. The book begins with a
fully illustrated guide on how to crochet which lasts a full seven
pages so you will not be lost if you are a beginner. There are two
pages on textural stitches such as bobble and puff stitches. One
page is on reading a pattern and one on reading a chart; something
other books or magazines don't seem to extend their help section
with. There is also advice on finishing your work and sewing or
crocheting the blocks together with some information on edgings you
can decorate your afghan with and some essential hints and tips to
finish with. There are also project suggestions next to some of the
patterns. The range of stitches on offer is phenomenal. I love the
lace and there are also blocks which use crocheted cables and
tunisian crochet too.
*sewingisforgirls.blogspot.com*
Sept 13 The tagline on this book says it all – this really is the
only compendium of crochet blocks you'll ever need. Crochet blocks
are ideal for crafters on the move, as they're so portable. Inside
the book, you'll find easy projects and advanced projects, all with
variations to give you even more scope for using them. There's also
top-notch, expert advice on choosing yarn and ideas for how to use
your crocheted squares, plus information on basic stitches, working
in the round and joining blocks together.
*Knit Today*
When my bloggy friend Kath over at Inverleith published her crochet
compendium I knew I'd have to go and get a copy. As a newbie(ish)
hooker, I'm keen to increase my skills and do more than 'just a
granny square'. Thankfully the lovely people over at Search Press
were more than happy to accommodate my request and sent one through
post-haste. There is so much to choose from - obviously as it's
titled 500 blocks, not less, not more! The book is divided into
four sections: - back and forth - round and round - colour work -
shaped motifs You get clear instructions, in both written and chart
format, plus a photo on how to do each square, and here's the
clever bit, you get a variation on the same thing too. At the end
of each section, are more variations for you to try. I decided to
attempt the 'evening sunset' square to make a cushion from. The
instructions were easy to follow, and when I did make a mistake,
the photo showed me exactly where I had gone wrong. I've made 9
squares in total and I plan to join them together and then add a
simple treble border around to fit the front of the cushion before
doing a plain crochet back - sounds straight forward. If you
haven't already got a crochet compendium (I love that word), then
I'd definitely recommend getting this book.
*craftingnotcleaning.blogspot.co.uk*
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