Introduction 6
Colour 8
equipment 10
Techniques 12
Projects 14
How to use this book 16
Crop Circles 18
Solstice 28
Arabian Nights 38
Lilian 50
Rose Window 62
Knot Garden 72
Flying Geese 84
Mirage 94
Flower Power 106
Liberty 116
Reference 128
Amanda Perkins designs and crochets her own blankets, shawls and scarves, and her patterns can be found on Etsy and Ravelry. She has her own blog: amandascrochetblog.blogspot.co.uk, and she regularly self-publishes her designs, which she sells via her website and at shows and exhibitions throughout the UK. Until mid-2015, Amanda ran the Natural Dye Studio from her home in Exmoor, North Devon.
This is such a happy, joyous book. The front cover just about says
it all. Amanda is a lady with a mission to create colour on a large
scale. She wants to paint the whole world with a rainbow. Her
blankets are not only practical, they are gorgeous. She certainly
has an eye for colour combinations and if you struggle with colour,
this would be a great book for you. Easy to follow squares make
eye-catching blankets. You could mix and match. Fabulous
alternative colourways, variety of yarns (4ply just use the yarn
gauge to substitute), written instructions, charts, good
photography and easy stitching make for addictive crochet. You'll
see the blanket size, hook size, yarn type and notes at a
glance. No particular yarn is given so as not to restrict your
choice. Choose from 10 blankets. Creativity is encouraged to
make your own blanket designs and this is not a how to crochet
book, although step-by-step are given for the blocks. There
are circles or triangles within the blocks, and Amanda has
used the blocks creatively. Stitches used are mainly use just
double and treble crochet. These blocks are easy to make on the go,
whereas the kind of all-over pattern is hard to travel with, as you
are taking a full-sized blanket on the go. Amanda
recommends using scrap yarns to create the blankets. Grab some 4
ply and start crocheting. Practical, adaptable and colourful
designs in one of the best crochet books on the market.
Recommended.
*YarnsandFabrics.co.uk*
A great book for those who are familiar with crochet and ready to
start making blankets. I found the book easy to follow and there
are lots of ideas and paterns inside to make your own blanket
unique
*Emily Greentree*
A great book for those who are familiar with crochet and ready to
start making blankets. I found the book easy to follow and there
are lots of ideas and paterns inside to make your own blanket
unique
*Joanne Rudland*
Issue 83 With an artist's eye for colour and shade, Amanda Perkins
has put together a collection of ten glorious blanket designs,
mixing patterns and tones to truly show-stopping effect. Our
favourites include the purple hued Knot Garden and the beautiful
rainbow Solstice, but any one would be a stunning addition to your
home. Amanda recommends you work using yarn oddments left from
other projects, and each pattern begins with a discussion of the
colour palette and recommended brands.
*Inside Crochet*
This book is a refreshing change from the norm. It doesn't want you
to make exact copies of the blankets, it wants you to make your own
design using the patterns. The book uses written patterns as well
as charts and diagrams. The patterns are easy to follow and the
colour charts give you so many. The whole point of the book really
is colour. It's amazing how the different colours with the
different designs create amazing blankets. Amanda uses 4 ply yarn
so the designs are more detailed and more colours can be packed in.
Each of the designs are so different from each other and I love the
fact that quite a few aren't just rectangular. Amanda uses
different shapes to create blankets that look unique. Working
together with the different colours she uses create many beautiful
designs. If you love to crochet blankets then this book really will
fill your time. The only problem you might have is deciding which
blanket to crochet first.
*Crochet Addict UK*
A new book from a designer I admire, is always worth the wait.
Therefore you can imagine my excitement when I received a review
copy from the publishers at Searchpress of 'Rainbow Crochet
Blankets' by Amanda Perkins. There are many, many books for
beginner crocheters. But I am more than pleased to say this is not
one of them! So refreshing to read a book with projects for the
established crocheter, eager to be challenged. There are 10 of
Amanda's glorious blanket projects in this book. Each is made up of
simple shaped motif and includes both stitch charts and written
patterns, along with many variations of colour charts. In this way
you are given a total of 30 project options to choose from. It is
the colour charts that make this book stand out from similar books.
Amanda has carefully planned and designed colour variations on her
original blankets. I love this aspect of the book, because I enjoy
stamping my own style on a pattern and will rarely reproduce
someone else's work to the exact colour specifications. On a rainy
day it was a joy to flick through, with a cup of coffee and
notebook by my side. Future projects are in the planning...
The beauty of these blankets is in the yarn choices. Independent
yarn dyers and spinners are recommended along with handy details of
where they can be purchased. The larger commercial yarn companies
are also listed as an alternative. I do realise that making a
blanket using yarn from independent companies would work out very
expensively, but what a beautiful heirloom to hand down to our
families...? So to sum up: this a book with 10 beautiful projects
for a beginner crocheter to aspire to, and for a more experienced
crocheter to make. The colour charts give you a further 20 pattern
options. Construction information is included, is well written and
very easy to understand.The charts are very handy and there is a
small section explaining how to read a chart which I found useful.
If you are looking for a Christmas present for a crochet fan, buy
this! They will not be disappointed with it, and will probably love
you forever. I also had the pleasure of seeing these blankets in
real life at Yarndale recently. They are stunning!
http://www.lazydaisyjones.com/2016/10/searchpress-rainbow-crochet-blankets-by.html
*Lazy Daisy Jones*
I love this book! As a very, VERY novice crocheter, afghan squares
is the absolute limit of my talent. But I'm very proud to say that
since receiving this book, I've also managed a hexagon! Yes, I'm a
long way short of a blanket, but it's a start. The book is 128
pages long, in full colour, and with excellent drawings of colour
charts and photographs of the finished items. You can tell straight
away this is a quality edition. It's a very easy book to
understand, even for a complete beginner. Everything is explained-
in terms I understood- and there are even conversions in the back
for readers from other countries. There are recommended yarns and
hook sizes, tips on how to join your motifs, as well as colour
charts for 10 different projects. A sample motif for each blanket
is written out- in the way a knitting pattern is- but also shown as
a stitch diagram. I'm sure everyone would be able to follow one set
or the other. I'm really enjoying getting back into crochet
again.
*Ellie Lane*
This is a lovely well presented book which is full of easy to
follow ideas. I can't wait to start making some lovely blankets
*Laura Findlay*
This colourful book contains illustrated block-by-block guides to
make ten stunning blankets, and colour variations provide 20 more
designs. Each blanket is constructed from simple motifs, so
creating a large and sumptuous blanket is simply a matter of
piecing together colourful motifs. Each project has a full colour
chart and step-by-step guide.
*Machine Knitting Monthly*
The cover is very tempting with its display of the rich harmonious
colours that are Amanda's trademark, and are based on the colours
she produced when she ran the Natural Dye Studio (no longer in
existence). Colour is a main theme in the book. There are many
charts showing whole blankets with suggested colour schemes - very
helpful for crocheters who feel nervous about the subject,
especially when tackling a large project such as a blanket. The
blankets are made up of small motifs which are joined together
later. The patterns are clearly written in black print, and are
accompanied by a large photo of the motif and a clear chart, all on
one page. That's what we crocheters like! The patterns are
straightforward, most of them worked entirely in half trebles. An
interesting aspect - each crochet stitch is worked between two
stitches, not into a stitch. I confess, it never occurred to me to
do this, but it does make crocheting quicker and easier! Most of
the motifs are square, but there are some triangles and hexagons
too. Amanda spent several years focused on patchwork, and this
interest has led to some unusual designs here like my favourite,
Rose Window, inspired by those in cathedrals. It combines squares,
triangles and circles - not for the faint-hearted! Other intriguing
designs based on patchwork are Knot Garden (squares) and Flying
Geese (triangles). I do have a criticism of the book, in that there
are not all that many designs - 10 in all, and 3 of those are
'sister' designs - pairings with other designs. Certain motifs are
repeated throughout the book, particularly the circle in a square,
which features in 7 designs. this book of straightforward blanket
patterns is great for beginners wanting to tackle a bigger project.
Or for any crocheter wanting a relaxing project to do while
watching TV or travelling.
*Slipknot, The Knitting & Crochet Guild Magazine*
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