www.thomasdunnebooks.com www.stmartins.com
copyright 1988, 2008 by Maggie Righetti
isbn 13: 978-0-312-35354-4
second edition:
December 2008
I really enjoyed her anecdotes. Very entertaining. This is written in a very accessible manner and is very informative and complete. She has a way with words that puts pictures in your mind. She mentions fine tuning details that I never even thought of like matching the hook to the thread so you can crochet easier and faster. I love the way she gives you the techniques you need to design your own patterns. Very clear drawings with written instructions.
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table of contents
acknowledgments
preface "making lace in the air" ...."old French name..."
Introduction, A crochet teacher tells all
part one; before you begin
- A living history
- A short, incomplete, and possibly inaccurate history of crocheting
- Dreams are the stuff that reality is made of; boredom vs too challenging, unfinished projects, fooled by photos
- Of spiderwebs and Halyard lines, "thread or yarn we choose will.... determine the kind of crocheted fabric we get and .... type of project we can make...", sizing systems for threads & yarns, quality, yarn finishes, color & dye lot, "How the owner ... will be able to care for it will determine what kind of yarn you will purchase." "How long do you want the thing to last?" "Your efforts deserve the best yarn that you can afford."
- Hooks can Harpoon you. point-throat-shank-thumb rest, "the slope from the tip to the shank will affect the size and length of your chain stitches" [long & narrow= tiny chains, no slope or fat & wide hook = fat & wide chains.] "center of gravity.... determine how the hook feels in your fingers.", hook sizing systems, the right hook for the project "... try until you find a good marriage between hook and thread...", today's hooks for today's crocheter.
- Don't be gouged by gauge (tension), things that affect gauge, how to make and measure a gauge swatch
- Patterns and Instructions, why patterns are abbreviated, patterns do make sense, have someone else read the pattern aloud (my note: I usually rewrite the pattern in a lined notebook with symbols and I use a bookmark when I'm reading a pattern to stay on the right line.) Make yourself a pattern booklet (my note: That's what this blog is.), errors creep in, leaping over problems.
- Supply and Demand, choosing a container, supplies to carry in your bag, "as soon as you select a pattern...make a copy for yourself... keep original in the box with the remainder of the yarn at home." [However] "Do not copy instructions for your friends and neighbors.... Publishers print instructions as a business.....Designers usually earn their living from the small royalties, that they receive when you buy their patterns." "nail file, Band-aids"
- Making music with your hands
- supplies for beginners, reminder
- slip loop, how to hold left & right hand
- ch st
- first real st, sc, turning chains, definition post = st and/or upright st in previous row, end post = beginning turning ch and/or final st; when you want to stop, some special words about charts
- making it softer and longer, hdc
- and longer, dc, things don't always stack up straight, edges of double crochet
- and longer stil, tc
- sl st; attaching, joining, traveling, fastening
- adding new yarn, in the middle, at the end of a row, plan ahead - [leave 6" long tail.], hiding in ends securely
- your cup runneth over, incr, to incr is to make more, 2 ways to incr,
- gathering in the flock; decr, sc, dc, puff, tc & dtc decr
- fishing with your hook in other waters, don't have to work through both loops, can skip stitches, can put hook in a space or another row, can work around stitches, can make circle, can work backwards (L to R), crossed stitches, picots, can remove hook and insert elsewhere, popcorn st, make picot by removing hook form loop
- improvise and invent, test self by making tumbler holder/coaster, making it work, using a paper pattern to fit clothes, change pattern if not working right
- oops! "stop frequently to inspect and admire your work to find mistakes. lots of different ways to handle mistakes from perfectionist to enjoying the process as much as the finished project. Leave mistakes in if no difference in finished project, make a pattern of your mistakes, make a compensating incr for omitted st or decr for extra st. cut it open & undo it until threads long enough to crochet in more yarn. rip back and start over. try to avoid errors by checking, counting, measuring as you go"
- fancy that! some terms defined. some pattern stitches written in American symbols and sometimes European symbol diagrams along with good black and white photos of finished st. Also patterns for finished items included. Stitches: Mesh, filet, V, shells, ripple, fishnet, arch, herringbone, popcorns, lovers' knots. Spiderweb shawl. up and down st, queen anne's lace.
- Making medallions and motifs; black-eyed susans, granny squares, spiral pinwheel hexagon, irish rose sq, pineapple in sq, marguerite
- lavishing laces on linens
- precious little jewels to add, flowers
- multicolor jacquard crochet
- putting it all together; seams decorative? bulk, weight, work from inside or out, right tools, use yarn item was made with, yarn wears out as you make seams with it so use short pieces less than 20" long. Common ways of joining; invisible weaving, vertical, horizontal, horiz to vert, diagonal, stair steps, sc, sl st, whip st, back st, getting rid of tail ends, edgings
- finishing touches; fringe, tassels, pom-poms, twisted monk's cord, crocheted cord, yarn buttons; ball, covered rings
- care and feeding of crocheted articles, cleaning, drying, blocking, never hang,
- sampler scarf - pretty cool way to review stitches
- the easiest sweater, table/tray mat, tc striped afghan, raglan baby sweater, bonnet
glossary
common symbols
resources
index
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