AmyS
September 11, 2008, 11:59 AM
SPECIAL NOTE: All photos from the book appearing in this review are used with permission of the designer team.
Crochet Belts from the Hip is a new self-published book in downloadable pdf format (34 full-color pages with 19 belt patterns) by a group of designers known as “Straight from Today’s Designers (http://www.SFTDOnline.com).” This group is made up of some of today’s most talented crochet designers: Angela “La Vonne” Best, Vashti Braha, Robyn Chachula, Doris Chan, Noreen Crone-Findlay, Pam Gillette, Kim Guzman, Lisa Gentry, Mary Jane Hall, Tammy Hildebrand, Amy O’Neill Houck, Margaret Hubert, Gwen Blakley Kinsler, Christy McMahon, Marty Miller, Diane Moyer, Dora Ohrenstein, Carrie A. Sullivan, and Mary Beth Temple. Many of these designers are also Crochetville members, so feel free to post a note in this thread and let them know what you think of this book if you have purchased your own copy or what you think of the patterns I’ve chosen to highlight.
Because this book was self-published, the designers were allowed a lot more personal freedom than they would have had in a book published in the traditional manner. The group decided there would be no color theme for the entire book and that there would be no limit to the “range of styles, techniques, materials, etc., represented.” Each designer was also responsible for her own photography.
The designers were also free to use techniques that don’t often appear in published books and magazines because the techniques require so much space to explain adequately. So don’t worry that some patterns seem to have long instructions. Instead of making things more difficult, the long instructions should make it much easier for many people to understand the pattern and be able to work through it without problems. The authors have also included symbol crochet diagrams for those who prefer to work from the diagrams/charts instead of written instructions.
The cover of Crochet Belts from the Hip contains thumbnail photos of each pattern in the book. You can see there is quite a variety of styles and techniques:
http://www.crochetville.org/misc_images/beltbook/beltbook1.jpg
One of my favorite belts in this book is the Spiderweb Sash by Marty Miller. Marty used a gorgeous Berroco Suede yarn for the sample in the book. I actually made this belt for myself using Ty-Dy 100% cotton yarn by Knit 1 Crochet Too. The stitch instructions for this belt were perfect and super-easy to understand.
Marty’s belt:
http://www.crochetville.org/misc_images/beltbook/beltbook2.jpg http://www.crochetville.org/misc_images/beltbook/beltbook3.jpg
My belt:
http://www.crochetville.org/misc_images/beltbook/mybelt1.jpg
http://www.crochetville.org/misc_images/beltbook/mybelt2.jpg
http://www.crochetville.org/misc_images/beltbook/mybelt3.jpg
I really like the versatility of this belt. According to Marty, “You can wear this sash tied at the hip, or wrap it around twice at your waist, for two distinct looks. And remember, it can be made longer or shorter, just by altering the number of beginning chains or foundation single crochet stitches.”
Some of my other favorite patterns from this book include:
Vashti Braha’s Barbed Wire Belt using Silver Icing Jelly Yarn:
http://www.crochetville.org/misc_images/beltbook/beltbook5.jpg http://www.crochetville.org/forum/../misc_images/beltbook/beltbook4.jpg
Diane Moyer’s Circle on Circle Belt:
http://www.crochetville.org/misc_images/beltbook/beltbook6.jpg
Dora Ohrenstein’s Popcorn Medallion Belt
http://www.crochetville.org/misc_images/beltbook/beltbook7.jpg
Given the fact that each designer was responsible for her own photography, I am very impressed at the quality of the photos throughout the entire book. The belts are displayed well showing fashionable ways in which the belts can be worn, and there are a number of close-up detail photos throughout the book as well.
Another unique thing about this pdf pattern book is that links to each designer’s website or blog are hotlinked in the text. If you decide you want to see more of a particular designer’s work, all you need to do is click on the link in the book and you’ll be taken right to their website (assuming you’re logged on to the internet at the time, that is).
If you would like to purchase your own pdf copy of this book, please go straight to the designers’ collaborative website: Straight From Today’s Designers (www.SFTDOnline.com (http://www.sftdonline.com/)). At only $15 for 19 belt patterns, Crochet Belts from the Hip is quite a bargain!
Crochet Belts from the Hip is a new self-published book in downloadable pdf format (34 full-color pages with 19 belt patterns) by a group of designers known as “Straight from Today’s Designers (http://www.SFTDOnline.com).” This group is made up of some of today’s most talented crochet designers: Angela “La Vonne” Best, Vashti Braha, Robyn Chachula, Doris Chan, Noreen Crone-Findlay, Pam Gillette, Kim Guzman, Lisa Gentry, Mary Jane Hall, Tammy Hildebrand, Amy O’Neill Houck, Margaret Hubert, Gwen Blakley Kinsler, Christy McMahon, Marty Miller, Diane Moyer, Dora Ohrenstein, Carrie A. Sullivan, and Mary Beth Temple. Many of these designers are also Crochetville members, so feel free to post a note in this thread and let them know what you think of this book if you have purchased your own copy or what you think of the patterns I’ve chosen to highlight.
Because this book was self-published, the designers were allowed a lot more personal freedom than they would have had in a book published in the traditional manner. The group decided there would be no color theme for the entire book and that there would be no limit to the “range of styles, techniques, materials, etc., represented.” Each designer was also responsible for her own photography.
The designers were also free to use techniques that don’t often appear in published books and magazines because the techniques require so much space to explain adequately. So don’t worry that some patterns seem to have long instructions. Instead of making things more difficult, the long instructions should make it much easier for many people to understand the pattern and be able to work through it without problems. The authors have also included symbol crochet diagrams for those who prefer to work from the diagrams/charts instead of written instructions.
The cover of Crochet Belts from the Hip contains thumbnail photos of each pattern in the book. You can see there is quite a variety of styles and techniques:
http://www.crochetville.org/misc_images/beltbook/beltbook1.jpg
One of my favorite belts in this book is the Spiderweb Sash by Marty Miller. Marty used a gorgeous Berroco Suede yarn for the sample in the book. I actually made this belt for myself using Ty-Dy 100% cotton yarn by Knit 1 Crochet Too. The stitch instructions for this belt were perfect and super-easy to understand.
Marty’s belt:
http://www.crochetville.org/misc_images/beltbook/beltbook2.jpg http://www.crochetville.org/misc_images/beltbook/beltbook3.jpg
My belt:
http://www.crochetville.org/misc_images/beltbook/mybelt1.jpg
http://www.crochetville.org/misc_images/beltbook/mybelt2.jpg
http://www.crochetville.org/misc_images/beltbook/mybelt3.jpg
I really like the versatility of this belt. According to Marty, “You can wear this sash tied at the hip, or wrap it around twice at your waist, for two distinct looks. And remember, it can be made longer or shorter, just by altering the number of beginning chains or foundation single crochet stitches.”
Some of my other favorite patterns from this book include:
Vashti Braha’s Barbed Wire Belt using Silver Icing Jelly Yarn:
http://www.crochetville.org/misc_images/beltbook/beltbook5.jpg http://www.crochetville.org/forum/../misc_images/beltbook/beltbook4.jpg
Diane Moyer’s Circle on Circle Belt:
http://www.crochetville.org/misc_images/beltbook/beltbook6.jpg
Dora Ohrenstein’s Popcorn Medallion Belt
http://www.crochetville.org/misc_images/beltbook/beltbook7.jpg
Given the fact that each designer was responsible for her own photography, I am very impressed at the quality of the photos throughout the entire book. The belts are displayed well showing fashionable ways in which the belts can be worn, and there are a number of close-up detail photos throughout the book as well.
Another unique thing about this pdf pattern book is that links to each designer’s website or blog are hotlinked in the text. If you decide you want to see more of a particular designer’s work, all you need to do is click on the link in the book and you’ll be taken right to their website (assuming you’re logged on to the internet at the time, that is).
If you would like to purchase your own pdf copy of this book, please go straight to the designers’ collaborative website: Straight From Today’s Designers (www.SFTDOnline.com (http://www.sftdonline.com/)). At only $15 for 19 belt patterns, Crochet Belts from the Hip is quite a bargain!