AmyS
January 2, 2009, 03:22 PM
Blueprint Crochet: Modern Designs for the Visual Crocheter (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1596680725?ie=UTF8&tag=crochetville-20&link_code=as3&camp=211189&creative=373489&creativeASIN=1596680725)
Robyn Chachula, (fayettesmom (http://www.crochetville.org/forum/member.php?u=2615))
Interweave Press
List Price: $22.95; Current Amazon Price: $15.61
Please support Crochetville by purchasing your book through our Amazon Affiliate Bookstore (click book cover):
https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51YMIKcFrnL._SL160_.jpg (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1596680725?ie=UTF8&tag=crochetville-20&link_code=as3&camp=211189&creative=373489&creativeASIN=1596680725)
Robyn Chachula has loved to crochet from the time she picked up her first crochet hook and some yarn, but she never enjoyed working with patterns as they have traditionally been written. She found herself getting lost within the long rows of text, missing critical parts of the instructions and frequently having to frog her work and start over.
She started designing her own patterns to avoid these problems. She also discovered the existence of crochet symbols in a stitch dictionary, and a whole new world was opened up for her. The diagrams were very easy for her to follow without getting lost in a jumble of abbreviations and long lists of instructions.
For those crocheters who learn more by seeing pictures than by reading words, Robyn's book is definitely for you. However, if you prefer patterns with word instructions, all is not lost: Robyn's patterns also contain the traditional written instructions.
While Blueprint Crochet contains a number of patterns with intricate stitch diagrams, Robyn has also included several simple patterns to help those who are new to reading stitch diagrams. You can start by making a simple necklace or wrist cuff, with no need to join individual motifs. You can then progress through the book to make garments and accessories that are made from multiple small motifs joined together.
Personally, I don't always have a lot of patience, and I prefer not to crochet from patterns that require me to weave in a lot of ends! However, some of Robyn's designs are so fabulous that I'm going to break that long-standing habit just so I can make several of the patterns in this book:
Katie Bolero: a short-sleeved, cropped jacket with Gothic-inspired motifs
http://www.crochetville.org/misc_images/bookreviews/blueprint/katie.jpg
© 2008, Interweave Press. Photo reprinted with permission.
Maggie Wrap Top: a long-sleeved cropped jacket with a crossover front
http://www.crochetville.org/misc_images/bookreviews/blueprint/maggie.jpg
© 2008, Interweave Press. Photo reprinted with permission.
Paige Sweetheart Top: A short-sleeve, openwork jacket with a very deep V-neck
http://www.crochetville.org/misc_images/bookreviews/blueprint/paige.jpg
© 2008, Interweave Press. Photo reprinted with permission.
Julie cuff:
http://www.crochetville.org/misc_images/bookreviews/blueprint/julie.jpg
© 2008, Interweave Press. Photo reprinted with permission.
Free Maggie Wrap Top pattern:
For those of you who would like to get a small taste of Robyn's work, Interweave and Knitting Daily TV have made the Maggie Wrap Top available for free download (http://www.knittingdailytv.com/blogs/kdtv/archive/2008/07/01/KDTV0111.aspx). (You may need to register an account on the Knitting Daily website in order to access the pattern downloads.)
Robyn Chachula, (fayettesmom (http://www.crochetville.org/forum/member.php?u=2615))
Interweave Press
List Price: $22.95; Current Amazon Price: $15.61
Please support Crochetville by purchasing your book through our Amazon Affiliate Bookstore (click book cover):
https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51YMIKcFrnL._SL160_.jpg (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1596680725?ie=UTF8&tag=crochetville-20&link_code=as3&camp=211189&creative=373489&creativeASIN=1596680725)
Robyn Chachula has loved to crochet from the time she picked up her first crochet hook and some yarn, but she never enjoyed working with patterns as they have traditionally been written. She found herself getting lost within the long rows of text, missing critical parts of the instructions and frequently having to frog her work and start over.
She started designing her own patterns to avoid these problems. She also discovered the existence of crochet symbols in a stitch dictionary, and a whole new world was opened up for her. The diagrams were very easy for her to follow without getting lost in a jumble of abbreviations and long lists of instructions.
For those crocheters who learn more by seeing pictures than by reading words, Robyn's book is definitely for you. However, if you prefer patterns with word instructions, all is not lost: Robyn's patterns also contain the traditional written instructions.
While Blueprint Crochet contains a number of patterns with intricate stitch diagrams, Robyn has also included several simple patterns to help those who are new to reading stitch diagrams. You can start by making a simple necklace or wrist cuff, with no need to join individual motifs. You can then progress through the book to make garments and accessories that are made from multiple small motifs joined together.
Personally, I don't always have a lot of patience, and I prefer not to crochet from patterns that require me to weave in a lot of ends! However, some of Robyn's designs are so fabulous that I'm going to break that long-standing habit just so I can make several of the patterns in this book:
Katie Bolero: a short-sleeved, cropped jacket with Gothic-inspired motifs
http://www.crochetville.org/misc_images/bookreviews/blueprint/katie.jpg
© 2008, Interweave Press. Photo reprinted with permission.
Maggie Wrap Top: a long-sleeved cropped jacket with a crossover front
http://www.crochetville.org/misc_images/bookreviews/blueprint/maggie.jpg
© 2008, Interweave Press. Photo reprinted with permission.
Paige Sweetheart Top: A short-sleeve, openwork jacket with a very deep V-neck
http://www.crochetville.org/misc_images/bookreviews/blueprint/paige.jpg
© 2008, Interweave Press. Photo reprinted with permission.
Julie cuff:
http://www.crochetville.org/misc_images/bookreviews/blueprint/julie.jpg
© 2008, Interweave Press. Photo reprinted with permission.
Free Maggie Wrap Top pattern:
For those of you who would like to get a small taste of Robyn's work, Interweave and Knitting Daily TV have made the Maggie Wrap Top available for free download (http://www.knittingdailytv.com/blogs/kdtv/archive/2008/07/01/KDTV0111.aspx). (You may need to register an account on the Knitting Daily website in order to access the pattern downloads.)