since i’m rather busy every day this weekend, i thought it would be a good time to do another book review, and since i’m in austin, i thought it would be appropriate to do one that’s really different—a little crochet anyone??
you might think that crochet isn’t for you, but have you actually tried it??
it’s crazy fun, really, it is.
i have to be honest that knitting has solidly outrun it as my craft of choice, but there was a time in my 20s, yessirree, that i was very deep into crochet—very deep indeed. and i think of that time fondly.
problem was, that i hit a wall with it—at the time, there was very little innovation in the craft and very few modern designers doing anything creative or cutting edge with it. the crochet revolution of the 70s had passed (and believe me, it was fab in its own right), and if one wanted to explore the deeper depths of this fine needle art, one was pretty much limited to complex lace items for the home. which were interesting enough to execute, but mostly lacking in purpose for my everyday life. that being the case, i eventually abandoned the hook in favor of spending more time with the needle.
while i have been aware that much has changed to revolutionize crochet along with knitting, i’ve been lazy about reopening my exploration of the hooker’s art. why, i don’t know—maybe lack of time or the need to limit my horizons for a while.
then this beautiful book, crochet inspiration by sasha kagan landed on my doorstep from sixth&spring books and i had to say—WOW.
now available in paperback, this award-winning book is exactly as it claims in its title—inspirational. if you haven’t thought about picking up a crochet hook lately (or ever), now might be a good time to give it a go.
before opening the book, i thought i’d find what you find in most crochet manuals—lots of this
and it’s true that ms. kagan starts off with the basics. but only has a prelude to showing us what you can do, once you have those down. for instance, single crochet can, indeed, be lines across the fabric, but it can also be fun circles of all types
which morph into slightly more complex arrangements
and wait—what’s that, a flower? let’s explore that a little further in some filet crochet
or maybe free it up completely from the constraints of a linear background
or, while we’re at it, let’s just go whole hog and ditch that background completely
not exactly what you fancy? how about flowers another way?
or maybe you don’t like flowers . . . let’s take single crochet and really put it through it’s paces
i just love that maple leaf piece; i may have to make a set of coasters form that pattern. even if those are the only items i ever construct with crochet for the rest of my life, i’ll be happy; they will see a lot more airtime around my house than my old doilies ever have (they’re just too nice; i can’t part with them and i can’t use them either!).
the book features much, much more than single crochet technique—too many ways to do crochet than i have room to talk about here, but trust me—this would be a nice addition to any knitter’s library because of its depth and breadth.
as is so often the case, sixth&spring has generously offered to send one lucky reader of today’s review a gift copy of crochet inspiration. if you would like to be in the running to win it, please leave a comment at the end of this post by 9pm EST on tuesday, april 19th. we will announce the winner on wednesday, when we’re back in our home office.
i have one more teaching day here in austin and a travel day on monday. i’m hoping to write a post before i leave, to wrap up my wonderful tour of texas, because if not, i won’t be able to get back to you til after tuesday. if it doesn’t happen though (you know stuff happens, right??), be assured that i will be back in a few days . . . see you then!
250 thoughts on “she’ll hook you up”
I really like that crocheted leaf. Looks just like a real leaf.
It’s very nice book.
I have been teaching myself crochet and have been looking for a book like this. I hope I win!
While I prefer to knit, I think I’m a better crocheter. I loved your line “(they’re just too nice; i can’t part with them and i can’t use them either!)”. That’s exactly how I feel about my doilies too! I’m glad to see an innovative book on crochet. I may just have to go buy it! Thanks for showcasing it!
I originally started knitting in the 70s as a pre-teen because I wanted my finished projects to look store-bought and not like my mom’s crochet clothing. But I still turn to crochet once in a while to finish edges and make buttons and slippers. And now I want to do more since that book is such an inspiration! Thanks for showing us that crochet is a lot more than what we saw in the 70s!
Oh yes! This is what I need. I also love that maple leaf.
Wow! That’s inspiring! I’ve never been much of a hooker but those projects make me want to brush up on my crochet! Beautiful!
i love the leaves too. Maybe this is just the thing to get me crocheting again!
I’ve been thinking about delving into crochet – this looks like just the book to help with that.
I also love the maple leaf. This book has many nice designs and techniques in it. Would love to add it to my library!
I too crocheted in the 70s, and then abandoned it for knitting. A friend of mine, though, crochets lace — and fillet crochet — and I see a lot of it in my work with historic clothing. This book looks like tempting candy! I’ll have to be on the lookout for it. Thanks!
I have actually had the immense pleasure of meeting, Ms. Kagan and she is so incredibly talented and her designs are a true inspiration. Her work is so ‘one of a kind’ and a book authored by her is a true treasure, indeed! I would love to add this to my craft library! Thanks for the wonderful chance!
My first love was crocheting and then knitting. Now I like both of them.
I would like to win this beautiful book.
Very interesting. It may be time to dust off my hooks and take a journey beyond the granny square.
Obviously, I need, yes, NEED, to learn to crochet nw. Wow!
WOW this book looks incredible, I am officially inspired!
PICK ME=)
If I win, and can then part with the book, it would make a fabulous gift for my sister-in-law… then again, if I keep quiet about winning it would make someone else very happy as well… I’m not saying who (me) but someone.
Like you, I stopped crochet and turned almost exclusively to knitting. This lovely book could definitely I spire me to try crochet again. Thanks for entering me in the drawing.
Please enter me in the drawing for this book… I actually learned to crochet before I learned to knit… this book makes me want to pick up the old crochet hook again!
I would so love to have this book! I am a dedicated knitter who got back into crochet a few years ago. I still find it hard to find “interesting” books on crochet- but this looks like one. Please enter me for the drawing.
Sasha’s book looks lovely! While I primarily knit, I learned crochet first and go back to it from time to time when I see inspiring projects. Thank you for hosting this drawing Anne 😉
I would like to be entered in the drawing. I have done a little crochet over the years, but would like to expand the possiblities.
My grandma used to crochet quite a bit. She once told me when I was a kid that since she had learned how to crochet from English books and patterns, she simply couldn’t do it in French, and at the time I thought that was kind of weird/funny. Now, I have a feeling that if I ever pick up her crochet hooks (which I’ve inherited), the same thing might well happen to me too. Especially if I get started with this lovely-looking book! Thank you, Anne, for offering a chance at winning it.
I have always preferred crocheting to knitting but like the look of the final product when it is knitted instead of crocheted. I would definitely like to win this book and see what can be done with crocheting these days.
I love to knit AND crochet and this new book looks fabulous! Please enter me into your drawing. And thank you, Anne and Publisher for the lovely review!
that looks like such a great book. I don’t know much more than single crochet, but i want to learn more. i would love to win this book, it would expand my skill set and provide a bunch of inspiration as well 🙂
I used to crochet a lot! But, like you, I abandoned the hook for needles. This book looks like just the inspiration needed to try my hand at some crochet again. I’m right there with you on that maple leaf!
My skills with a hook are wanting. This book would give me a reason to improve.
Well that makes me want to give crochet a go again.
Love the flowers they are exactly what i need for a hat for my niece.
I’d love to have some inspiration to get back to crocheting; my grandmother and great-aunt taught me how to when I was eight years old, years before I learned how to knit, but now I hardly use those skills anymore.
Wow – some of those motifs are really amazing! I know how to crochet, but I’m mainly a knitting. My mom, on the other hand, is a great crocheter – I’d love to share this book with her!
I’ve been wanting to learn how to crochet. This book is just what I need.
While surrounded by crocheters I have never accomplished more than a chain for invisible cast-on. This book makes me want to give it a try.
I would love to try crocheting that maple leaf.
Ah, that does indeed look like an excellent book. I have rarely crocheted since I rediscovered knitting many years ago. In the “old”days I sort of ran out of things to crochet after I discovered that I preferred knitted garments rather than crochet.
I would love to expand my horizons and try more crochet – please add me to the drawing. Thanks!
Gorgeous crocheting! The only “Big” crochet project I did was a Christening gown set for my youngest daughter. I’ve not picked up a hook in years, but this is giving me the bug something fierce!
Thanks so much for showcasing this book. Sasha Kagan does such fantastic knitting, and she has brought her special talents to crocheting. I too went through the crochet frenzy of the 60’s and 70’s, and I have piles of afghans and shawls folded up in closets. The gorgeous ideas in this book may get me back into crocheting again!
That book looks lovely. I do a little bit of crochet and would love to explore it more!
I have recently bought a set of crochet hooks with the hope that I will take time to learn this craft, having been a knitter all my life. I hope this book would give me the boost to get going on learning something new.
I’m multi-crafty, but recently have been doing more knitting. This book looks fabulous! Thanks for reviewing it!
I’ve done quite a bit of crochet until I found knitting. I’d love to win the book and have some fun patterns to work on. I’d love to win this book, it looks fabulous
That leaf is nice. I do very basic crochet right now, usually around necklines and sleeves but that is it. Someday I will learn more.
I love crochet and intersperse it with my knitting and weaving to give my hands yet one more break! My current crochet project is blanket squares made from my large supply of leftover sock yarns!
Wow — not at all our 70’s crochet! Inspirational! Another thing that would be very nice would be a lace panel for a small window (knitted, too, would be lovely).
i have this book and it’s so.seriously.awesome. as a total newbie at crochet, the book makes it all seem approachable and fun – i especially love learning to read the crochet charts (is that weird?)
Like many knitters, I am mutlicraftual. At one time, my carry around projects were crochet. This book looks like one I would love to add to my collection and maybe I will start crocheting again., and this time include charts, (which I love with knitting).
I knit and crochet, and like you, I have embraced knitting almost exclusively in recent years. This book, however, looks to be full of crochet inspiration and just plain fun!
I teach crochet and am always trying to promote modern, nice patterns. They are sometimes hard to find, but there are a few good designers out there that have a lot of cute, practical, and functional pieces. Thank you for putting in a good word for crochet – we don’t try to compete with knitting – I love to do that too – we just want to have nice patterns to work with!
Putting the two needle arts together is fun too!
What a cool crochet book, Anne. I did the 70s crochet too. Beautiful doilies to remember that decade by. Now my crocheting is confined to afghans.
Hope you and David are enjoying your trip.
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