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 just rediscovered the love of crochet, but find the application to be limited. This book sounds just the ticket to revamp a great craft into a versatile art form.
Cheers and thanks for the give away!
I only have a few crochet books vs my knitting collection, I would love to add another crochet book and this looks like a lovely one!
Book is so appealing. Would love it.
That book looks amazing. I am a very newbie crocheter… I can do a chain, and (after I remind myself how) a single crochet — to edge my knitting, pretty much! But I keep thinking that someday I will do more, because I would love to…and what you show from the book looks inspirational! Wouldn’t it be lovely if the random number generator picked me?
Wow! I know some crochet basics and made a few doll-garments in my youth, but my recent uses have been more of the amigurumi sort.
And I agree with you that the maple leaf looks awesome!
This book has been on my wishlist. It’s great. Enjoyed several of your classes this weekend.
I love to crochet and knit, and I think they both have a place in my life. I would LOVE to win this book. Who knows? Maybe I’ll get lucky!
What a great book, filled with inspiration! Very cool.
Such a lovely book! Thanks for the opportunity to win.
That crochet work is mind-bending. Safe travels back home, Anne.
Oooh, what a pretty book! How do I bribe the random number generator? Thanks, Anne, for making this possible.
I love both crocheting and knitting. It is amazing and what a person can all do with both crafts. I love the flowers on the cover of the book.
Thanks for the neat give-away. Safe travels.
A great review of what looks like a great book! I *have* been on a crochet kick this past year. Please sign me up!
Sorry to not have stopped by sooner, but I just wanted to say again how fantabulous it was to meet you and how much I enjoyed class and dinner! Do hope to see you again sometime when the day is shorter and the hour is earlier. 🙂
I have never read blogs and after the classes I took at DFW Fiber Fest I decided to start reading yours…I use crochet for embelishing my knitting and this book looks like I may have to rethink that…Thanks!
You have inspired me to pick up a hook instead of needles!
Wow – I was very keen on crochet back in the 70’s – but like you I didn’t have a lot of use for the Irish crochet doilies that seemed to be the only way forward at the time. Might just have to give it another go!
Looks like a gorgeous book. Been thinking about getting it. Re-discovered crochet last year and I enjoy it but don’t have much time to do it. May pick up a hook later today when my secret knitting is finished and posted.
Very inspiring! Would love to use some of the motifs.
What an awesome give away book.
I have been trying to teach myself to crochet for years and could do a chain and the basic stitches, but for some reason I couldn’t get the concept of how to count crochets into my head.
Just last week it finally clicked for me and I have been using crochet to whip up quick around the house projects so that my more long term knitting projects don’t overwhelm me.
Happy crocheting!
What a fabulously beautiful book!! I’m going to have to buy it if I’m not lucky enough to win it!!
Looks like a real nice book. Thanks for the heads up.
I, too, started out as a crocheter when my grandmother taught me in grade school. All through high school I crocheted hats, scarves, vests, I loved it. Then eventually I tired of it and picked up my knitting needles. I love the new crochet books out now and often feel the urge to pick up my hooks for a while. Debbie
Wow! Crochet has come a long way!
I have a big old box of those lovely crocheted doilies that I loved to make but had no use for. This book looks like a lot of fun, and I, too, love the maple leaf.
I learned to crochet before I learned to knit, so crochet will always have a place in my heart. I’m happy to see the review on this book. Keep up the good work with your beautiful knitting patterns and blog!
I love this book! If I don’t win it, I really need to buy it.
I learned to crochet at a young age and then taught my grandmother. We started out making afghans. I moved on to knitting. However grandma loved it so much she continued on with crochet for the next 40 years until she passed away. Over the last year I’ve been thinking of crocheting again. This looks like the perfect book. Thanks for the opportunity to win it. 🙂
Oh, Thanks for sharing this book it is a must have to add to my much loved libary books of Knitting and crochet both.
I haven’t tried crochet, but have been meaning too. What an inspiring book! Thanks for the chance to win!
Wow. Truly inspiring. Thanks for the review. Please enter me in the drawing!
Yes, I’d love to win a copy of this book! I’ve been a crocheter since I was a little girl. It was my first craft: my (Italian) grandmother had me and all of my like-aged girl cousins over for a sleep-over and taught us all how to crochet, starting with lace edged hankies! It would be really nice to see a fresh perspective on crochet!
Wow! That looks amazing! I visited a high school friend in CA last year and she had a shawl that I had crocheted for her out of ivory perle cotton. I had completely forgotten about it, but dang! it was pretty nice. Went studio touring over the weekend and one of the vendors makes beautiful nuno felted pieces – I could really see some of this crochet blending beautifully with the felting.
Hiya, It’s very awesome of you to do this giveaway and speak about crochet in such a respectful tone ’cause as a whole I think crochet “gets no respect” in this mainly knitting world!
I admit that I’m not trying to enter the giveaway (just wanted to comment) after I took a look at the old post you referenced and saw the delicate pieces you made in the past. They are absolutely beautiful and are the types of intricate designs I envision making . Dover seems to produce reprints of old patterns but do you remember what books/patterns you used to create these items because I’ve been having quite a time sourcing books with “old” designs?
Another who learned to crochet first (back in the granny square days!). I’ve not crocheted anything since, but this looks like a great book!
Time, we need more time! There are so many things I would like to try. Lovely review.
The blue white and black shawl was absolutely awesome! I’d love to add this book to my collection!
Oh what a lovely book! I’ve been crocheting for over 40 years and only recently took up knitting in that last couple of years. What nice new and fresh ideas! Thanks for the opportunity to win.
What a fabulous book! I crocheted for many decades before picking up needles and still love both. Crocheting is a great break mentally and physically from the strain knitting puts on my arthritis and I have been enjoying using larger hooks in lace and fingering weight yarns to make floppy berets and wonderfully drapey shawls, lately.
In response to Ely, if you go to gutenberg.org and other public domain sites and search using the word crochet there are tons of victorian books available with very traditional patterns. Some are easier to decipher than others, but well worth the time spent.
I’ve been wanting to learn to crochet.
BEAUTIFUL BOOK–PICTURES ARE LOVELY. MAYBY I’LL GIVE IT A WHIRL SOMEDAY!!
Gorgeous stuff! I’d love to give it a whirl!
Since I’ve mostly stuck to blankets and ami’s with the hook, this could be interesting!
I, too, was a massive crocheter in my early 20s, and got bored making doilies, as challenging as some of them were. I also managed to give myself carpal tunnel in my hand due to my bad hooking technique. Now that I’ve been knitting, I’ve toyed with the idea of also picking up my hooks again – this book looks like a great stepping stone back in!
I love seeing all the new/other things one can do with crochet. I did crochet before I learned to knit, but at some point I had just gotten sick of making afghans, and the designs were not what I wanted for clothes. But I’m starting to see all kinds of great stuff now.
I crocheted long before I knitted, but I never progressed beyond crocheted coasters and afgans. This book looks fabulous! Please enter me in the drawing.
WOW! This book is a definite winner. I also started crochet many years ago and decided to take up knitting-then spinning, dying and weaving:) All these fiber crafts have a place in my heart but crochet was my first love…
Pretty! I would love that book. I both crochet and knit so it would be used a lot.
would love to try out these new things in crochet
Ooh! Crochet. Outside my comfort zone but fab results, tempted to get a hook out now!
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