Review: Crocheted Gifts

So, it’s August, which means that, yes, we should really be turning our attention to what we’re going to make for holiday gifts this year. Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack.

Still, this is great timing for Crocheted Gifts to come out from Interweave Press. It’s a lovely collection of projects to make and give, designed by crochet luminaries including Doris Chan, Kathy Merrick, Robyn Chachula and Annie Modesitt, among others.

Kim Werker did a great job editing and curating this collection – it goes way beyond the kinds of projects we’re accustomed to seeing in crochet project books. This ring pendant, by Katie Himmelberg, is a great case in point – how awesome is the added motif?

Another case in point: this hat by Jennifer Hagan, which is based on willow blocks. I love its simplicity, and the subtlety of this variegated yarn.

There are projects ranging from simple to challenging here, and a nice mix of garments, housewares, jewelry, and accessories. (Even a set of juggling balls!)

This amazing shawl by Kristin Ohmdahl joins strands of chain stitch with narrow bands of net. Wow!

I was also happy to see some wire crochet, and a little blown away to see it in the form of this hairpin lace bowl. My hat is off to Donna Hulka!

I quite like this hex-based travel bag (also by Jennifer Hagan) for its flat-bottomed shape. It’s smartly designed, too, starting out as a flat crochet panel and then taking its form from a sewn lining and zipper.

…And you’d expect to find a scarf pattern in any crochet book, but I think this one, by Robyn Chachula, is stunning.

There’s a Glossary section in the back that diagrams the basic stitches and shows a couple methods for joining pieces. The patterns are expressed in written form, with some diagrams for specific motifs.

This book is best, I think, for someone who’s already tackled a basic crochet project or two.

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Big Twitter Event!

You can chat with the designers from this book, and Kim, on Twitter. They’ll be hanging out for a big QA on Tuesday, August 25th from 1-2pm PST. Follow the hashtag #crochetedgifts, and get your crochet questions ready. There’ll also be a book giveaway there!

…And if you have no idea what all that means, get all the details here.