Not Your Mama's Crochet , livre ebook

Table of Contents
 
Title Page
Copyright Page
Dedication
Free bonus pattern available online!
Acknowledgements
Introduction
How to Use This Book
Why Crochet?
 
Part One - Hooker How-To
 
Chapter One - Crochet 101
 
The Ultimate Smack-down: Crochet versus Knitting
Working with Yarn
It All Starts with a Knot
Ch-ch-chains of Love
You Spin Me Right ’Round Baby!
What Goes Up Must Come Down
Putting It All Together
When Good Crochet Goes Bad: Troubleshooting
What’s Next?
 
Chapter Two - Stitches to Make Your Knees Weak
 
How to Use This Chapter
The Basics and Beyond
What’s Next?
 
Chapter Three - All about Yarn
 
A Yarn for All Seasons
Hanks, Balls, and Skeins, oh my!
Animal, Vegetable, or Mineral?
A Weight Problem
Dame Fashion Says “Dye It!”
Just the Facts, Ma’am
Yarn Shops: Not Just For Knitting Anymore
The Hooker’s Secret Stash
Stash Enhancing Online
Hooked on Spinning
 
Chapter Four - One Hook or Two?
 
A Study of the Crochet Hook in Its Natural Habitat
Other Doodads that Make Life Worth Living
 
Chapter Five - Be a Fashion Designer (Or Just Look Like One!)
 
Measure Up
Garment Construction Basics
Ease In: Fit Matters!
Flattery Gets You Everywhere
A Little Light Color Theory
When Good Projects Go Bad
 
Chapter Six - Ready, Set, Crochet!
 
The Anatomy of a Crochet Pattern
Symbolcraft: The Illustration of Crochet
Get Hooking or Go Home!
 
Part Two - Projects
Chapter Seven - Jump Right In, The Water’s Fine!
 
From the Crochet Test-Kitchen: Market Bag
Preppy/Hippy Scarf
It’s Called a Toque, Eh?
Getting Dizzy Scarf
Weekend Vest
Chunky Monkey Scarf
 
Chapter Eight - Fashionistas Unite!
 
Uber-Femme Capelet
Peek-a-boo Plaid Skirt
Pseudo-Kimono
S—Sari Silk Shrug
Ramblin’ Rosie Cardie
The “Too Good for Your Boyfriend” Sweater
Cozy Peacoat
 
Chapter Nine - Put Your Hook Where Your Heart Is: Great Gifts to Crochet
 
Granny’s Been in the Bourbon Again: A Drunken Throw
Classic Street Page Boy
Daisy Chain Neck Warmer
Lucy-Lou & Tim-Bob, Too
Woven Fringe Scarf
Bubble Belt
Who Hat
 
Chapter Ten - Bucking Tradition
 
Straight-Laced Tank and Shrug
The Wowie Zowie Eco-Tote
Crocheted Bling
When the Jeans Don’t Fit: A Recycled Denim Rug
Deliberate Shrinkage Sack
Felted Trellis Scarf
Creatures of the Wooly Deep
 
Part Three - Resources and Appendices
Chapter Eleven - History of the Hook
 
Let Them Single Crochet!
Purely Puritanical
Crochet Negligée?
Hippy Hookers at Woodstock
The Rebirth of Cool Crochet
Crochet on the Catwalk
 
Chapter Twelve - Surf ’n Turf: Crochet Resources Online and on Land
 
Webzines and Pattern Sources
Blogs
Crochet Groups and Communities
The Glossies
Other Books
Indie Designers
 
Chapter Thirteen - Safe S.E.X.: Stash-Enhancing eXcursions
 
The Big Box Stores
LYS: Local Yarn Stores
Online Yarn Stores
Yarn Companies
It’s In the Bag
Festivals, Fairs, and Events
 
Chapter Fourteen - Weaving Ends
Appendix A - A Crochet Reference
Appendix B - Worksheets and Forms
Designer Bios
Index
About the Author
Bada Bing Bling

Copyright © 2006 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey. All rights reserved.
Published by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning or otherwise, except as permitted under Sections 107 or 108 of the 1976 United States Copyright Act, without either the prior written permission of the Publisher, or authorization through payment of the appropriate per-copy fee to the Copyright Clearance Center, 222 Rosewood Drive, Danvers, MA 01923, (978) 750-8400, fax (978) 646-8600, or on the web at www.copyright.com . Requests to the Publisher for permission should be addressed to the Legal Department, Wiley Publishing, Inc., 10475 Crosspoint Blvd., Indianapolis, IN 46256, (317) 572-3447, fax (317) 572-4355, or online at http://www.wiley.com/go/permissions .
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication data is available from the publisher upon request.
ISBN-13: 978-0-471-97381-2 ISBN-10: 0-471-97381-5
This book is dedicated to my mother, Karen Swenson, who taught me with saintly patience that crochet could be fun. Had I listened a little more closely, I may have avoided a whole bunch of holes 10 years later.
Free bonus pattern available online!
Can’t get enough crochet? Access the bonus Hoop du Jour pattern (crocheted wire hoop earrings) at www.wiley.com/go/NYMcrochet .
Acknowledgments
This book would not be possible without the great folks at Wiley Publishing, Inc.: Roxane Cerda, Suzanne Snyder, and Kelly Henthorne. Special thanks go to Mandy Moore, technical editor extraordinaire. Not only did she have the guts to tackle my convoluted meanderings, she can also be credited with teaching me just how great yarn can be. Amy Singer, Jillian Moreno, Shannon Okey, and Kim Werker provided support and advice on the book-writing front as well as excellent excuses for procrastination. The many fantastic designers included here not only provided endless inspiration but were a true joy to work with.
My friends, co-workers, and customers who had to hear endless prattle about “the book” should be given medals of patience, or at least truckloads of free yarn. I’m hoping they’re content with an autograph or two.
Finally, none of my super-sized dreams have ever, or will ever, be possible without the love and support of my partner, Sandra. During the writing and editing, she’s had to clean more than her share of dirty litter boxes and do more than her share of stinky laundry. But it’s okay. She’s a knitter. She gets it. And most importantly, she gets me.
Introduction

Crochet: Why Knot?
In many ways, the title of this book is misleading. My mother, and her mother before her, crocheted as far back as I can remember. Perhaps your mother does, too. I remember little colorful squares of acrylic scraps that she later sewed into a black and jewel-toned blanket. I remember pastel dishcloths and sparkly baby gifts. I remember an unfortunately fringed poncho from the late 1970s.
When I was barely 10, she sat down and taught me the basic stitches . . . just enough to make little spirally toys with which to taunt the family dog. A decade later, after I’d moved to San Francisco and adopted my first cats, she whipped up some of the same toys and mailed them as welcome gifts.
When my mother sits down with a copy of this book, much like you’re doing at this very moment, she’ll be unsurprised by its contents, and not just because she’s had her ear yakked off during the writing process. The stitches and techniques of crochet have changed very little since the first documented patterns a century and a half ago.
So, in a way, it is my mama’s crochet.
But, as much as I learned from Mom, over time, I took the familiar stitches and made them my own. I used soft merino and silk to make luscious scarves and trendy hats. I took inspiration from the ripple afghans of the early ’80s and substituted luxurious hand-dyed yarns for a subtle and soft blanket under which to watch reruns of Desperate Housewives and Lost .
And you, if you’re anything like me, will do the same.

How to Use This Book
Not Your Mama’s Crochet is designed for beginning crocheters, as well as for those with some experience, such as my 10-year-old self, who now want to bump up their skills a notch or two. The first section of the book—chapters 1 through 6—teaches you most of the essentials: how to crochet, work with yarn, select a pattern, and choose the right size. In the second part, you’ll dig into some incredible, fashionable, and fun patterns that your mama will be jealous of. When you’re hooked—pun intended—you’ll want to check out some other great references. For crochet fans, both new and true, Part 3 g