The Crocheter’s Companion by Nancy
Brown Interweave made an excellent choice with Nancy Brown to author The Crocheter’s Companion. I have know Nancy for many years as a fellow member of the Crochet Guild of America. Nancy is a crochet and knitting designer who has many published patterns in magazines and books. She also retails some of the most gorgeous variegated rayon fibers I have ever seen. You will find her at fiber shows, crochet and knit-out events and the Crochet Guild of America’s annual conference. This handy little book will teach you how to crochet and work from basic crochet through advanced and favorite crochet stitches. There are step-by-step instructions and illustrations for all the stitches. All the illustrations are right-handed only. How to read crochet instructions includes terms and symbols in written instructions and symbols and terms for international stitches. There are very good explanations of stitches in multiples and what that “plus” means when added to multiple stitches. This is the clearest and easiest to understand description of multiple stitches I have come across. For those of us who have been crocheting for a long time, the crochet stitch section is a quick and easy reference. International stitch symbols and terms are also a quick reference guide. There is a discussion on yarn, identifying what “weights” and “ply” means when it comes to fibers. If you do not know what some of the symbols or information on fiber labels mean, the answers are in Nancy’s book. You will learn what gauge and tension means and how to substitute one yarn for another in a pattern. For professional looking garments, finishing ends in rows and rounds; seaming using a tapestry needle for flat shoulders; side and backstitch seams; overcast or whip stitch seams; woven seams; both single crochet and slip stitch seaming, zippers, button holes and loops, just refer to Nancy’s books. There are helpful tips for measurements and sizing, joining new yarn, turning chains, stitch counts and lining. The section on decorative finishes shows you how to make various buttons, cords, braids, insertions, fancy edging and fringes, pompons and tassels. In addition to the advanced stitches, you will learn to make granny square, circular and hexagon motifs and medallions plus Afghan/Tunisian, Jacquard, filet, ruffle and Irish crochet. There is a small section on bead crochet for adding beads in rounds and rows in single and double crochet. I was surprised bead chains were not included in this section. The instructions and illustration indicate the only way you can make continuous rows of bead crochet is to cut the thread at the end of each row. This statement is not true. I have been crocheting continuous bead rows for years without cutting the threads. It is an old technique. Check my Beadwork Samplers in Beadwork Magazine, Aug/Sep 2002, for two methods of consecutive bead crochet rows without cutting the thread. This type of error bugs me, especially when Interweave publishes Beadwork Magazine and continues to make this same statement in all their new publications that involved bead crochet. That said, this is a great little book jam-packed with information you will find of value daily and requires little space in your work area or in your bag when you travel. It is small enough to take with you when you shop and use for a quick reference when purchasing yarns and patterns. I am overjoyed to have Crocheter’s Companion setting right next to my Knitter’s Companion. |
