Designer Crochet: 32 Patterns to Elevate Your Style

by Shannon Mullett-Bowlsby

Designer Crochet is your source for sophisticated and figure-flattering garments with great drape and shape. Using lightweight yarns and a beautiful variety of stitch patterns and motifs, you'll create jackets and cardigans, a layering tank and a floor-sweeping skirt, a convertible vest/wrap and matching winter accessory set, and more, with every design built to flatter most body types. Beginner crocheters can learn the basics using easy-to-follow tutorials while advanced crocheters will enjoy mastering special techniques. This is a complete wardrobe in a single book for sizes small through 5X.

One of Booklist's Top 10 Crafts & Gardening Books: 2016!

Genres: Crochet, Nonfiction, Crafts

224 pages, Paperback

First published April 7, 2015

About the author

Shannon Mullett-Bowlsby is the co-founder of Shibaguyz Designz and The Shibaguyz. His partner and co-founder, Jason Mullett-Bowlsby is skilled in photography, graphic design, and layout can be seen in numerous published books and pattern lines including The Shibaguyz' own pattern line, which includes the books Urban Edge and Moonstruck. Shannon is an award winning designer having published hundreds of patterns for magazines, yarn companies, and the Shibaguyz Designz Pattern Line. He currently has six books published with another to be released in Spring of 2015 from Sterling/Lark publishing. Shannon's work has appeared on the covers of US and International magazines, including: Crochet! Crochet Today, Inside Crochet, and Knitting Today to name a few. A skilled instructor, Shannon's classes are often sold out and are highly recommended by his students. He teaches locally in the Pacific Northwest and at national fiber festivals, such as Dallas Fiber Festival and Oregon Flock and Fiber. When not in the studio Shannon can be found hiking in the Pacific Northwest wilderness with Jason and their 3 shiba inu: The Shibakidz

Reviews

[Nohreen · Rating 4 out of 5]

beautiful photos with well illustrated stitch & pattern guides & instructions. I want to make the Cables & Lace tunic for the colder months.

[Ligaya · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like that most all the patterns in here are created by a crochet fabric that is mostly smooth (and more knit-like?) than bulky and having a more conventional crochet look to them - perhaps that is my bias... That's accomplished by using a finer gauge yarn, so it means many more stitches and, I think, demands a more experienced crafter, too. Many of the garments look very sophisticated and modern and only one project has a recognizable granny square in it! The patterns look well organized with charting and line by line directions and sizes up to 5X. I did find the photos could use some better styling (see weirdly stiff skirt photo on p. 116) but definitely appreciate the detail shots.
Although there's nothing in here that I would actually crochet there is an interesting variety of garments and accessories.

[Allison · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great crochet book for experienced crocheters to bring them to the next level. The patterns are for lovely classy items of women's clothing. The book fantastically provides sizes from S-5X. It also gives great explanations of stitches used in the pieces and different yarns. It also gives good detailed directions with illustrations of how to assemble the pieces and how to put in zippers, etc.

This is one of the few crochet books that I've seen that I want to purchase for my collection and that I would like to make the majority of the patterns contained in it. The author is one I am going to be keeping my eye out for in the future too.

[Thomasin Propson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sorry crochet, I don’t think we are meant to be friends. I like the idea of crocheting more than I do the finished projects. There is one piece of clothing in the book I like and could see myself making/wearing: arm warmers from page 156. I like how long they are, and the ribbing at the elbow.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Almost makes me want to crochet again . . . :)

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful designs. Flattering for many sizes. Mostly large time consuming projects for more experienced crocheters. Patterns have useful charts.

[Cortez_jk · Rating 4 out of 5]

I fell in love with the cardigans and wraps in this book. I have not made many garments, but I feel these patterns are easy to follow.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice patterns- definitely want to make a hoodie at some point

[Sarah]

Picked up from the library, yet to crochet any of the patterns. I could see purchasing this book. All of the patterns are absolutely beautiful. Most use size 1 or 0 yarn. Love the size inclusivity.

[C2015 · Rating 4 out of 5]

A few really really great pieces in here. A couple dresses that I loved a turtleneck cape that was to die for and a hooded scarf. A few things that I would love to make sooner than later.

[Alison · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recently took two classes with The Shibaguyz and now so many patterns in this book seem so doable. I have tried on the Two Way Sweater and it was warm and gorgeous. Looking at the finished items, its hard to believe they are crochet and I say that being an avid crocheter.
I can't wait to make many patterns from this book and highly recommend it!

[Tammy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I posted a video review: http://knittwhisperer.blogspot.com/20...

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

The idea of including a range of sizes for each pattern is wonderful, but there is nothing here that I would want to wear.

[Casseroll · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful patterns and pictures. Nice layout. Medium-large paperback book.

[Maggie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Belted poncho pattern. Cable Cowl pattern.