Creative Crochet Projects best for crochet babies
Posted on February 20, 2021 by michellelovatosbookreviews, world's first book color commentator, book reviews with a twist
Confession: I wish I had all the time in the world – and – I hope God doesn’t take me home anytime soon.
Maybe this is every person’s desire. Perhaps it’s just my own. All I know is, there simply isn’t enough time in life for me to enjoy all the wonderful things I am blessed enough to become entranced by.
First on my list of wonders is watching my daughters, sons-in-law, and grandchildren grow into incredible human beings with an infinitesimal level of potential to offer our world.
Second is my ability to write for myself and others.
Third, my opportunity to reach out and share my love with my community through charity and my part-time job at a large craft retail store.
And fourth, crochet; my favorite craft because I learned it from my great grandmother when I was eight years old.
That brings me to Fox Chapel and Landauer publishing’s brand new book, Creative Crochet Projects: 12 playful projects for beginners and beyond by Stephanie Pokomy.
This book is an interesting collection of crochet patterns because it incorporates a variety of crochet project types instead of focusing on just one method.
Unlike the beginner’s two-hour amigurumi-only crochet book I am writing, Pokomy’s book shares patterns for amigurumi – which is the Japanese art of crocheting (or knitting) small, stuffed yarn-made toys – along with patterns for other popular items, like a hooded double crochet scarf made into an owl’s head; a darling turtle tape-measure cover and a twisting scarf made of that giant yarn we sell periodically that so many customers come in asking me what to make with it.
(I’m the crochet and knitting teacher.)
Pokomy offers a traditional beanie pattern, an adorable bee hive mobile pattern, and just about the cutest pattern for an amigurumi-scarf mix pattern I’ve ever seen.
What I mean by the “amigurumi-scarf” pattern – an oxymoron to crochet aficionados – is that the scarf is made up of various parts of a hamburger: Bun, lettuce, cheese, etc and is constructed like an amigurumi toy. But instead of being created with small-gauge yarn, this scarf is made of sport-weight – or your average Red Heart or Big Twist yarn that is attached to make a scarf. As an amigurumi toy, this same pattern would call for a small gauge yarn – I would use Aunt Lydia’s #10 – and would be created the same way. The kick is that when this scarf is stacked upon itself, it becomes a hamburger.
Adorable.
If the fold-up hamburger wasn’t cute enough, Pokomy also throws in a hot dog pattern designed the same way.
Pokomy’s Creative Crochet Projects: 12 playful projects for beginners and beyond certainly exemplifies its name. I’m not sure I would suggest this book for a just-starting-out, brand-spanking-new crocheter.
However. I think I would recommend it for the beginning crocheter who is familiar with single, double, and half-double stitches and understands the basics of how to read a crochet pattern.
This book is fully equipped with how-to instructions and is doable for any level, but it would be far more fun to accomplish with a little experience under one’s belt.
I’d go with the crocheter who’s getting bored with the same ol’, same ol’ and is ready to start reaching out to new project ideas.
All in all, Creative Crochet Projects is a win and is a great present for the wife of a confused crafter’s husband.
I know I am going to adapt Pokomy’s hamburger scarf pattern back to amigurumi yarn size and stack it on my shelf of foods that I’m making for my wellness-expert daughter to use in her practice. When she has clients that want to talk about hamburgers, my daughter will have a perfect visual for which her patients can remember her advice.
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Happy are those who respect the Lord and obey him. You will enjoy what you work for, and you will be blessed with good things. Psalm 128: 1-2