The New Tunisian Crochet: Contemporary Designs from Time-Honored Traditions by Dora Ohrenstein

The New Tunisian Crochet: Contemporary Designs from Time-Honored Traditions by Dora Ohrenstein seems to be the most thorough book I've ever seen on Tunisian crochet. Most of the ones I've seen have the basic instructions plus how to work various special stitches.

This book includes double-ended hooks as well as combining Tunisian crochet stitches with regular crochet stitches. The patterns look interesting and the combination stitches make the work more interesting.

Check it out if you have any interest in Tunisian crochet or its variants.

Kathi Linz

Knitted Baby Blankets

Since the last couple of posts have leaned towards crocheters, here's one for the knitters.

Lately, I've had  requests for baby blankets and thought perhaps I might not be the only one.



http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/L20088.html?noImages=

This blanket is done in garter stitch on the diagonal. I've seen almost everyone int he group working on one of these as a dish cloth. All you have to do is make it a little larger to surround a small child.

If you are on the go and would prefer to make a blanket in smaller increments, you could try basically the same pattern like this:



http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/L20049B.html?noImages=

This one is in basketweave - a pretty pattern I've seen many of our ladies work on.



http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/L20012.html?noImages=

For something simple, quick, and pretty, the patterns should fill your gift-giving needs.

Happy crafting,

Kathi

Raking in the New Books

Now in the New Book section, we have Crochet-opedia: The Only Crochet Reference You'll Ever Need by Julia Oparka. It does, in fact, have every procedure I could think of using including buttonholes, loop stitches, toys, and sweaters without skipping the usual motifs and pattern stitches.

Knitters, do not despair. I know of at least three or four good books that should hit the shelves soon.

In case you would like to take a break from pattern books, here are a couple of crafts books that might pique your interest.



How to Start a Creative Business: The Jargon-Free Guide for Creative Entrepreneurs by Doug Richard is also in the New Book section for the next couple of months as is Martha Stewart's Favorite Crafts for Kids: 175 Projects for Kids of All Ages to Create, Build, Design, Explore, and Share.



Come in and check them out.

Happy crafting,

Kathi

More New Crochet Books

We have The Complete Idiot's Guide to Amigurumi by June Gilbank. This is a very cool book by the writer of PlanetJune craft blog.

The information in this book includes how to work basic amigurumi shapes, how to plan your own pattern for an amigurumi creature, how to joint the arms and legs, about eyes, hair, clothes, etc. and it has a few patterns including the most adorable hamster pattern ever.



What's your pleasure - popcorn and bobbles, ripples, mitered boxes, octagons, hexagons, sea shells, flowers?  They're all in here and many more. 100 Colorful Granny Squares to Crochet: Dozens of Mix and Match Combos and Fabulous Projects by Leonie Morgan is in the new book section for the next couple of months.

New Crochet Book at the Library

We have a new crochet book called Crochet at Home: 25 Clever Projects for Colorful Living edited by Brett Bara.

There are pieces that are useful and pieces that are pure decoration. There's something for almost any taste in this collection. 

My favorite are these matryoshka dolls that actually open up to nest inside each other.

 



Happy crafting,

Kathi Linz

Yarn Joke

This cartoon was found wandering around facebook. My thanks to whoever made it up and to the ones who passed it around.

Happy crafting,

Kathi Linz

Yarn Bombing in Pittsburgh

I caught this on the news this morning. 1800 knitters covered the Andy Warhol Bridge in Pittsburgh with 3000 feet of blanket-sized knitting. Engineers were even called in to see if the weight of the yarn would affect the bridge. It won't. The blankets are being left up until September 6.

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/08/13/thousands-yarn-bomb-pittsburgh-warhol-bridge/?intcmp=features

Happy crafting.

Kathi

Knit Your Own Moustache

I've had a heads-up on the arrival of this book in our library. It is being cataloged as I write this and will be on the New Books shelf soon.

Knit your own moustache : create 20 knit and crochet disguises / Vicky Eames, a.k.a. wife of Brian.

Eames, Vicky, author.

Kathi