Crochet

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100 Lace Flowers To Crochet

by

100 Lace Flowers To Crochet

 

Oh, are you going to love this book!  I’ve read, reviewed, and used other crochet books that feature floral motifs – but this one is special!

Caitlin Sainio (who also authored 100 Snowflakes To Crochet) has designed real versions of real flowers to decorate our world.  This collection is stunning, extremely detailed, and beautifully displayed to entice emergency crocheting.  Building on fire, save this book!  Begin right now to save every scrap of thread you come across to find just the right tiny motif to use them for.  You’ll definitely find inspiration in this book – but you’ll also find exquisitely photographed samples, finely written patterns, and clear graphics so you can attain success with every stitch.  And, color everywhere!  Sainio has interpreted nature’s floral colors in her own fabulous way.

BTW, as much as I love the flowers herein, pay attention to the leaves in this book.  They’re spectacular!

Book Specs:

100 Lace Flowers To Crochet by Caitlin Sainio

St. Martin Press, June, 2013

128 page soft cover

ISBN:  9781250019035

$21.99 USD

 

 

Comments

  1. Wish I could see the inside. Misleading with the “click to see inside” above the picture of the book. I clicked and it showed a bigger picture of the book cover. No matter what I could not see anything else. Anyone else have any luck?

  2. @ Theresa: Yes, that image is very misleading, it’s just copied from Amazon.com without linking to the original page. Try here for the link: http://amzn.com/1250019036 (copy and paste in your web browser: the address is shortened because it’s a “permalink”). The preview includes the table of contents and the index, along with the symbols used for stitching (which is very helpful to see) along with some photos (the tea cosy is cute!).

    @ CG: I really enjoy learning about new craft books on the market, but it would be lovely if you would go into a little more detail about the contents and maybe even include some photos!

  3. As a fellow floral crochet designer, my hat is off to this author for one gorgeous piece of work here! If you go to Amazon.com and search for the book, there is a “Look Inside” button you can click. I searched for the word “Advanced” and it gave me an entire index of the book to look at, along with lots of page previews. Absolutely beautiful work here!

  5. Outstanding post however I was wanting to know if you could write a litte more on this subject?
    I’d be very thankful if you could elaborate a little bit further. Bless you!

Have you read?

Shock Wave Free Crochet Lap Blanket Pattern

This Free Shock Wave Crochet Lap Blanket Pattern from Mary Maxim looks like one of those wonderfully satisfying projects that gives big cozy payoff without fiddly detail. Mary Maxim lists it as a free download, designed as a crochet afghan/lap blanket, with a finished size of 45 x 50 inches.

What immediately stands out is the yarn choice. The pattern is made with Bernat Blanket Extra Thick, using 5 skeins, and calls for a U.S. U/50 (25 mm) crochet hook. That is gloriously chunky territory, which usually means fast progress and lots of squishy texture. If you are in the mood for a project that feels substantial in your hands and grows quickly row by row, this one definitely has that appeal.

Mary Maxim describes the blanket as having a beautifully textured, plush, soft finish and suggests it as a project for home décor or gifting. Based on the materials and oversized hook alone, that sounds about right. This feels like the sort of blanket you make for curling up on the couch, draping over a chair, or giving as a practical handmade gift that will actually get used instead of folded away “for best.”

The pattern is marked Easy, and the listed stitch requirements are straightforward: chain, repeat, double crochet, single crochet, and slip stitch. That makes it sound approachable for confident beginners and very appealing for anyone who wants a relaxing crochet project without too much counting drama.

I also think the lap blanket size is a smart one. Not every crochet blanket needs to become a giant commitment that takes over the lounge room and your will to live. A 45 x 50 inch blanket is a useful, manageable size for gifting, for wheelchairs or reading nooks, or just for keeping on hand for chilly evenings. That practicality gives this pattern extra appeal. The usability point is my own take based on the finished dimensions Mary Maxim provides.

At the moment, the pattern page shows no reviews, so there is not much customer feedback to go on yet. Still, if you enjoy easy crochet blanket patterns, super chunky crochet throws, or quick lap blanket projects, this one looks like a solid freebie to save.

My overall take? This looks like a fast, cozy, beginner-friendly crochet blanket pattern with plenty of texture and instant-gratification energy. Very much the sort of project you start because it looks easy, then keep going because the yarn feels ridiculously soft.