Crochet

Patterns, projects and techniques

Book Review- Beaded Edges And More!

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This is just one of the many scrumptious patterns you’ll find in the book The Beaded Edge 2.

If you were to rely on the cover photo, you’d be selling this book short.  There is way more here than edgings for coin purses!  Inside, you’ll find lovely and delicate edgings for garments, straps, and necklaces like the one above.  The designs are photographed lovingly, conveying the full beauty of each design as well as the detailed techniques to create them.

About those techniques.  There are a couple of tricks here I’ve not seen elsewhere for dealing with tiny beads and even sequins.  The close up photos and clear diagrams guide you through each pattern and technique.  There is also a bit of history included, with an especially nice exploration of the Turkish Oya beading.

Anyone who is a fan of beads or crochet – or the combination of beads and crochet – will fall in love with this book.  It’s a must-have for bead crochet!

Book Specs:

The Beaded Edge 2 by Midori Nishida/CRK Designs

Published in the U.S. by Interweave Press, 2012

ISBN:978159668559

List Price $17.95 USD

Comments

  1. Thank you, I have been looking for crochet patterns like some necklaces I have seen on the internet… I’d love to be a customer of these talented artisans, but, I want to do it myself ;-). They are crochet chains with multi color flowers and bead accents, I have looked at this book but nowhere does it show what is inside. I am a competent crocheter, with a good start I can go on, but it is easier to not have to do it from scratch…. the beaded flower chain above, are there more patterns like that? You are right, the purses, I was not interested….

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.