CROCHET BELTS FROM THE HIP – An E-Book Review

Have you ever ordered an e-book? Do you have a waist? I remember having a waist……..

But, I had never ordered an e-book before. I must confess that I thought e-books were probably lame attempts to self-publish substandard work that a reputable publisher wouldn’t purchase. Wrong!! This book is a delight. It’s 34 pages of color photographs, ‘Straight From Tioday’s Designers’ – names that we all know in the world of crochet.

Even if you don’t have a waist, you can still use the designs in this book. The range here is remarkable and charming. From the simplest little chained belt from Vashti Braha to the show-stopping focal piece from Margaret Huber, there is something here for everyone. Further, many of these designs could be used as necklaces or enlarged with extra rows to become scarves. Embellished with elaborate stitch detail, beads, buttons, and buckles, each belt is a mini masterpiece. No kidding!

To further whet your appetite, I’ll give you a preview of the many designers whose work is included here: Kinsler, Guzman, Crone-Findlay, Chachula, Ohrenstein, Chan, Best, Gentry, and more. Interested yet?

Another thing that appeals to me about this book (okay, I’m dropping the e-book term because this IS a book), is that it is a compilation of timely designs that was taken from concept to execution in about two months! That’s remarkable in itself. We usually get crochet patterns at the end of a trend rather than at the beginning because it takes so long to get from the designer’s mind to the pages of a book or magazine. Amy O’Neill Houck came up with the idea for this book one day, and two months later, it’s a reality.

So, what’s here? A simple, delicate but effective belt, edged in simple beads from Angela Lavonne Best. A couple of tunisian goodies, one from Kim Guzman and one from Doris Chan. A fun and funky piece of whimsy from Noreen Crone-Findlay. Pineapples, picots, popcorns, circles, waves, and even a felted belt. You gotta’ love it.

As with sewn garments where buttons often ‘make’ the design, several of these belts are set off nicely by the designer’s choice of buckles and/or beads. Some of the belts are focal waist definers. Others are hip-hugging accessories that will go from dress to jeans.

On my to-do list are two definites – Vashti’s Barbed Wire Belt and Lavonne’s Beaded Lacy Sash. Check out this collection and you’ll find your own must-makes.

STATS:

Thirty Four pages, nineteen designs, color photos, some symbol designs

www.SFTDOnline.com to order or contact the publisher(s)

$15.00 USD