Crochet

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Book Review – CROCODILE STITCH FASHIONS

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The most talked about stitch in crochet these days is the Crocodile Stitch.  Annie’s Attic has gathered eight pretty fashion patterns into a single book with detailed instructions to complete each one.  The shawl featured on the cover is a stunner!  I think I might prefer it without the fringe, but that’s a personal choice.  Other patterns include hats, cowl, fingerless mitts (gauntlets), and wrist warmers.

The close up color photos really help in learning how to create this difficult looking stitch.  It’s really not nearly as difficult as it looks since it’s composed only of chains and double crochets – stitches even beginners will have mastered.

I actually have a non-fashion idea to use this stitch, but I had been put off by the ‘difficulty factor’.  Stay tuned and you’ll see my idea take form right before your eyes.

So, if you’ve seen a Crocodile Stitch design that intrigued you but were sure it was beyond your abilities, take heart!  This book makes them all accessible to you.

BOOK SPECS:

Crocodile Stitch Fashions by Lianka Azulay

Annie’s Attic #8711232

47 pages, 8.5X11 inches, many color photos

$14.95 USD

Comments

  1. I have loved this stitch since I first saw the neckwarmer pattern almost a year ago. The designer, Lianka, is AMAZING, sweet, and super helpful with every question I ever had. This is my top stitch in crochet. You will not regret getting the book or the individual patterns from her Bonita Patterns Etsy shop.

  2. I just ordered it the other day and anxiously awaiting for it to arrive! Can’t wait to pick up my hook and get started on it! Can’t decide if I want to do the shawl or the hood first, either way ifit turns out as pretty as the pictures friends will get them as gifts for Christmas!

  4. I came across this stitch by surfing several sights.When I found this I am amazed at how many patterns there is to learn/do.I love them all. I am a professional seamstress

  5. I simply love this stitch but have as yet not tried doing it. I hate to start something I don’t think I can do. So if it’s as easy as you say I will have ago at it. It would be great if I could win this giveaway and have a go at it then. Thanks for this great prize giveaway.

  7. I would love the book. I’ve watched you tube instructions and it looks like fun. You wanted ideas. I haven’t seen a pattern for slippers and I think you could come up with some cute ideas there. Maybe some just plain croc stitch and some with addtions to look like a real croc.

  8. Although my website is kumihimo, I am an avid crocheter also. I accidently came across this stitch design and totally fell in love with it. I love the way it seems to flow in any item I make with it. I wish there was another name for it beside Crocodile. Just doesn’t seem appropriate for such a beautiful stitch.

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.