Crochet

Patterns, projects and techniques

Custom Crocheted Sweaters – Make Garments That Really Fit

by

If the cover sweater isn’t tempting enough, you’ll find plenty of other reasons to add this great book to your crochet library.

 

Looking for more sweaters to crochet? Check out these sweater Crochet patterns we found on Etsy.

Custom Crochet Sweaters

This book is both a beginner’s guide and a scholarly thesis on how to construct your own sweater so that it will fit you or the person you make it for.  Dora Ohrenstein shares her vast crochet experience in a manual that will take you from simple to sophisticated, working up projects that will fit your curves just the way you want them to.

Using thorough text, up close photography, and detailed graphics, Ohrenstein covers all the elements for creating a custom sweater – from understanding construction techniques to reading patterns and measuring bodies, from swatching for gauge to altering patterns.  This is one stop shopping with every topic covered in depth and detail.

After you’ve read the hand-book, you get to the 10 sweaters – all beautiful and at least one guaranteed to be THE sweater for you.  There are two in this book that will work well on my frame – the cover sweater (Beau Blazer) and the Floating Tee.  Other designs include two shells, a long-lined vest, a cardigan, and several pullovers.  As usual, Ohrenstein’s choice of yarn and color are also spot on.  You’ll be entranced by the colors and yarn choices and the fact that the sweaters can be adjusted to fit your every sweater need.

ADDENDUM:  I asked permission to post this email I received as its author couldn’t post it her herself.  I think her comments are insightful.

I bought this book a few weeks ago. It’s absolutely great. I liked all of
the sweaters and most would look good on my frame.
But the real treasures are the fitting instructions and the fine tuning.
Even if one didn’t care for any of the sweaters the book is still very
helpful.

Susan in San Jose

 

Book Specs:

Lark Crafts Publishers, (www.sterlingpublishing.com) January, 2012

142 Pages with many color photos, illustrations, and drawings

Soft cover with (my favored peanut butter & jelly proof) Satin Finish

ISBN 9781600597985

$22.95 USD

 

Comments

  1. Your post on crochet partners about men’s thoughts cracked me up.. I get the same bull from some of our friends hubbies.. Mine is just as bad — doesn’t understand how women can sit ans crochet or knit day after day.. I always tell them well I can’t understand how you can toss a hook and line over board and sit there for hours hoping a fish will come along and grab you hook…or go sit in freezing weather and wait for a deer to come in site so you can shoot it or go golfing for hours knocking a little ball over green grass hopefully into a hole..

Have you read?

Free Christmas Worry Worm Crochet Pattern With a Printable Gift Card

There’s something rather lovely about a handmade gift that says, “I was thinking of you,” without needing a large box, expensive supplies or three weeks of frantic crocheting.

Our Christmas worry worm is a sweet little example. It has a curly body, a smiling embroidered face and a pointed Santa hat, plus a decorative printable gift card that turns a small crochet project into a thoughtful festive present.

And yes, those little leftover balls of Christmas yarn finally have a job. Apparently, keeping them all was entirely reasonable.

A Christmas Twist on the Crochet Worry Worm

If you’ve enjoyed our original crochet worry worm project, this Christmas version offers a different construction and a festive finish.

The body is a narrow crochet corkscrew, while the head is a separate, lightly stuffed ball worked in continuous rounds. A small hat with a contrasting brim completes the character.

What I particularly like about this design is that the Christmas detail comes from the colours and that tiny hat. There are no fiddly fingers, miniature boots or elaborate accessories to sew together. The curly body gives it plenty of personality all by itself.

What Skills Will You Need?

This free Christmas worry worm crochet pattern uses chains, single crochet, increases, decreases and slip stitches. You’ll also need to work a magic ring, embroider a simple face and sew the three components together.

I’d describe it as an easy project for someone comfortable with basic crochet stitches and ready to try small amigurumi pieces. The tiny hat rounds may require a little patience, especially if you usually make blankets with a lovely big hook.

The materials are straightforward: DK or 8-ply yarn, a 3 mm hook, a little stuffing, black embroidery thread and a yarn needle.

Choose smooth yarn so you can see your stitches clearly. Fluffy yarn might look festive in the ball, but finding four tiny stitches in a magic ring is quite enough excitement without hiding them under eyelash fibres.

Make Santa, Elf or Snowy Christmas Versions

The same construction works in several Christmas colour combinations:

  • Traditional Santa: A red curly body, cream head and red hat with a white brim.
  • Christmas elf: A green body and green hat with a contrasting red brim.
  • Snowy Christmas friend: A white body and head, finished with a red-and-white Santa hat.

The faces are embroidered, and the hat tip has a few white stitches rather than a separate pompom. Keep those details simple and let the colour combinations do the decorating.

If seasonal variations are your weakness, our Easter bunny worry worm pattern is another idea to save for your next round of small handmade gifts.

The Printable Christmas Gift Card Makes It Feel Special

The accompanying printable card is the detail that brings this project together.

Watercolour-style poinsettias, holly, red bows and gold accents frame a short verse, with To and From lines for your message. A pale green space on the right holds