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DOUBLESTITCH, the review

May 29, 2008 by jd wolfe

doublestitch crochet book erika and monika simmons interweave press

 

Doublestitch, Designs for the Crochet Fashionista

by Erika and Monika Simmons

 

Published by Interweave Press, 2008, 128 pages, ISBN 978159668006630

Erika and Monika, identical twins, are young, beautiful, fashionable, and talented crochet entrepreneurs. Their crochet designs are fashion forward – aimed at younger women with great shapes. As with many books of crochet fashion, some of the designs are more conceptual than practical. I take these designs as being more inspirational than practical, not what I’m likely to see on the street but a great source for learning how the bounds of crochet can be stretched and redefined. The lovely Deep V Halter that leads off this collection is well suited to the model wearing it, but unlikely to be worn in public because of the impracticality of wearing the 24 inch long fringe that circles the hem. But what a great looking halter top this is!

My favorite designs in the book are the hooded poncho with its flattering vertical detailing and the V shaped hemline treatment, the Gypsy Duster which could easily be created as an elegant ‘topper’ or a beach cover-up by changing only the yarn selection, and the Shrunken Jacket, another versatile design with vertical and horizontal accents that would flatter most figures.

Were I a tall, slender twentysomething, I’d be especially enthralled with the Peek-a-Boo Dress and Shawl and the T-Neck Top.

peekaboo dress crochet simmons doublestitch interweave press
Peek-A-Boo Dress With Shawl

Yarns used in this book vary from high end alpaca/silk blends to the more modest TLC Amore and LionBrand Wool-ease. This variety is always a plus.

Helpful things in this book? The black and white line drawings and the multiple color photographs showing the garments from a variety of angles, including clear examples of stitch details. This is invaluable to me. Clear type-face and outlined pattern notes create a crisp visual array on each page that is without clutter. Stitch counts at the ends of key rows are extremely helpful.

Ever design in this book is visually stimulating. While there are certainl designs I would never personally crochet (the Bell Sleeve Shrug with Feather Collar for one), there are plenty of great ideas here to inspire me to crochet a flirty fringy belt for a young friend or adapt the Webbed Halter for my own use. The Shrunken Jacket will definitely become part of my wardrobe while my 23 year old daughter has her bid in for for the Beach Bikini with Skirt and the Fitted Shrug with Cap Sleeves.

All in all, this collection of almost thirty designs has a lot to offer a wide variety of crocheters. There’s certainly nothing shapeless or boring about these designs, just the kind of designs I have come to expect from Interweave Press.

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Comments

  1. HARREZE SALIMA says

    September 29, 2011 at 3:39 am

    dear friend chrocheting;
    I am a woman who loves crocheting, and seeing your models, I am dazzled.
    I am Algerian and no credit cards.
    do I hope to have some of your templates for free?
    thank you very much.
    sincerly yours
    HARREZE SALIMA

  2. jd wolfe says

    September 29, 2011 at 7:59 pm

    Harreze,
    There are many patterns you can get online for free. Visit this site to see the wealth of free patterns available to you:

    http://www.crochetpatterncentral.com

    You can also visit the various yarn sites for more free patterns:
    caron.com
    redheart.com
    bernat.com

    Google ‘free crochet patterns’ and you’ll find more.
    Thanks for writing. I believe you’re the first Algerian I’ve heard from on this site. You might also be interested in some of the online crochet discussion groups you can find at yahoogroups.com. crochetpartners is a great one!

    jd

Have you read?

How to Crochet the Suzette Stitch: An Easy Textured Crochet Stitch for Beginners

Learning a crochet stitch is much more satisfying when you have an actual project waiting at the end of it. The Suzette stitch is especially versatile because its dense, softly textured fabric works for everything from practical cotton washcloths to cosy scarves, hats and blankets.

Here are some Suzette stitch crochet patterns worth adding to your project list.

Suzette Stitch Baby Blanket

The free Suzette Stitch Baby Blanket pattern from Premier Yarns uses the stitch to create a softly textured crochet blanket with a subtle tweed-like appearance.

This would make a lovely handmade baby shower gift, particularly when worked in a washable baby yarn. The stitch creates more visual interest than plain single crochet without introducing large holes that may catch tiny fingers.

Easy Suzette Stitch Blanket

The Suzette Stitch Blanket pattern by Stitching Together is another approachable blanket project for crocheters who enjoy a relaxing stitch repeat.

This is the sort of project you can keep beside the sofa and work on a few rows at a time. Just keep an eye on those skipped stitches—television crochet is wonderful until an extra stitch quietly sneaks in three episodes earlier.

Casey Suzette Stitch Scarf

The free Casey Scarf crochet pattern uses the Suzette stitch through most of the design, producing a cosy scarf with a softly scalloped, zigzag-like texture.

It is a good first wearable project for beginners because scarves do not require complicated shaping. You can also adjust the length fairly easily or use a self-striping yarn and let the colour changes do the decorative work for you.

Quick Suzette Crochet Scarf

For another scarf option, try this free Suzette Stitch Scarf pattern from Hooked by Robin.

The designer includes written instructions and a video tutorial, making it helpful for visual learners who prefer watching the stitch placement before beginning. It is designed as a quick project and would make a practical last-minute handmade gift.

Suzette Colour Block Scarf

The free Suzette Colour Block Scarf pattern is a cheerful option for using several coordinating yarn colours.

Colour blocking also makes this a handy stash-busting crochet project. You can use leftover yarn from other makes, although it is worth choosing yarns of the same weight and similar fibre content so the sections behave themselves after washing.

Chunky Suzette Stitch Beanie

The free Chunky Suzette Stitch Beanie crochet pattern turns the textured stitch into a warm winter hat.

Chunky yarn helps the pattern work up quickly and makes the raised texture especially noticeable. This would be a useful project for craft stalls, charity donations or quick handmade Christmas gifts.

Hazel Textured Crochet Beanie

The free Hazel Beanie crochet pattern combines simple ribbing with the Suzette stitch.

The ribbed brim gives the hat a neat, finished appearance while the Suzette stitch adds texture to the main body. It looks more complicated than a basic crochet beanie but is still built from familiar beginner stitches.

Suzette Stitch Washcloth

For a small practice project, try the free Suzette Stitch Wash Cloth pattern from The Purple Poncho.

A washcloth is one of the best ways to practise a new crochet stitch because it is small, useful and not terribly demanding. Even if the first one is slightly wonky, it will still wash perfectly well.

Use a smooth cotton yarn so the cloth is absorbent and the stitch texture remains clearly visible.

Suzette Ridge Crochet Washcloth

The free Suzette Ridge Crochet Washcloth pattern adds another layer of texture to this familiar stitch combination.

Make several in coordinating colours and pair them with handmade soap for an easy spa-style gift. They are also useful little projects for testing unfamiliar cotton yarn before committing to a larger set.

Corner-to-Corner Suzette Stitch Washcloth

The free C2C Suzette Stitch Washcloth pattern gives the stitch a slightly different construction by working it from corner to corner.

This is a good next project after you have mastered ordinary flat rows. It lets you explore increasing and decreasing while still using the familiar Suzette stitch combination.

Suzette Stitch Afghan Square

The Suzette Stitch Afghan Square pattern turns the textured stitch into a smaller crochet block.

Afghan squares are useful for charity blankets, sampler blankets and portable crochet projects. You can make the squares individually, use up leftover yarn and join everything together once you have enough—although “enough” has been known to become a surprisingly flexible number in my craft room.

More Suzette Stitch Crochet Pattern Ideas

Once you are comfortable with the basic stitch, you can also use it to make:

  • Crochet mug cosies
  • Ear warmers and headbands
  • Fingerless gloves
  • Cushion covers
  • Tote bags
  • Baby rompers
  • Crochet cardigans
  • Lap blankets
  • Double-thick potholders

You can browse additional Suzette stitch crochet patterns on Etsy, including sweaters, baby blankets, beanies, mug cosies and accessories from independent crochet designers.

When choosing a pattern, check whether it uses US or UK crochet terminology. Also check whether it uses the traditional Suzette stitch—one single crochet and one double crochet worked into the same stitch—or a designer’s variation of it. That quick check can prevent a great deal of confused unraveling later.

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