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DOUBLESTITCH, the review

by

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.

Comments

  1. 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. 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?

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