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Book Review -GIFTED Crochet And Knitting

August 27, 2010 by jd wolfe

Gifted, Lovely Little Things To Knit & Crochet is the name of one of the most recent publications from Interweave Press.  Doesn’t it have an inviting cover?

Mags Kandis has created a very attractive array of knit and crochet items that will make wonderful gifts for those special people in your life.  The book is divided into two sections, “Gifts for the Body” and “Gifts for the Soul”.  The projects are ALL beautiful and charmingly photographed.  However, there are only seven crochet patterns!

That said, there is plenty of inspiration in this book even if it’s in the form of knitted projects.  In addition to the knitted and crocheted gifts, there are several items that are crafted from or embellished with pre-made woolens that are felted.  That sort of recycling is something I appreciate.  I especially like the bangles that are wrapped and felted.  There are even a couple recipes to include with your handcrafted gift to make it even more special.

If you are one who both knits and crochets, this could be a great addition to your library.

BOOK SPECS:

Gifted, Lovely Little Things to Knit & Crochet by Mags Kandis

Interweave Press, 2010

135 Pages, Numerous color photos

ISBN:  9781596681781

$24.95 USD

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Comments

  1. Joanne Carpenter says

    September 7, 2010 at 7:40 am

    I am currently knitting an afghan and plan to crochet around the edges of it to give it a nice finished appearance.

  2. Lisa Jones says

    September 7, 2010 at 7:41 am

    I would love this book. I’m always looking for great ideas. My next crochet project will be an afghan to match the colors in my sisters newly painted living room.

  3. ninad says

    September 7, 2010 at 9:09 am

    My next project is a beautiful throw (Temair – free on line pattern from Lion Brand Yarn)- challenging, and therapeutic. Nothing like a good crochet/knitting project to relax the mind….

  4. Stephanie Brodersen says

    September 7, 2010 at 10:01 am

    I am working on a lapghan for someone for Christmas then I will make a baby blanket for my brother’s baby to come.

  5. Anita Adams says

    September 7, 2010 at 10:08 am

    Working on baby sweater sets and afghans for a craft show and for gifts. Also make things for a crisis pregnancy center in our area. Waiting for my disability to be approved, so right now money is tight and all my Christmas presents will be crocheted or knitted. Would love to have this book so I can make new things!

  6. Meghan First Charger says

    September 7, 2010 at 12:00 pm

    My next crochet project hopefully will be a sweater for my husband for Christmas!

  7. Kelly Massman says

    September 7, 2010 at 1:12 pm

    Cool book! Your giveaway on September 7 doesn’t allow comments! Too bad, because someone would love to get this book!

  8. Hayley says

    September 7, 2010 at 2:52 pm

    What a beautiful looking book! Will be adding this one to my wish list!

  9. Karen K says

    September 7, 2010 at 4:04 pm

    I epecially love to crochet. I just completed several gift pouches for Christmas

  10. beverly says

    September 7, 2010 at 5:06 pm

    my next crochet project is a crochet rug made out of repurposed t-shirt yarn. i cleaned out my closet and had a ton of t-shirts that were faded or stained, etc. i decided to turn them into tshirt yarn to make cat beds for my cats and to make a rug for my bedroom. it would be great to win gifted to give me more ideas of things to crochet and knit for family, friends and pets. 🙂

  11. Tiffany says

    September 7, 2010 at 7:23 pm

    I’m making a multi colored shawl using my cousins favorite colors. Hello christmas. LOL

  12. Patricia Hall says

    September 8, 2010 at 1:02 pm

    I both knit and crochet and have been eyeballing this book!

  13. Myrna J says

    September 8, 2010 at 9:43 pm

    Love your site and your work, very generous of you to offer free patterns and great links.
    I crochet and knit. Just finished a crochet hat with a knitted scarf for a friend. I am working on a sweater right now.

  14. Ana Hernandez says

    September 9, 2010 at 2:43 pm

    My next project is pretty pink scarf for my little cousin’s 10th birthday!

  15. Joanne Yordanou says

    September 12, 2010 at 6:55 am

    Love Mags’ work and would love this book! As for my next crochet project… baby booties!

  16. Elizabeth Hannum says

    September 12, 2010 at 7:52 pm

    This book looks amazing. I’m always looking for new things to work on. Currently I’m working on a wrap for me, a blanket for the heck of it and some little animals for halloween decorations.

  17. Amy says

    September 18, 2010 at 1:22 pm

    I crochet and knit, so this book looks awesome. I just finished my Lilytopia Shawl today, so I’m looking through my lengthy Ravelry Queue to decide what to do next. Granted, I could finish one of my many WIPs…

  18. lidija says

    September 23, 2010 at 7:39 am

    Baby afghan.

  19. Jada says

    September 24, 2010 at 6:11 pm

    I would love this book. I’ve been a benginner in tatting and just started getting into crochet and was just shown how to knit. This would make a great addition to my crafting library. Thanks for the opportunity to win!

  20. Bonnie Berg says

    September 25, 2010 at 12:48 pm

    Lots of very interesting ideas. I enjoy crochet and knitting.

  21. Wanda says

    September 26, 2010 at 9:31 am

    I am working on an afghan with the Saints logo on it for a grandson. Next will be another afghan for another grandson (logo of his choice).

Have you read?

Pattern Review: Granny Dots Crochet Bucket Hat Pattern

There is something wonderfully cheerful about a crochet bucket hat, especially when it has that granny-style texture that makes us all say, “Oh yes, I could make that in five colours from my stash.” And let’s be honest, any pattern that lets me justify keeping those half-balls of yarn tucked away in a basket is already off to a strong start.

The Granny Dots Crochet Bucket Hat Pattern is a fun, easy crochet bucket hat pattern worked in colourful granny-style clusters with a simple single crochet brim. It has that lovely retro handmade look without needing to sew together a stack of separate granny squares, which is always a win in my book because joining motifs is where many good intentions go to quietly disappear.

This pattern is written for adult one-size fit and uses medium weight yarn in five colours. It is a great stash-busting crochet project, especially if you have leftover worsted weight yarn from blankets, scarves, or all those “I only bought one skein because it was pretty” moments.

The finished hat has a playful dotted look across the crown and body, then a neat striped brim that gives it a polished finish. I especially like how easily the mood changes depending on the yarn colours. Soft pastels make it sweet and springy, oranges and browns give it a warm autumn feel, and greys and blacks make it look more modern and unisex.

If you love granny-style crochet accessories, you might also like our free Georgie Granny Cluster Bucket Hat over on CraftBits, which has a similar beginner-friendly feel and works well as a companion project for anyone wanting to try more crochet hats. You can also browse our roundup of crochet bucket hat patterns to make this summer if your hat-making mood has officially taken over the craft table.

What I Like About This Crochet Bucket Hat Pattern

The best thing about this pattern is that it gives you the look of granny crochet without becoming overly complicated. The crown begins in the round and builds out using double crochet groups, then continues into the body with repeating granny-style rounds. Once you understand the rhythm, it becomes one of those cosy “just one more round” projects.

The brim is worked in single crochet, which gives the edge a little more structure than the body. I always appreciate that in a crochet bucket hat because a floppy brim can go from cute to “why is this sitting on my eyebrows?” very quickly. You could also gently steam or block the brim if you want a smoother shape, especially if you are making it for photos, gifting, or selling finished hats at markets.

This is marked as an easy crochet pattern, and I think that is fair. It is not a first-ever crochet project, but it would suit a confident beginner who knows how to chain, slip stitch, single crochet, double crochet, work in rounds, and change colour. The colour changes are the only part that require a little attention, but they are also what make the hat so much fun.

For yarn, a medium weight cotton or cotton-blend would be lovely for a summer bucket hat, while acrylic or wool-blend yarn would make it warmer and softer for cooler weather. If you are buying supplies, Mary Maxim is a good place to look for colourful worsted weight yarn, and Amazon is handy for crochet hooks, yarn needles, and blocking supplies if your craft drawer has mysteriously eaten them again.

Colour Ideas For The Granny Dots Bucket Hat

This is where the pattern really shines. Because it uses five colours, you can make it feel completely different each time.

A few combinations I would try:

Soft Pastels: blush pink, mint, lilac, buttercream, and pale blue
Autumn Spice: mustard, rust, olive, cranberry, and camel
Earth & Sky: teal, chocolate, goldenrod, dusty pink, and denim
Modern Neutral: black, charcoal, silver, cream, and soft grey
Cottage Garden: rose, lavender, sage, butter yellow, and robin’s egg blue

This is also a lovely pattern for using up scrap yarn, provided your yarns are all a similar weight. I would avoid mixing very stiff cotton with very soft acrylic in the same hat unless you are prepared for a little shaping drama. Ask me how I know.

Helpful Tips Before You Start

Check your gauge before you begin, especially if you want the adult fit to come out neatly. The pattern gauge is 15 single crochet and 16 rows to 4 inches, and because hats need to fit around an actual head — not just look pretty flat on the table — gauge matters more here than it might on a scarf.

Use stitch markers to mark the beginning of each round. When you are changing colours often, it is very easy to lose track of where a round starts, particularly if you are crocheting while watching television and pretending you are “just doing one more row.”

Weave in ends as you go if you can bear it. Five-colour crochet is gorgeous, but it does come with ends, and future-you will be much happier if you don’t leave them all until the end in one terrifying little yarn nest.

Who This Pattern Is Best For

This crochet bucket hat pattern is a good fit for makers who enjoy colourful crochet accessories, quick wearable projects, and stash-friendly patterns. It would make a great handmade gift for teens and adults, and it has strong market stall potential because you can create several versions in different colour palettes without changing the main pattern.

It is also a nice project for anyone who loves the look of granny squares but does not necessarily want a sewing-up session at the end. The texture gives that familiar granny crochet feel while keeping the construction more straightforward.

You could make one in soft spring colours for a festival look, one in earthy shades for autumn outfits, or one in monochrome greys for someone who insists they “don’t wear colourful things” but still secretly appreciates handmade.

Etsy Listing Note

This is a digital PDF crochet pattern, not a finished hat. The PDF includes the written pattern, materials, abbreviations, gauge notes, colour change guidance, brim instructions, stitch key, mockup inspiration, and colour palette ideas.

For crocheters who enjoy easy crochet hat patterns, granny stitch texture, and colourful stash-busting projects, the Granny Dots Crochet Bucket Hat Pattern is a sweet, wearable make with lots of room for personality. It is cheerful without being fussy, practical without being boring, and exactly the sort of project that makes you start looking at leftover yarn in a whole new way.

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