Crochet

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Book Review – Learn Bruges Lace

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If you’re a bit like me, you’ve admired Bruges Lace from afar, assured that the technique was too advanced for you.  Not so!  This new book by Ellen Gormley really breaks down the stitch pattern into ‘bite-sized pieces’, using basic stitches even a beginner can master, making it far more accessible than I would have imagined.

Individual, close-up, step by step photos, charts, and instructions guide the crocheter from beginning stitch to finished project.  One challenge I was sure I couldn’t pull off was taking this squiggly stitch motif from straight to circular.  Again, this book shows me how.  On the cover, you see the basic stitch pattern used in a pretty scarf, tot cap, and full sized afghan.  Maybe that’s too much for you?  If so, you’ll enjoy starting with this bit of Bruges Lace for your wrist.

There are four more patterns in this book.  The Spiral Cowl is a stunner!  You’ll enjoy making all of these pretty things.

Book Specs:

Learn Bruges Lace by Ellen Gormley

Annie’s Attic Book #871206, 2012

56 pages, soft cover

ISBN:  9781596355477

$9.95 USD

Comments

  2. JD,
    Thank you so much for the review! I’ve been eyeing the book ever since the first put it up on Annie’s site. I just didn’t know if I was ready to tackle a new technique. But you made it sound great, so I will have to buy this book now!

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.