Crochet

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WE FIGURED OUT WHAT WE WANT IN A BOOK…..

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gutenberg-cro-book-0509

http://www.gutenberg.org/files/16605/16605-h/16605-h.htm

In an earlier blog entry, I asked readers to comment on what their ‘dream’ crochet book would be like.  I have my own preferences, but clearly my wish list is not complete.  You came up with many more useful, if perhaps unattainable from any crochet artist or publisher, wish list.  At least, I think we’ve come pretty far from the crochet book pictured above!

I’ll give you the summary here.  See what you think.  Please feel free to comment further so we can fine tune this list.  I DO plan on sending a summary of our Wish List to a long list of publishers of crochet books.  Really!  So, if you have an opinion, strong or otherwise (and I think many of us have rather strong feelings here), post your comments.  I’ll do another summary and round of comments til we get this thing properly honed.  These comments are not necessarily in list of importance.  It might be even more helpful if we could prioritize, so feel free to rank your ‘wishes’. Here goes:

WHAT CROCHETERS WANT IN A CROCHET BOOK    SUMMARY 05/09

1. STITCH COUNTS AT END OF ROW
2. PHOTOS OF MULTIPLE VIEWS, COLOR PHOTOS, SCHEMATICS, SYMBOLS, CHARTS – LACK OF COLOR PHOTOS IS A DEAL BREAKER
3. LAY FLAT OR SPIRAL BINDING
4. SIZE – SLIGHTLY LARGER THAN A PAPERBACK NOVEL (only one person commented on size and I’d actually prefer a larger book)
5. PAPER QUALITY – MATTE, GLOSSY (too much glare), LAMINATED (can be wiped off)
6. PATTERNS – ORGANIZE BY
TYPE
SKILL LEVEL
SEASON
YARN WT
THEME
(Are there other categories we might want listed?)
7. SKILL LEVEL – DESCRIPTION (I have a problem with this as skill levels are actually highly subjective much of the time.  Having a list of stitches used in the project and comments like ‘tailored’ , indicating the necessity of increasing and decreasing, might be more valuable than an arbitrary ‘easy, medium, difficult’ designation.)
8. STITCH ILLUSTRATIONS AND INSTRUCTIONS – ENLARGED PHOTOS OR ILLUSTRATIONS HELP A LOT
9. AFFORDABILITY OF MATERIALS (See Item #17 below.)
10. QUICK PROJECTS (What about a mix of quick and not so quick?)
11. HOOK SIZE IN #, LETTER, OR MM (for international conversions)
12. YARN – FIBER, WPI, SIZE, WEIGHT, SUBSTITUTIONS (Problem so often is that by the time a book is published, the yarn is no longer in production.)
13. INSTRUCTIONS FOR LEFTIES

14. CATEGORIES: Not that we necessarily want all of these in the same book, I think.
BABY
DOILY
GRANNY
GARMENTS
RUNWAY
TRENDY
HOUSEHOLD/DECOR

15. BOOK, WEBSITE, ERRATA, QUESTIONS, LINKS, YOUTUBE, RESOURCE SECTION, SUPPLIES – in this digital era, it would be most helpful for us to be in touch with the author for clarifications. How practical is this??

16. ABBREVIATION CHART, GLOSSARY, LIST OF SUPPLIERS, RESOURCES, ETC.

17. EACH ITEM CAN BE PICTURED IN SPLURGE YARN AND ECONOMICAL YARN.

PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CUT AND PASTE A SECTION YOU WANT TO COMMENT ON AND POST IT TO THE COMMENTS SECTION BELOW. I’LL DO ANOTHER SUMMARY OF ALL COMMENTS SOON!

More Crochet?

Comments

  1. I want very detailed step-by-step color photographs (as in Japanese pattern books) and charted as well as traditionally written out patterns.
    Uh.. Laminated?! I am not willing to pay the extra cost of laminated book pages and spiral bindings are not that important to me. People can always photocopy that page of a book they own and put it in a paper protector for their personal use. I agree, color photographs are essential.

    I like it when they give a variety of good yarn choices instead of one specific brand.

  2. Hi jd, It’s me!! My dealbreaker for a book (or magazine for that matter) if clothing items-must have larger sizes. I like having material options. I don’t like buying yarn without feeling it and highly specialized yarn is too expensive to buy with out using, I want WPI and weight. The scale of 1-5 that the yarn companies are using are not alway accurate-a ‘4’ in one yarn doesn’t work up as the same as ‘4’ in red heart-found out to my disadvantage-I now have a sweater too big and too much work to frog the whole thing.

  3. I like the idea of the laminated book so I can mark what step I’m on. Also, if the writer could triple check their pattern to make sure it’s correct would be nice. I get so mad when I paid money for a pattern and then end up having to figure it out myself.

  4. Thanks for the list, I like that ! I’m dreaming of self-publishing a book someday, so I’ll keep that handy.. 😛
    I’ve never really had any spiral-bound book in my hands and wonder how it holds in time..but I really love the idea !

  5. 11. HOOK SIZE IN #, LETTER, OR MM (for international conversions)

    I love all the ideas I read. I am thinking that this one may be a typo, because it would make more sense to have #, Letter, AND mm listed. The comment about paying more for laminating was a valid one. What if the book was made with the pages three hole punched on the left side and also so that the pages can be taken out of the book easily so they can be worked with. With the holes punched in, the pages could then be put into a binder. JMHO

  6. I like a book which cover the classic as well as new, a doily category, especially flower: Irish crochet, flowers and leaves decorating something modern, like a cell phone case, something lacy, I like things which are quick, but I also like something lacy which I can work on a bit everyday. I guess I am basically more interested in thread.

Have you read?

Free Crochet Pattern – Fruit Pies

The Fruit Pies crochet pattern is a fun and unique project that is perfect for anyone who loves to work with super bulky weight yarn. This pattern is easy to follow, making it a great option for crocheters of all skill levels, even beginners. The finished product is a set of adorable and realistic-looking fruit pies that are perfect for decorating your home or giving as gifts.

The pattern includes instructions for making three different types of fruit pies: apple, cherry, and blueberry. These pies are made using a combination of basic crochet stitches and simple shaping techniques, so even if you’re new to crochet, you’ll be able to make these with ease.

In addition to the crochet pattern, the kit also includes a list of materials needed to complete the project. The yarn used in the pattern is super bulky weight, which makes the pies nice and plump, and the yarn is available in a variety of colors, so you can make pies in any color you like.

Whether you’re looking for a fun and unique home decor project, or a thoughtful and handmade gift, the Fruit Pies crochet pattern is a great choice. With its easy-to-follow instructions and adorable finished product, you can’t go wrong with this pattern.

There are a few ways to add fragrance to the crochet Fruit Pies pattern. One way would be to add a few drops of fragrance oil to the yarn before starting the crochet project. You can use your favorite scented oil, such as vanilla, cinnamon, or apple, which will infuse the yarn with the fragrance. You can also try adding a few drops of essential oils into the stuffing of the pies after they are done.

Another way to add fragrance to the pies is to create a sachet of dried herbs or spices such as cinnamon sticks, cloves, or nutmeg and place it inside the pie after the project is completed. The scent of the herbs or spices will infuse the pies with a pleasant aroma.

You could also use a scented wax disc or a scented candle to add fragrance to the pies. Simply place the candle or disc next to the pies and allow the scent to permeate the room.

Lastly, you could also use a room spray to add fragrance to the pies. Spray the room with the scent of your choice and the pies will absorb the fragrance.

It’s important to keep in mind that, as these are crochet items, you should be careful when adding fragrance, especially if you are going to give them as a gift, as some people may be allergic to certain fragrances.

 

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