Book Review: Seamless Crochet by Kristin Omdahl

Blissful Flowers Shawl

I have always admired Kristin Omdahl's work because her sense of style is very modern and she brings crochet projects to a forefront of fashion. Her designs are fresh, stylish and suitable for every body type. When working on the projects you always learn something new: her creations are designed very thoughtfully with clever constructions. This book, Seamless Crochet: Techniques and Motifs for Join-As-You-Go Designs, is no exception. In fact, her innovated seamless-as-you-go technique is going to revolutionize how we crochet "granny" squares. No more weaving tens or even hundreds of ends!

Since this technique is new, Kirstin included an instructional video with the book so that we can learn exactly how to follow the charts when joining motifs seamlessly. She offers wide variety of designs: ranging from simple projects, on which you can learn the seamless technique, to more complex where you learn additional tricks and methods on how to shape seamlessly.

The book is divided into 4 chapters: Shawls, Accessories, Home Decor, and Babies and Kids. It's hard for me to pick my favorite projects because all of the projects in this book are very unique and I'd like to make them all. But based on the limited time I have to commit to crochet for pure fun, I can only pick a few projects and that's how I am picking my favorite designs in this book. Here we go:

Blissful Flowers Shawl pictured on cover, Ninja Star Shawlette, Berry Blossom Market Bag, and Raspberry Pillow.

Ninja Star Shawlette

Berry Blossom Market Bag

Raspberry Pillow

There's a blog tour on Seamless Crochet going on right now. Please see schedule below. At some stops, you can win a FREE copy of the book or ebook.

The last stop will be here on my blog, on February 11, 2012. Please come back to learn more about the behind the scenes of this book in my interview with Kristin Omdahl herself.  Also, you will be able to enter to win your own free Seamless Crochet eBook with the DVD!

 

SEAMLESS CROCHET BLOG TOUR:

1/25   AllFreeCrochet.com

1/26  Crochetville.org

1/27  CraftGossip.com Crochet Guide

1/30  Crochet by Faye

1/31  About.com Guide to Crochet

2/1    She Knits When She Should be Writing

2/2    Sara Likes to Make Stuff

2/3    Jimmy Beans Wool Blog

2/6    Rebecca Velasquez Designs

2/7    Yarn Thing Blog and Podcast
         live interview with Kristin, 12 pm Eastern

2/8   Hook and I

2/9    Faina’s Knitting Mode

2/10  The Crochet Doctor

2/11 Stylish Knits

Simply Crochet: Giselle Vest

Giselle Vest (Simply Crochet, Dec 2011)

This is a second stop on my blog on the Simply Crochet Countdown to Fun Blog Tour. The Giselle Vest is a second design I had contributed to Robyn Chachula's book Simply Crochet: 22 Stylish Designs for Every Day. The book is  now available for purchase in both hard copy and e-book.

This top vest is crochet in a beautiful flower lace design forming horizontal lines that is flattering to many body shapes. The top has an easy construction; the body is worked from side to side beginning and ending at center back finished with edging around the top and bottom edges and shoulder straps crocheted on. As all Robyn's books, the instructions are given in both written form and accompanied by charts.

Giselle is worked in Cascade Yarns, Heritage (75% merino superwash, 25% nylon; 437 yd/400 m /3.5 oz/ 100 g): #5648 strawberry cream with D/3 (3.25mm) hook. The yarn is very soft and very easy to work with. The yarn has a great yardage; you need only 2-3 hanks to make this top so it is very budget friendly.

What is your favorite fingering yarn to use for crochet projects? Let me know in the comments.

Next stop for the blog tour is tomorrow, December 15, 2011, at Robyn Chachula's  www.crochetbyfaye.blogspot.com.

Simply Crochet e-book Winner

Thank you to all who entered to win Simply Crochet e-book. I enjoyed reading all your lovely comments.

So without further to do. The winner of the book is..... "theresay"! Congratulations!! I will be forwarding your e-mail to Robyn Chachula. She will be in touch with you regarding how to download the copy. I am assuming your e-mail on the blogger is correct. If not, please private message me on Raverly, or leave the e-mail in the commments.

To follow the rest of the book blog tour, see schedule below. I will have another stop of the tour on my blog on December 14.Come back to check it out.

Simply Crochet: Emma Lace Scarf

Emma Lace Scarf is a very special project for me.  It is one of the two projects I contributed to Robyn Chachula's newest crochet book Simply Crochet: 22 Stylish Designs for Every Day; and it is my first project I had contributed to any of Robyn's books. I felt honored when she asked me to submit to her book since she's one of the crochet designers whose work I have long admired. Furthermore, many talented crochet designers I love, and nearly all of them who I am friends with, have showcased their designs in this book.


The Emma Lace Scarf  was inspired by a leather belt in a Victorian style I saw on a runway couple of years ago.  I loved the ornate and romantic look of it and wanted to translate it into crochet. So I made a swatch in this beautiful stitch pattern initially not even knowing what I am going to use it for. The scarf is made in Lion Brand Yarn, LB Collection Superwash Merino (100% Superwash Merino; 306 yd 280 m/3.5 oz 100 g): #114 cayenne, with size G/6 (4 mm) hook. I absolutely loved this yarn, it was very soft and easy to work with. I was pleasantly surprised that this great value yarn is of such a high quality. I highly recommend it and will be using it for my own crochet projects in the future.

As I was working on the project, Robyn had realized having yarn sent to me that we used to live about 10 minutes away from each other before she moved away! What a coincidence. It is wild that we used to go to the same grocery store and did not even know it. World is so, so small. But I got a chance to meet her personally for the first time at TNNA and I have to note that not only Robyn is wonderful person to work with, but she's also very funny and I enjoy hanging out with her.

BOOK HOLIDAY GIVEAWAY
If you are running around in this pre-Christmas time trying to get everything done on your list, slow down and post a comment here on the blog.  Interweave Press made a great offer to one of my readers; I can give away one free e-book copy of the Simply Crochet to one of you. All you need to do is to leave a comment here on the blog. You have until tomorrow, December 7th, 2011, midnight ET, to be included in the drawing. I will randomly draw a person and will announce here on December 8th. Good luck!

Simply Crochet book offers designs divided into chapters according to how much yarn is needed to complete a project: 1 ball, 2-3 balls, 4-5 balls. In addition, the book provides tips from designers on how to work crochet projects on a budget and tips on how to manage our own yarn stash. The book is available in both paperback and as an e-book. You can pre-order it now. The e-book is available for download and the hard copy will be on sale December 7, 2011.

Simply Crochet Countdown to fun:
Here is the blog tour in its entirety

1ball projects

Dec 1 Iced Ascot by Rebecca Velasquez, http://rebeccavelasquezdesigns.blogspot.com/

Dec 2 Flapper Hat by Margaret Hubert, http://margaretshooksandneedles.blogspot.com/

Dec 3 Billows of Baubles Scarf by Sheryl Means, http://sherylmeanscrochet.com/

Dec 4 Twist Cowl Wrap by Linda Permann, http://www.lindamade.com/wordpress/

Dec 5 Mystic Cuff by Robyn Chachula, crochetbyfaye.blogspot.com 

Dec 6 Emma Lace Scarf by Simona Merchant-Dest, http://stylishknits.blogspot.com/

Dec 7 Diamonds and Lace Hat by Linda Permann, http://www.lindamade.com/wordpress/

Dec 8 Neck Lattice by Vashti Braha, http://designingvashti.blogspot.com/

2-3 balls projects

Dec 9 Botan Placemats by Marlaina Bird, http://knitthing.blogspot.com/

Dec 10 Tapestry Basket by Carol Ventura, http://www.tapestrycrochet.com/blog/

Dec 11 Blooming Beauty Purse by Tracie Barrett, http://traciebarrett.com/blog/

Dec 12 Nedburt Puppet by Robyn Chachula, crochetbyfaye.blogspot.com

Dec 13 Natalie Shrug by Megan Granholm, http://loopdedoo.blogspot.com/

Dec 14 Giselle Vest by Simona Merchant-Dest, http://stylishknits.blogspot.com/

Dec 15 Sidney Cardigan by Robyn Chachula, crochetbyfaye.blogspot.com

Dec 16 Annabel Shawl by Kristin Omdahl, http://www.styledbykristin.com/

4- 5 balls projects

Dec 17 Tallula Baby Top by Marlaina Bird, http://knitthing.blogspot.com/

Dec 18 Amelia Cardigan by Julia Vaconsin, http://www.juliavaconsin.com/

Dec 19 Float Vest, Float Cardigan by Robyn Chachula, crochetbyfaye.blogspot.com

Dec 20 Linked Jacket by Robyn Chachula, crochetbyfaye.blogspot.com

Dec 21 Dots and Dashes Blanket by Ellen Gormley, http://www.gocrochet.com/

Dec 22 Spa Shawl Top by Doris Chan, Spa Shawl Tunic by Doris Chan, http://dorischancrochet.com/

Book Review: Little Crochet by Linda Permann

I first saw this book Little Crochet about 6 months ago at TNNA in Long Beach, where the author and my friend Linda Permann showed me a brief preview. As soon as you see the cute little booties on the cover, you know that the book will be filled with fresh, modern and wearable outfits all of us want to make for babies and toddlers in our lives.  Being able only to flip quickly through the pages, I knew I liked the book and wanted it in my library!

Besides the obvious, offering beautiful designs, the book is very well organized and thought out. It offers not only garments, accessories and toys for babies, girls and boys, but with most projects there is also a suggestion  for yarn and color substitutions to personalize. As any good crochet book, the patterns are written in written-out instructions with symbol diagrams, which I love.

If you are a beginner, this book is also a great resource to get you started. Linda explains the crochet basics, illustrates how to do all the stitches, including finishing techniques. In addition, she helps you with choosing the right yarn, choosing the right size, measuring your gauge correctly, and much more.

Enjoy!

My favorite projects are:

Mix and Match Motif Blanket

Ribbed Cardigan

Soft Owl Pillow

Sweet Daisy Sundress

Swing Set Cardigan

Sock It to Me Sweater Vest