Most Helpful Customer Reviews
95 of 95 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
HUGE collection of borders that INCLUDE corners, June 2, 2010
This review is from: Around the Corner Crochet Borders: 150 Colorful, Creative Edging Designs with Charts and Instructions for Turning the Corner Perfectly Every Time (Paperback)
First, this book is a pleasure to browse. It has nice colors, good type, and great schematics. There are truly 150 borders, and if you see one on the cover you like, it will be in the book (I checked four of my favorites, and they were all there). Unfortunately, the border you like may not be easy to find. This book would have been improved with a picture index of the borders available collected on a few pages at the beginning OR a numerical index of which borders are found where on the covers (as some doily books are known to do). Before you buy, you should note that the book is oddly dimensioned. The picture Amazon shows is the entire cover...not the top half of a full-sized cover, which makes the number of pages in the book twice what an ordinary sized pattern book would have with the same number of patterns. The book itself might also have benefited from a spiral rather than a standard paperback-type binding.
Next, the borders are different from what I have seen in other books. I have at least 10 border and edging books, and the ones here were different. These edgings used front and back loop construction to get ridges in creative locations. They had clusters, chains, lacy, and solid. There was a great deal of variability in style from border to border, yet virtually all were worthwhile. Even if I made an afghan a month, it would take more than 10 years to use all the designs I really liked. Most of the borders were not more than 4 rounds, though many had suggestions of how to make them wider. The colors were varied more than the author's previous motif book, and I thought they were prettier.
Then, there are a few things I would have changed. At least half of the borders have what I would call a "good" corner--a special treatment of the corner to make it stand out or a true right angle corner. The other half of the borders do say what to do at the corner, but the corner treatments are basically to work the border along the entire edge, add a few very boring stitches to keep the corner from cupping, and then start the next edge. (Basically, the corner would be "flat." Think of a 5dc, skip 2 stitches, sc in the center of a 3sc corner group, then continues with skip 2 stitches and 5dc group again.) Several of the borders with arches did this instead of having some "design" or short arch at the corner. (With the border described, I might put 9dc in the center of the 3sc group and have the skip 2 stitches before and after the border preceded by a sc, then 5dc). I would have added a few stitches to the pattern and created a true design for the corner...every time. Then, an option could have existed to have a pointed or flat corner depending on how many stitches were worked along the edge. Thankfully, with even 75 good corners, I am not likely to use up the design ideas any time soon.
Finally, I do highly recommend this book. Despite the suggestions for improvement given in this review, this set of patterns is one I can see using for years to come. The vast majority of the borders are lovely, well-written, and well-diagrammed. The charts are helpful for seeing structure, and they are given for both a corner and for a straight edge. The colors are pretty; the tips for working and introduction are well-done and helpful; and the overall presentation is top-notch. This book would be a great addition to any crochet border library.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
35 of 35 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
good addition to my collection, June 10, 2010
This review is from: Around the Corner Crochet Borders: 150 Colorful, Creative Edging Designs with Charts and Instructions for Turning the Corner Perfectly Every Time (Paperback)
The first reviewer gave a fantastic view of this book with which I can only agree. I also have several border books but nothing that also gives the corners which is always a problem. Each pattern is written out as well as with a big schematic and also an insert showing what the repeat is alongside a full color picture of the stitches. Also, each pattern has a chart showing the colors for each row. The first section of the book explains everything needed in order to work the edging patterns. There are also several sections at the back covering crochet punctuation, the symbols with actual photos illustrating them, glossary and abbreviations, index and chart stitch key to the symbols. The index does not give the stitches as each one only has a number. The stitches have been crochet tested by a panel of 10 and the book looks to have been thoroughly checked for mistakes. The book lies flat, is very attractive and well printed and must have been a work of love. It really fills a gap in crochet books and recommended to all crocheters.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
31 of 31 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Very Pleased with this Purchase for Crochet Borders that go around corners, June 15, 2010
This review is from: Around the Corner Crochet Borders: 150 Colorful, Creative Edging Designs with Charts and Instructions for Turning the Corner Perfectly Every Time (Paperback)
First, I am not a crocheter (well, I should say "novice" and/or "wanna be").
I knit and enjoy knitting.
But some things are just meant for crocheting, and I think borders is just one of many that fit that category. And, I found it`s very helpful to have 150 illustrations of how to crochet borders that go around corners.
Most of the borders are shown on 2 pages, facing each other.
There are a few that are continued onto a 3rd page, and then a few that use just one page: i.e. p. 116, 117 & 118 are for border #51; p.119 is for border #52.
Each border is beautifully photographed and the instructions are both written and charted.
And the text and charts are easy to read (well printed and good sized).
And while I prefer spiral binding, the paper stock is quality and the binding is sound enough (so far) to allow me to lay the book out flat... which is probably the reason for the odd size...
It is short and wide. At first glance it makes one wonder why... then when actually using the book and reading a 2-page border, it becomes obvious: it stays open to those 2 pages - well done.
The first 26 pages contain information on "Maintaining a Flat Edge"; "Calculating the Number of Stitches"; "Adjusting the number of stitches"; "Crocheting Borders on Woven Fabric" (also on Felted Fabric); "Reading Crochet Patterns" (as well as crochet charts), and more.
There are tips, one being a "Note to UK Crocheters" about the difference in US vs UK terms.
#1 border starts on p.28; #150 border ends on p.303.
"Crochet Punctuation" is p. 304-305.
"Crochet Symbols" are p. 306-307.
"Glossary and Abbreviations" are p. 308-311.
"Index" is p. 312-313.
"Chart Stitch Key" is p. 314-315.
This was just what I was looking for; yes, very pleased.
And, I`m looking to put my crochet needles to work - on some of these borders... and some other items as well... some things are meant to be crocheted.
Good luck.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
|
