Austentatious Crochet: 36 Contemporary Designs from the World of Jane Austen [Paperback]

Melissa Horozewski (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 11, 2011

The timeless appeal of Jane Austen is evidenced not only by perpetual interest in her classic novels but also by countless book clubs, movies, plays, books, and sundry products which celebrate her work. Austentatious Crochet presents Austen fans with a unique opportunity to step into the scarf, skirt, or chemise of Elizabeth Bennett, Emma Woodhouse, and a host of other favorite Austen characters. The book features thirty-six original crochet projects inspired by Austen novels but fabulously brought up to date and wearable today. The designs focus on women's wear, such as dresses, sweaters, cardigans, and capelets, but also encompass accessories such as handbags, scarfs, and pillowcases and clothing for children.
Introductions to each project include favorite bits of dialogue from the original novels. Fully illustrated with evocative photos, Regency-style illustrations, and step-by-step schematics, Austentatious Crochet is certain to please the devoted Austen lover as well as craft enthusiasts.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Library Journal
“The designs, which are romantic enough for the most ardent of Austenites but modern enough for everyday wear or use, are suitable for crocheters of a variety of skill levels, and written directions are provided for all designs, with charts for the more complex items.”

About the Author

Melissa Horozewski is a professional crochet designer with twenty-six years of crochet experience.  Her work has appeared in Interweave Crochet, Inside Crochet, Crochet!, Crochet World, and Debbie Macomber’s Blossom Street Collection Books 1 and 2. Melissa lives near Madison, Wisconsin, and if a hook is not in her hand then a book is. You can see all her literature inspired designs at www.stitchscene.com.

 

Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Running Press (October 11, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0762441461
• ISBN-13: 978-0762441464
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 0.7 x 8.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (31 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #312,362 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Melissa Horozewski is a professional crochet designer with twenty-six years of crochet experience. Her work has appeared in Interweave Crochet, Inside Crochet, Crochet!, Crochet World, and Debbie Macomber's Blossom Street Collection Books 1 and 2. Melissa lives near Madison, WI, and if a hook is not in her hand, a book is. You can see all her literature inspired designs at www.stitchscene.com

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

42 of 46 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars A treat for Austin Fans October 14, 2011

By Marilee

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I received the book this past week and have been looking through it for some time. There's a lot to read and enjoy, including many interesting illustrations, excerpts, as well as some lovely garments and accessories. But I must be honest, there are a few [hopefully] minor problems too.

A pet peeve of mine and many other crocheters and knitters are the "artfully" posed photos of garments that cover important construction details. I've learned that hidden details, such as necklines covered by scarves or long hair, the artfully posed hand on a waistline holding the side in or covering a pocket, too often hide flaws in the garment and design. In AUSTENtations, we have numerous examples of hidden details. What to make of these? Do photographs hide things we ought to know before committing yarn to hook? Or are the cropped, carefully posed photos simply ART? A crochet project is a major undertaking of money and time. I, for one, don't quite trust that hidden details are going to be OK.

Let me give some specific examples in this book... on page 53, the model's hand is covering the attachment of a handle to the Legacy handbag in closeup. Why? Is it unsightly? Reading the instructions, I think so, given how the awkward addition of a fabric tab looks in the distant photo where it's not hidden. The neckline is hidden by an ascot in all the photos of the Wicked Wickham jacket, an otherwise lovely classic red jacket. Is something amiss with the neckline and collar design or the execution? The Jane Bennet skirt does not show the waist or front, only the back featuring the flirtatious ruffles. What would we see if there were photos of the entire skirt? The Mr. Knightly pajama set showcases an interesting corset look with lacing up the front, but what are we to make of the knickers? What do they look like on the model? We've no clue, thanks to a book being held on a lap by two hands covering the model's folded under legs. Is fit an issue?

On a more positive note, the lovely cover pullover is clearly shown in photos, as is the Netherfield Ball top, Pemberley dress and the Becoming Jane pullover as well as many of the accessories. The book is beautiful. Let's hope the crochet projects are as well. Because this book is obviously such a labor of love and inspiration despite the issues mentioned above, I've given it 4 stars out of 5.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Enchanting crochet book, a bit marred by typos January 8, 2012

By Sunny Sewing Honeybee

Format:Paperback

I read this book cover-to-cover and have made Emma's Hood (so far). This is a really entertaining book, done very artfully and with plenty of extras that help make it more than a run-of-the-mill crochet pattern book. If you're like me, you don't like pattern books where the authors say little to nothing about the finished projects. Horozewski not only gives an opening paragraph about each pattern, but she also has interspersed short sections of a fictional story that helps introduce how certain specific items might have fit in with characters' tales.

A couple tests of a craft books: (1) How many projects capture your interest, and (2) How many you can do at your current skill level. Enough for me, in this book there are 19 projects I really like, with at least six being ones I would truly hope to make (counting the one I did). The designs are worked in a wide range of sizes of thread/yarn, from fine crochet cotton to bulky weights. The patterns would most easily be worked up by those with significant crocheting experience.

The patterns are really unique. "All Buttoned Up" is a creative piece of clothing made up of three sections that can be separated and rearranged to be a tunic, wrap, and shawl. There are two blankets that are made out of a mesh crochet stitch, and then woven with plain yarn. Through this interesting technique, one duplicates the look of three-color plaid! There's also a small introduction to hairpin lace (which requires a loom) in one of the necklace patterns (Although with hairpin lace it would have been a special touch to talk about the history behind this craft.) Emma's Hood is a pretty and practical winter addition for anyone who lacks a hood on her coat or jacket, and wishes to have the convenience of one. If you're interested only in projects befitting Austen heroines, there are seven projects for little ones, bringing the total count of patterns down a bit. While a couple of projects (a scarf and blanket) are intended for men, they're also suitable/adaptable for women.

I would give it five stars, but there are errors in the book. For example, p. 62 has a quiz where the options to choose from for question 6 are (A) or (B). Yet in the answer key on p. 203, the options are "yes" and "no." On p. 31, the Emma's Hood pattern indicates to turn to p. 198 for I-cord instructions. Actually, the instructions are on p. 196, and they don't tell how to end the cording. On p. 189 it says there's a photo on p. 40, but there isn't. Page 31 says seaming instructions appear on p. 200, but they're actually on pages 198-199. I have to be honest that mistakes like these in pattern books make me very nervous. You don't want to run into a mistake when working on a project, because pattern mistakes are a lot less intuitive to the reader to correct. Thankfully, the author has pattern corrections on her official website, though it's a shame to have to jot down those corrections in such a nice book. Especially if you are making the Regency Hat pattern, you really have to get those corrections. I also couldn't understand the stitch pattern instructions for Emma's Hood. The author explains them in a video on her website more clearly (not even the visual is necessary--the clearer instructions suffice). I wouldn't have done the stitch correctly without those additional instructions.

These concerns aside, this is literally the prettiest craft book I've ever seen. It's so artfully done, and I like how the author included information about the projects to pull crafters right into the enchantment of Jane Austen's world.

16 of 18 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars I wanted so much to like this book! January 19, 2012

By Diane Brown

Format:Paperback

I really really wanted to like this book. I love old-fashioned crochet and I like Jane Austen (I was an English major in college!) and requested this book as a gift based on the title alone. As other reviewers have noted, the book is beautifully produced with lovely photographs and vintage illustrations. I, too, enjoy a pattern book that actually contains something to read beyond the patterns themselves. But when it comes to the projects, not many of them seem wearable or practical (let's face it, we do live in a modern world, even if one's taste tends to the romantic). The "Gazing at Stars" "shawl" is the most ridiculous example--a giant loose motif that I cannot imagine anyone wearing. Ever. Also, even patterns that might be appealing on first glance are composed of primarily simple single crochet or half double crochet fabric. The cover sweater is appealing, for example, but the half double crochet fabric will end up looking as though it is horizontally striped, which does not flatter most real world figures. Ultimately, there are no patterns in this book that I am planning to make, and that makes it sort of a waste of money. Admittedly, this is my own opinion and a reflection of my personal tastes, but that's my two cents.