Customer Reviews

Couture Crochet Workshop

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

There are two parts to this book: information on how to make well styled and fitting crocheted clothing (40 pages)with some excellent tips, and then the patterns (24 or more) which show off the theory going into the first part. Pictures indicate all the garments fit beautifully. EAch pattern well written with full schematic and in some cases international crochet diagrams. My favorite patterns are the Tunisian crocheted sweater, the chevron tunic with matching hat, the mohair wrap, full circle vest, scallops bolero and hat. There are patterns for necklaces and some patterns include beading. Size range goes from small to 56" in some cases (others smaller though).Negatively: yarns used are somewhat pricey and no indication using the new yarn standards, or old, of what size yarns they are. Lily calls for smaller hooks but many of her patterns are larger hook sizes. Her colors are very boring. Book is well bound and printed. This book is the equivalent of Deborah Newton's landmark book for knitters on design, but it is written in a very nice easy-to-understand style with a sense of humor. It is not a beginner's book but meant for the serious crocheter who wants to understand how to make her garments fit better. I feel she has definitely accomplished what she wanted to do and therefore an essential purchase in this subject.

The bad stuff first - Yes, the colors that Lily chooses for her garments are ugly. Yes, most of the yarns are her brand (just like Debbie Bliss, and Jo Sharp do in their books). But I've seen all of these garments in person and I can tell you that they do not photograph very well. In person these garments were stunning and breath taking. They were flattering on many differently shaped women. Maybe Lily just needs the help of a professional stylist.
The good stuff - The information about fitting and shaping is invaluable. The technical material is presented very well and is essential information for any would be crochet or knit designer. I'm very happy I bought this book. This book is a bargain compared to taking a TKGA, CGOA, or Stitches course. THis is going on my shelf of favorite knitting books right next to Sally Melville, Barbara Walker, and Elizabeth Zimmerman.

The nice point of this book is you can learn to crochet garments, rather than afghans and boxy jackets. Lily Chin, who is known for fitted knit and crochet designs, shows you how to crochet swatches and then draft a pattern for anything you might want to make.

As to patterns in this book, there are all kinds of suits, dresses, jackets as you'd expect. You actually are making fabric in a way--some open, some densely crocheted, some even rippled like those inevitable couch afghans.

Some of the dresses in here had me laughing about an incident years ago; a colleague in a lab where I worked had crocheted a VERY open dress of bright blue yarn (not ALL that different than the dress here) and then worn it over a leotard in order to attract the attention of a male colleague. When she walked in our lab wearing the dress, our eyes grew round and our mouths all took on the shape of a wordless "o." "Don't all exclaim," she purred, "I made it myself." The object of her desires, however, a crusty bachelor, stated his opinion loudly and unfavorably about this new couture, and she was seen the rest of the day, a lab coat buttoned tightly around her. Who would guess that 30 years later, this dress might be considered fashionable? And that brings me to my point; execution and materials are EVERYTHING. If you practice swatches and get your technique up to snuff, these not-that-difficult patterns will look stunning. But nothing less than good fit and finish will make these worth wearing. Pay attention to the good advice Ms. Chin provides. Also remember, dense crochet takes MUCH more yarn than knitting, so consider mill ends and other sources of good designer yarns if you are on a budget.

This book is a MUST for anyone who wants to do clothing from crochet. This will take those rippled afghans to a new level.

I have taken several of Lily's Classes at CGOA conferences. I love her practical style. She goes further in the book, teaching the advantages of steam block v. wet block, crocheting into the last stitch, other small little tips that will make your garment appear less "homemade".
The lessons on fitting, draping, and garment design are invaluable for knitters and crocheters alike.
This book assumes that you know basic crochet.

I've got hundreds of knit/crochet books. I think this book has the best description of blocking and sizing that I've ever seen. I love Lily's understanding of garment structure from the inside out. She really explains construction well.

I happen to also love the patterns. The color scheme in the book doesn't bother me...rather it allows me to see the design rather than the colorway. I can see myself making several of the patterns in this book which is rare. Overall, I'm very happy with the purchase.

Lily Chin provides a wealth of information about constructing garments that are wearable and appealing, instead of looking like an afghan masquerading as clothing. She covers information about sizing your garment to fit, treating the yarn, garment pattern creation, and a technique of crocheting that eliminates the gap at the ends of the rows.

In addition, Chin presents a variety of crocheted garments, most of which are fairly interesting, in a range of colors, from pink to black to, yes, brown. They include tunics, stoles/scarves, capes, and dresses. The color of the demonstration piece's yarn, and whether it is in accord with the reader's personal taste, should hardly be an impediment in the book.

For the ideas of garment construction alone, this book stands out as exceptionally helpful.

The book shows me how to begin a project from start to finish. Overall, she did a great job in emphasizing swatch, gauge, blocking and when to kill a fabric. Some things are very essential, and this book delivers what needs to properly happen, so nothing is taken away from the pleasure of wearing one's own work.

I liked the designs and the charts/schematics. I have seen and touched the actual garments which are at times shown in close-up pictures. Even the book feels luxurious to the touch. It is a delight to own this book.

Lily Chin's designs are pretty well-known in the knit and crochet world, with many lovely shawl patterns available from Fiber Trends. In this book, she describes her creative design process with hints on how to design your own crochet garment. While probably only the more ambitious or advanced crocheter will actually utilize those design tips, most anyone can tackle the patterns she includes in the book. There is a good selection, including a dress, skirts, a purse, and of course, tops; many of the designs use Lily's own line of yarn (which can be hard to find in yarn shops).

My only real gripe with this book is the fact that the patterns call for a "steamed and hung" gauge. To me, this is too time-consuming and off-putting - it can take long enough to crochet to the right gauge without having to steam and then hang each swatch just to see if you are on the mark. This method may yield a more professional and polished garment . . . or it may not. The majority of patterns available do not call for "steamed and hung" gauges and they turn out looking just fine. Another drawback to this is it can be very hard to make sure you are consistently crocheting to the correct gauge while working on the garment. Most of us need to continually check the gauge as we work to make sure we are still on target. The only way to tell if the garment will match the gauge is to take the work-in-progress and steam and hang it, perhaps multiple times since multiple checks are often needed.

It might have been better to offer normal non "steamed and hung" gauges that took into account the extra treatment later on or to offer the "steamed and hung" measurements in the finished measurements or schematics.

If you are looking for patterns that are chic and lovely, look no further. Just be prepared for a lot of extra work for results that may or may not be better than the normal methods.

The thing that sets this book apart from all other crochet books is that it thoroughly teaches fitting and shaping. This subject has never been dealt with in depth in any other crochet book I've seen (though it's a component of many knitting books). Lily Chin has really shared her talent for shaping with the crochet community in this book.

First she gives you the information, then the pattern section illustrates how to use this it. And, if you just happen to be a pattern follower, she has includes up to 5 or 6 sizes for each pattern, going up to a 56" bust on many of them.

And I just have to mention, too, that other reviewers' complaints about color should be directed at the publishers, who dictate the "color story" of each book, not the designer whose work is featured in it.

This is a clearly written book that belongs on the bookshelf of anyone who crochets wearables.

I wasnt sure about this book at first...thought it might be too advanced for me. I was wrong. I havent gone through the entire book yet but I have already learned some new technigues and gotten some great tips. I like the way the book is written....easy to understand and very down to earth. I know I am going to get a LOT of use out of this book when I design my first sweater. If you need a book to help you get more out of crocheting garments, THIS is the one. :)