Crochet Lace Innovations: 20 Dazzling Designs in Broomstick, Hairpin, Tunisian, and Exploded Lace [Paperback]

Doris Chan (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 13, 2010

Everything crochet is new again!

Doris Chan is not just a crochet designer—she is a self-described “fiberazza, tinkerer, and crochet advocate.” And yet, when it came to exploring a few of the more traditional crochet techniques, such as Broomstick, Hairpin, and Tunisian crochet, she resisted. Why would anyone be interested in these antiquated methods? Who wants to struggle with strange hooks, sticks, and looms anyway?

After Doris took a few choice crochet classes taught by her peers, the answer soon became abundantly clear. Broomstick, Hairpin, and Tunisian lace are incredibly cool. The methods are easy to learn, and the results look spectacular—completely unlike anything else.

So now, Doris has officially caught the bug, and she is eager to share her own twist on these techniques. Crochet Lace Innovations is a collection of 20 stylish designs that use these treasured crochet lace methods to create garments that are not only modern and flattering, but custom-fit to a broad range of sizes.

Chapters include designs using not only these three classic methods, but also the “exploded”lace (working lace patterns in thicker yarn for a completely eye-opening effect) that has become Doris's signature. In all, you will find:

                        • Broomstick Lace
                        • Hairpin Lace
                        • Tunisian Lace
                        • Exploded Motifs
                        • Exploded Doily Lace
                        • Exploded Lace Trim

Tutorials at the beginning of chapters help the reader learn the simple methods necessary for making each kind of lace. And a special Garment 101 section provides an essential template for crocheters to follow in order to make infinitely adaptable and wonderfully versatile patterns.

With 20 projects from wraps and scarves to skirts and dresses to collars and belts, Crochet Lace Innovations brings this enduring craft into a new, decidedly contemporary, light.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

DORIS CHAN broke into the crochet design scene when a photo of her first doily shawl attracted the attention of a notable yarn company, and she's been at the forefront of modern crochet design ever since. She supplies design support for Caron International and NatuallyCaron.com, Tahki Stacy Charles, and Coats & Clark. Her work has been featured in Crochet Today, Crochet!, and Interweave Crochet magazines, among others, as well as on Knitting Daily TV and Knit and Crochet Today on public television. She is an avid professional member of the Crochet Guild of America (CGOA) and writes the popular blog, Everyday Crochet: www.doriseverydaycrochet.blogspot.com. Doris lives in Pennsylvania.

Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Potter Craft; Original edition (April 13, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0307463826
• ISBN-13: 978-0307463821
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 0.4 x 10.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #25,440 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Throughout my childhood I'd seen my mother do needlework and learned from her by example. I can't remember exactly why I was home from school that week. I think I might have had the mumps, or was it after I had my tonsils out. Whatever. I wasn't allowed to go outside and ride my bike, climb trees or pet the neighbor's pony. I'd read all the books I had at home. I was bored to tears and probably so was my mom who was stuck at home with me. So mom put me to work with knitting needles, crochet hook and yarn. Frankly I was glad to go back to school.

Fast forward to nearly a decade ago when I went into early "retirement". The radio station at which I was employed was sold to a Spanish language company, my insistence that I could learn Spanish fell on deaf ears, and I found myself in the absurd state of having no job, an empty nest and nothing to do. I put myself to work with needles, hook and yarn. This time the crochet spoke to me.

I was just a hobbyist, a dabbler in the craft, but well on the way to becoming an obsessive fiberazzi (fiberazza?). Like you I crocheted holiday gifts for everyone, afghans for every baby shower, sweaters for the dog. One day on a whim I posted an image of myself in a shawl that I had made (I didn't realize then that I had "designed" it) on the Lion Brand Yarn customer gallery. It got so many hits that I was asked to submit the sample and a pattern. They even offered to pay me. Money. Well HELL YES!

If you've cracked open any of a number of crochet of fiber interest magazines, books and booklets in the past few years, you've probably seen something of mine. Doris Chan designs have appeared in Interweave Crochet, Crochet Today, Crochet! magazine, Vogue Knitting, KnitScene, Crochet World; in book collections such as Interweave Crocheted Gifts, the Just books series from Lion Brand, the Vogue-to-Go book series. You might have seen my work in yarn company ads and offered in catalogs, booklets, in-store leaflets and websites as I create crochet design for major companies, including Tahki Stacy Charles, Caron International and Coats&Clark.

As an author I have three crochet design books with Potter Craft. I also write technical articles and essays for magazines and newsletters.As a proud and avid Professional Member of the Crochet Guild Of America I hold a CGOA Masters in Basic Crochet and currently serve as chairman of the CGOA Design Competition Committee. I just earned status as a Craft Yarn Council of America Certified Crochet Instructor. And I am an Associate Member of the industry organization, The National NeedleArts Association.

If you put tags on all of the hundreds of my published designs, the heaviest hits would be: crochet, lace, seamless top-down construction. Those three attributes pretty much sum up what I do. I specialize in garments and accessories for women, mostly because men don't wear lace. With few exceptions my designs are virtually seamless, no sew, meaning when you're done crocheting, you're done.

My latest venture and the scariest thing I've ever done is launching my own self-published pattern line, DJC Designs. Available exclusively at DesigningVashti.com, the ultimate crochet destination and pattern boutique owned by my friend Vashti Braha, DJC Designs lets me explore territory not possible in traditional publishing venues. Coming soon is the expansion of the companion line, DJC Designs, Too!, a collection of seamless garments sized for girls, tweens and teens.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

41 of 42 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing Amount of Information, April 28, 2010

By 

R. Pruss (Streamwood, IL United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Crochet Lace Innovations: 20 Dazzling Designs in Broomstick, Hairpin, Tunisian, and Exploded Lace (Paperback)

Yes, there are beautiful patterns and very clear instructions. These designs are the first hairpin and broomstick patterns I've added to my queue - they just look like things I'd love to make and wear. I also wanted to point the section that really sets this crochet book apart from the others in my collection. Towards the end of the book is the Garment 101 chapter, where we are given templates called Jacket 101 and Skirt 101 to do our own lace garment designs. Doris leads us through choosing, designing, adjusting, fitting, and troubleshooting a custom item. That is very unique and elevates the usefulness of the book beyond "four new techniques" and "20 patterns" would imply.

31 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If I can give this book more stars!!!!!!!!!!, April 14, 2010

By 

Carlos Valentino "A. Valentino" (Pennington, New Jersey United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Crochet Lace Innovations: 20 Dazzling Designs in Broomstick, Hairpin, Tunisian, and Exploded Lace (Paperback)

I totally love this books, the patterns are so fashionable, and dressy, It has dress, scarves, tops, cardigans, skirts, a poncho, shawl, all of them very delicate pices. I love all the patterns in this books, I have so many crochet magazines, and books, but some times there some patterns that you don't like, it did not happen with this book, I'll try to do all the patterns, I have all the books fron Doris Chan I like the other ones, but this is far the best one of them. I always look for her patterns in magazines, and the internet, She is one of my favorite designers. One of the tops called: Rosalinda top, is a wide very boxy top, if you don't like this version, you can go to naturallycaron. com and you'll find a tight version called: Avalon top. This book is not for beginners, she uses techniques for more advanced crocheters.

25 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Wonderful Exploration of Not So Typical Crochet, April 14, 2010

By 

Meghan (SILVER SPRING, MD, United States) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Crochet Lace Innovations: 20 Dazzling Designs in Broomstick, Hairpin, Tunisian, and Exploded Lace (Paperback)

I'm a big fan of Doris Chan's work. I've made a few of her garments from patterns published in magazines and she's the one who taught me how to "fit" a garment in crochet. When I heard about this new book by Ms Chan I pre-ordered it and it came last night. I spent half the night browzing and reading the patterns and little tid-bits behind each design and worked up a broomstick swatch. I think my favorite part of this book is that it's not the typical crochet book focusing on the same basic tecniques. Instead Ms Chan takes you on a wonderful exploration of some of the less known and less used forms of crochet (broomstick, hairpin, tunisian). The instructions are clear, easy to follow and as always easily adaptable to size, shape, length, etc.