Customer Reviews

Everyday Crochet: Wearable Designs Just for You

5 star:		(23)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Update 6 months later! I've now made 2 and a half sweaters; I'm in the middle of the cardigan and can't wait to wear it. I also made "No Sweat" which is an adaptation of "Jewel," my first. All 3 are very successful, easy to wear, get lots of compliments. The instructions ARE a little daunting at first but totally repay the effort, and each sweater gets easier because they build on each other. I'm 2/3 done and I just started 4 days ago on my 3rd design from this book.

The instructions also make it easy to adapt each pattern to try out different weights and textures of yarn for different effects. My crochet skills have gone up several levels by working through these designs. If I only had one crochet book on my desert island, this would be it. (But please can I have a couple of Harmony stitch guides too?!?)

There are a few typos in the book and the publisher randomhouse.com/crown/pottercraft/errata/everydaycrochet.html has posted correx for Cinnabar and Tall Latte designs
http://www.randomhouse.com/crown/pottercraft/errata/everydaycrochet.html. Jewel size 36 has a typo also; see my crochetalong noted below.

Back to my original review: I got my copy of Doris Chan's new book "Everyday Crochet" last week and I love it! Maybe it deserves a flashier title, but on the other hand, it might be just what it says: crochet for garments I will actually wear. I have never been a fan of following a crochet "recipe" to make something just the way the book says (how would I use up my stash of gorgeous yarns?!). I've made only a few garments: baby sweater using a similar design from Maggie Righetti's wonderful book Crocheting in Plain English. That's the book that has taught me the most about how to understand crochet (updated in Dec. 2008! Crocheting in Plain English, 2d Ed.), but when it came to actually making a sweater for myself using her approach, I got stuck -- too many variables for me! So...

Doris Chan's book is JUST what I needed. It gives me theme and variations, all using the raglan/top-down (fit-as-you-go) approach. She offers many great designs with the usual prescriptions for successful combinations of yarn, stitch pattern, and shaping. But what I especially appreciate is her useful notes on choosing size, shaping and fitting, mixing-and-matching the various garment features (sleeves, hems, necklines), and yarn substitution. She tells you how far you can go in adapting other yarns (and how far is too far...!). She explains why she uses lots of shells: they give a textured, springy, flattering fabric, not stiff like the stereotyped "potholder" crochet sweater. I do wish there was something about collars -- my neck gets cold! -- but they are pretty easy to add. I am making "Jewel," a simple pullover with 3/4 sleeves. There are multiple crochet-alongs at [..] [[that well-known crochet site that has a "me" after "crochet" before "com" ]] -- come on over!

I had a very good look at this in the store, and I thought I'd take the time to put what I saw here, as I noticed its hard to find pictures of whats inside this book on the web. There are quite a few designs in this book, but they work building off what I think was 5 or 7 basic designs. So there's a tank, and then a variation on the tank. There's a sweater and then ways to vary the sweater. Some of the ways to vary the designs are pretty significant so that you start varying after the second round, and if a variation is not siginficant it only takes up a page.

Pictures show the item from more than one angle, and also laying flat, which I like as you can tell what it looks like. Every design inside uses shells. There are more than one type of shell design. There are mostly tops, but also some variations to turn into dresses and coats. There are also coat/sweaters and finally belts. I do think as advertised there's a lot of meat and potato wearable designs.

I have used her designs before, sometimes I find her directions hard to understand, but once I 'get' what she's trying to say I think they are easy to make. Everything in this book is made starting with the neck, and there are no seams. She gives many ideas about varying yarns to make a different effect, and there are good pictures of the shell structures. I like that she shapes the items so you have curves instead of blocky clothing.

I adore this book, but I have been crocheting since I was 6 and am not a beginner...I did have a great deal of trouble with the directions at first, but my second attempt was very successful.

Key to my success was marking increase stitches obsessively and moving the markers from round to round.

If you have trouble with the directions, the author seems to be responding on various message boards and blogs like crochetville dot org and crochet me dot com.

IMO This is an excellent book. It is quite different from traditional patterns were you make "pattern peices" and sew them together, but don't let this shy you away.
I'm a designer - have an online crochet business and consider myself at advanced level, yet the first pattern I worked was admittedly quite challenging. However, after the 1st came together so quickly I was "hooked". (Try starting with "Galena" p.90 as I did)

The desinger works her patterns from the neckline (yoke) down, and in 1 peice! yes I said 1 peice, adding sleeves right on to the existing body working in rounds! Cool huh?!

The highlight of these patterns is how QUICKLY they work up. I made the "Cinnabar" cardigan in just 2 days! and when I put my hook down, the cardigan was done, no sewing! I'm already on my 3rd project and I've had the book less than a week!

Take the time to read the designers notes in the front of the book, read the patterns carefully, and crochet your little heart out! It's a fun book. (don't miss the in-line link buttons on p137 for your garment closures - it's a "why didn't I think of that" outstanding idea!

In addition, The fit of these patterns are "Brilliant" I pain stakingly fit my designs to my customers taking every measurement I need, yet Doris Chan's designs are so awesome the fit is perfect and there are multiple options for fit based on your measurements. She has that very well covered from size 30" chest to 60" chest! I can't say enough - it's a great addition to your pattern book collection, your options are endless!

I love everything about this book. I love all the shell patterns and I love that she doesn't care what yarn you use as long as you "check your gauge". She even encourages you to try different yarns! All the patterns are easily adjustable for length of body and arms. My only problem is finding which one to start with.

I just got my copy of this book yesterday and haven't even finished reading all of it, but I am impressed. Each chapter begins with a basic type of garment (tank, cardigan, pullover, etc.) and builds on that style. This book really helps you "get it" as to the design process. The variations are great! The styles can be either everyday or more formal depending on the yarn chosen. While it is not a beginner crochet book, it is a must-have for the person looking to expand their skills create truly wearable crochet.

Buy this book. There are so many good patterns in it that I even paid retail!!!! All different sizes can be created and since the sweaters are made top down you can try them on as you go. Too wonderful for words.

This book has some nice patterns for more experienced crocheters. There are about 4 main patterns with all the others being variations of the core 4. You can make your own variations as well. The main stay of these patterns are shells and v's alternating, so not a lot of variation but they do lay well which is why the author said she went with this design.

I hate sewing seams on knitted or crochet pieces, so the patterns in Everyday Crochet promised to be the answer, and they are. The garments are crocheted from the top down, designed with shells to mold gently to the curves of your body. I could try the piece on as I worked to get an idea of how it was going to fit. For the first time ever, I made a crocheted top (Galena) that actually fit me properly.

However, the instructions should contain more "milestones" (such as number of pattern repeats after each row) so that you can check the accuracy of your rows more frequently. Nothing is more frustrating than to get to a row that finally tells you how many pattern repeats you should have and your number does not match. (I made a copy of the Galena pattern and added the "milestones" myself to help when I use the pattern again.)

The instructions are written in shorthand, which I actually found easier to follow, once I got into the practice of referring to the pattern stitch/row key, shown in a gray box. To understand the BASE CH/SC, I needed to read BOTH the instructions and the written explanation on the opposite page in the back of the book.

One last comment about the instructions (Galena): a round is NOT technically a round. You should note that the small, but oh-so-important, word "turn" appears at the end of the pattern round row instructions. Mark your round beginning and remember to turn, and you won't have a problem.

I highly recommend doing a swatch with the pattern stitch first. Not only can you check your gauge, but you can make sure that you understand the pattern and how it works before you start on the larger project.

Great patterns with lots of versatility. This book is not designed to teach beginner's how to crochet but you don't have to be an expert to use it. What I like best about this book is that she doesn't just give you step-by-step patterns to follow; she tells you how to modify them for your own personal fit and style as well as tips on how to make up your own designs.

Her instructions are easy to follow and there are diagrams, photos and illustrations to help.