Customer Reviews

150 Favorite Crochet Designs (Dover Knitting, Crochet, Tatting, Lace)

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I learned to crochet about 30 years ago, but when I started again about 10 years ago it was hard to find the old patterns. I was happy when I found this book in 1997. The patterns in this book use threads in 30, 40 and sometimes 60 and 80. It's a fantastic resource for delicate and drop-dead gorgeous crochet projects like vanity sets, bedspreads, dinner sets, edging and insets. I prefer these older patterns because they really take the skill of crocheting to it's highest and most artistic level.

However, if you are used to following "symbols" instead of written instructions, this might be difficult for you. But what is art without a challenge? I highly recommend this book.

150 Favorite Crochet Designs edited by Mary Carolyn Waldrep, is a treasure-trove of patterns gleaned from the past. All the patterns are made from thread and date bake to the 30's, 40's, and 50's. Many of the patterns can be easily adapted by today's modern crocheter. The charted "Eagle and Motto" runner with its' patriotic E PLURIBUS UNUM detail could be the basis for a great 4th of July afghan done in 4ply yarn. Pick out a motif from one of the bedspread patterns and do it up in yarn. Tack it to a tired old pillow for some instant decor pick-me-up. Worked in thread, many individual motifs can be used for snowflakes for a Christmas tree. There are also edgings that can be used to trim baskets and caning jars. Intermediate to advanced crocheters would find this book useful and beginners can easily grow into it.

I bought this book originally because of the three wide crocheted lace patterns. I love the heavy but dainty thick lace you see on antique pillowcases and sheets, but couldn't find any patterns until this book. I shy away from the cheesy multi-colored patterns you see so often in modern books, so this was a natural fit. The patterns in this book are vintage... and I'm so glad!

I picked up a copy at the library, but now I know I'm going to have to buy it. I started dog earring pages to Xerox, and found that I had dog earred all but three pages. I have been looking for books that would tell me how to make lace, real lace, beautiful and detailed lace. I am bored by most modern patterns that claim to be lacy. These are true lace patterns for edgings, runners, tablecloths, bedspreads. The motifs and squares look amazing, even in fuzzy black and white pictures. I can hardly wait to see what they will look like when I'm holding them in my hands.

This is a wonderful boook, full or charming and beautiful patterns. The designs are all fine thread crochet. Around 35-40 of them are filet, and these are the nicest filet I've ever seen. The most beautiful are the edgings and the floral designs. Many of the patterns are for larger items, such as table cloths or bedspreads, but all of these (excepting the filet)are made up of a smaller motif repeated many times. This enables the crocheter to choose a design and make whatever they want from it; one could use a tablecloth design for a bedspread, or a bedspread for a runner. The directions are as clear as any I have found,and the results are just spectacular. Yes, the pictures are in black and white, but as it is all white crochet on a dark backround, it is not very important. A wonderful book, certainly well worth the price.

very nice book, with a lot of different items, many assembled from smaller patches. i absolutely love the runner with the peacocks on the front

Love this book. Patterns are beautiful, clear and easy to read. This is a book that any devout lover of crochet should have in their collection.

This is the best crochet book I have ever held in my hands. It is such a relief to find a crochet book that isn't geared towards young, inexperienced crocheters or grandmothers with the worst tacky taste in the world. This book is anything but tacky; the designs are elegant, beautiful, delicate (thank goodness!), and many of them are expansive--if you want to do a large table runner, tablecloth, or pair of curtains, you can find those designs in here along with doilies and motifs. I made the beautiful rose motif tablecloth--it took me quite some time, but my ex-boyfriend's mother loved it and it is an excellent testament to the design of the piece that he and I broke up rather badly and she still has the tablecloth on display. Only thing I struggled with was crocheting in double crochet stitches as instructed instead of converting to trebles, as the beginning of the book instructs you to--the first piece I made ended up rather wide and fat.

Incomparable value for the money and the results are works of art.

I loved the condition of the book and the patterns it contains.
The only thing that I didn't like about this book is that "edgings" constitute a large percentage of 150 patterns. Since these are not "my thing", they are the only thing that would make me hesitate to recommend it.However,if that's what you really like, then this may be the book that you must have!!

Book was very good at showing the patterns and how to make the patterns, but was little dissapointed that some of the older crochet patterns were not in the book at all.