Freeformations: Design and Projects in Knitting and Crochet (Milner Craft Series) [Paperback]

Jenny Dowde (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 2006 | Series: Milner Craft Series

This is not your grandmother’s knitting and crochet! For those ready to break away from the pattern books and create wearable pieces of fiber art, freeform is an exciting discovery. It’s a technique that abandons strict garment design and builds up simple shapes out of gorgeous textured yarns—with the knitter sometimes making it up as she goes along. Start with the step-by-step clinics on how to create fragments and motifs like chevrons, flowers, and spirals. Then take inspiration from the color photographs and combine luscious yarns in intricate patchworks. The result? Something amazingly unique. There’s guidance on creating fabulously fashionable capes, stylish shoulder bags, intriguing scarves and hats, avant-garde jewelry, and even handy cell phone holders. Set your creativity free!

Editorial Reviews

Review

Waterstones Newsletter:I was very excited about the author's first book on this subject, 'Freeform Knitting and Crochet', but it didn't go quite as far as I had hoped it would. This new volume, however, is far closer to the book I had initially hoped for. There are expanded sections on design and colour theory, and more helpful motifs and versatile principles to adapt according to your own taste. There are still a few projects to follow if you like, but in my opinion, this title is a far more practical guide to freeform knitting and crochet than its predecessor. Together, it would be fair to say they make a winning team!Su Mwamba

About the Author

Jenny Dowde is renowned throughout the craft world for her unique and innovative approach to knitting and crochet.

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Sally Milner Publishing (November 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1863513582
• ISBN-13: 978-1863513586
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.4 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #536,564 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

41 of 42 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fabulous!, June 23, 2007

By 

Auntie Gail (Boston MA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Freeformations: Design and Projects in Knitting and Crochet (Milner Craft Series) (Paperback)

I love this book. Not only is it a wonderful tribute to the knit and crochet artists of the 1970's/80's era - the Retro vest honoring the style of those artists is amazing - it's full of fun design ideas for creating designs from scratch and for using expensive yarns without having to buy lots of it. I also have the author's first book, Freeform Knitting and Crochet, and this one follows on from that in a more 'geometric' way although this one also has several patterns for organic-shaped 'fragments' favored for use in freeform knit and crochet work. What I love about this author's books is that she encourages the reader to 'do their own thing' rather than slavishly follow the project patterns. With the ideas given there are endless possibilities to do just that for those of us not afraid to step outside the box. I also appreciate having instant access to the many fun motifs and geometric shapes included in the book which means I don't have to go searching through other books. Getting past the slavish need following of patterns exactly, to creating your own art work is not an easy step to take for many of us, but the author's somehow made it far easier for me to take that step, helping free me up to be more creative and the results have been well worth the effort. I really appreciate her books for having made

this all possible for me. All in all, a well thought out book full of ideas for the reader to expand on. Well worth the money for the experienced fiber artist as well as those newly exploring their own creativilty. I strongly recommend this book for those who want to explore or enhance their own creativity!

58 of 64 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing, June 5, 2007

By 

sarahbellum (MA, United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Freeformations: Design and Projects in Knitting and Crochet (Milner Craft Series) (Paperback)

I was intrigued by the idea of combining knit and crochet in freeform pieces, so I really looked forward to getting this book in the mail. What a let-down. Here's what I found: a lot of instructions for making little pieces of knit or crochet, like flowers or circles (which you can find in any good book at the library); some truly ugly projects that mostly look unfinished; and NO instructions for how to combine knit and crochet in the same piece.

The author is enamored of very hairy yarns and dangling yarn ends. Why on earth would you make a scarf or necklace of scratchy, hairy yarn? And maybe I'm being too picky, but a lot of the hat projects she gives look like the most basic bowl-shaped cap with extraneous bits stuck on.

Also, if you have done much reading in the field of textile arts, you'll see that a lot of her stuff is lifted more or less straight from "A New Look At Crochet," by Elyse Sommers, or from the work of James Walters and Sylvia Cosh.

There is one thing I really like, though: the gallery of other people's work at the beginning of the book. It is not extensive enough to justify the price of the book, however.

Oh well--you win some and you lose some.

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful Art Form, March 1, 2008

By 

Pauline J. Cambridge (Harrison Twp. MI) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Freeformations: Design and Projects in Knitting and Crochet (Milner Craft Series) (Paperback)

I love all Jenny Dowde's books. She is a true artist. People who don't like them are probably stuck in a time warp. I'm 71 years old and consider her books to be a great art form. However, I've always been a little unconventional but that's what people like about me. I'm looking forward to her next book.