Customer Reviews

Hip to Crochet (Hip to . . . Series)

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

 

 

I first spotted this book in a local yarn shop, and dreamed about owning it for months before I finally picked it up with an Amazon gift certificate. Finally, a book with cool crochet patterns.

Well, don't waste your cash. I'm an advanced crocheter. I've never met a pattern I couldn't do. I check my gauge before I begin and everything. The problem is not that I don't know how to read a pattern. The problem is that at least 3 of her patterns are wrong. And not slightly wrong, we're talking wrong for several steps throughout the pattern. I've talked to others who have bought this book and they've had the same trouble with the patterns I've tried thus far, and a couple of others in the book. If you want to pick up the book to be inspired, go for it. But if you are looking for a book that will tell you how to make those hip, funky creations pictured, look elsewhere.

As advertised, this book does have hip projects. However, I felt the beginner section of "Hooked on Crochet" by Candi Jensen to be more helpful and easier to follow. This book's intro is more brief and I felt the diagrams were too small and not enough of them. I even found the notes on how to do finishing touches (such as curling tassles) to feel incomplete and inadequately diagramed. This is probably fine if you are early intermediate to advanced, but beginner be warned.

For those reviewers who have found mistakes in this book, the publisher posts corrections on their website. If you find others not listed, you should submit them so that they can be posted as well. The site is www.interweave.com/knit/books/corrections.asp

HIP TO CROCHET by Judith Swartz includes funky hats and mittens and nifty scarves I might actually wear and many young people would probably love. It also includes items I will never make or wear such as a crocheted suit. A lightweight caplet suitable for a mild breeze on the deck of a winter cruise ship is appealing, especially as you could wear it like a sweater under your winter coat and/or stuff it in your suitcase without using too much space.

The book includes some basic instructions in the front, but you would be wise to purchase the CROCHET COMPANION by Nancy Brown if you want a more in-depth explanation of the various stitches used in the patterns presented in HIP TO CROCHET

As a younger crochet fanatic (early 20s) I am always on the lookout for patterns that I, or people I know, would actually wear. This book does not have it! Mostly containing hats and scarves it is not a great source for patterns. Cuter items can be found for free on the web. In addition to the lack of "hip" ness, almost all the pattern examples are done in browns, tans, and orange colors making them even more unappealing and looking like something from the 70s. Overall the book seems to cry out "hippie" more than "hip". MANY better books are available out there and I strongly suggest picking out an alternative. I would suggest the "stitch & bitch" series for crocheting - Much Better book!!

I didn't find the designs in this book to be especially hip or exciting. They did nothing for me and were in fact kind of "same old, same old"... nothing new here.

That said, the book is well laid out and easy to read...

Well, I must first admit that it's a nice and well written book with some fun updated projects. However, it has mistakes that caused great confusion for me. I am a beginner, so I started with a simple hat following the instructions in the book. [...]

However, I have benefited from the book by learning from the mistakes.

Having learned to crochet nearly 35 years ago, and having thrown crochet aside in favor of knitting for the last 10 years or so, I'm happy to see a book that offers cool patterns for those who like to crochet. I am making the block-on-block skirt for myself and the girly-girl capelet for my niece, and look forward to choosing more projects from this book. If you thought crochet was for geeks, this book may convince you to think otherwise.

I was dying to buy this book since it claims to have "Hip" crochet patterns. So I checked it out at my local library, which I try to do with every book before I buy and possibly regret the purchase. I'm beyond glad I checked it out because the patterns are definitely not hip. They could considered contemporary, but not trendy or hip. They remind me of early 90's or a throwback to the 70's styles and the yarn colors used seemed muted. Otherwise the book is still decent, but shouldn't be bought for the title alone.

The patterns in this book are very colorful and trendy. I can imagine looking at it in 5 years and thinking things are hopelessly out of style, but for now, these are "in". Although I have approximately 10 halfway finished projects, the next one I do is going to be the granny square skirt. However, they don't provide instructions on what to wear UNDER the skirt- do you sew a lining to the crocheted part? Do you wear a slip under it?! There is a good mix of projects for anyone from beginner to expert and again, the styles are very trendy NOW.

The most exciting project in this book is the scarf on the cover. Nothing else is hip, most are stodgy and boring. If you really want to see this book, you'd be better off grabbing it at your local library.