Customer Reviews

Loop-d-Loop Crochet: More Than 25 Novel Designs for Crocheters (and Kntters Taking Up the Hook)

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Just like Teva, I used to be a knit-snob. I'd hang my head in shame here, but let's face it -- a lot of the pattern books that were out there left a little bit to be desired unless you really liked doilies and tin-can-hats.

This book, to me, is proof that crochet designers have finally pulled their heads out of somewhere uncomfortable and are making wonderfully constructed, gorgeous, stylish garments and accessories that aren't even remotely doily-like. Gone are the southern-belle toilet paper cozies, and in the vaccuum created by the absence are these *amazing* creations.

From shawls that aren't remotely stiff to sweaters that sculpt and drape, Teva's book takes crochet to a new level. It's slightly fantastic (I always think of wood nymphs with her designs in this book for some reason), a little bit practical (the sizing is ranged from small to, in some cases, XXL), and totally inspirational.

There have been more crochet books on my bookshelves these days, and I'm glad that this book is one of them. Whether you're just picking up a hook and haven't gone much past the single and double crochet steps, or you've been a hooker for years, it's a great addition to your collection.

I just received my copy of Loop-d-Loop crochet and man! what a great book! Granted, eventhough Ms. Durham notes in her introduction that this is your Grandma's crochet, I have to say it is 50 million times better. This book ranks up there with those by Sylvia Cosh and James Walters, Mark Dittrick, Prudence Mapstone and Margaret Hubert Jenny Dowde and Doris Chan. As an experienced crocheter, I have been waiting a very long time for a publication like this.

If you like to experiment with your hook and yarn/thread, push the boundaries and live on the edge, then this book is for you. If you are looking for run of the mill crochet patterns then look elsewhere. There are plenty of boring crochet books and patterns out there. Loop-d-loop crochet is a keeper and I'm ready for the next installment!

I have this book and am currently working on the clover fan jacket. It is truly a unique design. I am happy that these unique wearable designs are finally being published for us hookers! My next project in this book will be the lazy wheels coat. Maybe this is the scary design? It does have a hemline that is reminicent of spider webs. But, it is also reminicent of the beautiful duster coats worn by women at the turn of the ninteenth century. It needs to be worn by someone with alot of flair which I intend to have! Overall great designs with detailed and easy to understand instructions.

The designs in this book are beautiful, and there are a few patterns for round people like myself. Many have a retro feel and can be worn by any age - how you wear them would determine the look you achieve. The cover cape is absolutely gorgeous as is the lacy capelet and the child's bolero. Worth every cent for inspiration alone. I will have even more difficulty than a previous reviewer in finding the yarns here in Australia, but substitution of other yarns is a possibility - something I'm learning to do a lot more - tension squares and ball yardage help with this. A very exciting book.

How does she do it? She is so original and innovative - which can sometimes translate into slightly difficult to wear, but not in her case - most of the stuff in both this and her knit book are things I would wear..... if only I had the time to make them all!

I love the designs - I'`ve made the short sleeved lacy top and it is gorgeous, and now I'm working on the orange jacket which I can already see is going to be amazing. There are a few designs that are not me and wouldn't suit me - but unless I write my own book that will always happen. I love the cool and arty photography, and the use of models who are not cliche commercial types. And I love the introductions to the design groupings where Teva discusses influences and the design process.

Buy this book - if you want to be stimulated and work interesting stylish designs you could wear to hang out at the coolest places in town.

Don't buy this book - if you like the type of book that gives designs for frilly scarves, and shrugs made out of a rectangle of novelty yarn.

I bought this book because it was on clearance on Amazon (only $10! what a steal!). I googled the name of the book and found a website with a "Loop D Loop Gallery" here: http://www.melaniefalickbooks.com/loop-d-loop-crochet-gallery/. I fell in love with the appealing and frankly trendy designs and purchased the book on a whim.

Now, having lived with the book for a few months, I would like to tell you more about it.

The patterns focus around apparel and one purse accessory. There is also a belt pattern and a sock pattern (sock is in fishnet stocking style, not a sock sock pattern).

The designs are not at all what you would find in the extreme vast majority of crochet books (which focus on what I would call a Gap or J Crew style), which is why the book had a lot of negative reviews when I purchased it. The clothing style is very fashion forward, you could purchase clothing like this at Zara, Urban Outfitters, or Anthropologie. If that is something you are into, seriously consider purchasing this book.

The projects range in difficulty from Beginner to Intermediate to Advanced.

Stitch patterns are both written out and diagrammed with symbol crochet (a la Blueprint Crochet). This helps to familiarize you with international symbol crochet, which would in turn make it easier for you to go out and purchase a European or Japanese crochet book (in which you can't read the words, but can do the project because they are all in symbols anyway). This book is not a teaching aid to learn symbol crochet, as Blueprint Crochet bills itself out to be, but does very nearly the same thing anyway.

Chapters are divided by techniques used ("Single, Half Double, Double, Triple and Double Triple", "Net, Mesh and Filet", "Lacy Patterns and a Pineapple", "Spikes, Clusters, Bobbles and Puffs", "Semi Irish, Freeform ish and Granny Style Crochet" are the titles of the five chapters).

Projects include:
fishnet socks
purse
toy
belt
skirts
lots of cardigans and jackets
hat
shawl
lots of sweaters and coats
boots

There is a short but well illustrated crochet instructional in the back of the book (explains reverse sc, knot st, marguerite cluster, single leg clover cluster, double leg clover cluster, fpdc, bpdc).

If you are in your thirties or younger (I say this because the patterns are very fashion forward) and a crocheter looking to get beyond scarves and granny squares, this is the book for you.

Buy worthy, not just check out of the library worthy.

I want to respond to the first review (unfortunate that that's the first one you see) saying that the patterns were "scary." I recently got a copy of this book, and I thought the patterns were *amazing*. I love to crochet, but I've only made hats and scarves, since the patterns I've seen for clothes have never appealed to me -- they always seem frumpy and bulky or just boring. Most of the pieces in this book could be found in fashion-forward stores like Urban Outfitters. It won't be to everyone's taste, of course, but I love it. Another nice aspect it that for some patterns they show both a starving model XS version, and a version on a plus size model, so you get a sense of how the finished product would look on a normal-size person. P.S. I haven't had a chance to make any of the pieces yet (so I cannot comment on how the patterns are written or if they have errors!).

This is a beautiful book full of exciting high fashion designs for folks who would crochet more if there was more worth making. Warning this is a book for creatives if plain chunky sweaters made of common yarns are your thing you may find it too over the top.

I just got this book today and I spent a nice 45min going over the pages. the colours of the books is nice. You can see the stitches clearly. The cover of the book is made in Blue Sky aplaca bulky so you know is a bit heavy and I probably will do later. As Im going through the book they have why they chose a particular pattern what it reminded her of as being an acclaimed knitter and trying to bring something just as nice to the crochet world. That said. there is a black lacy I dont know if you want to call socks or hoisery in CROCHET!! [by the way throughout the book they have dancers posing the garments which is nice]. Also they have a blck skirt in picot/mest stitch with a flirty edge. A nubby like jacket style which they are paying homage to Chanel and I was like checking me yarn stash!! The designs FINALLY are what I knew crochet can be. Though as you know sometimes there is a flip side and the reason of 4 stars.

1. The Chanel jacket I was speaking of in a yarn of Mango Moon and I cant find the yarn..grrr..

2. Lana Grossa as you know is the premiere yarn for socks well one of the patterns is Point a bit of an issue to find

3. K1C2 again it burns me when I see this Richesse et Soie which is almost impossible to find. I dont understand why they keep printing and using this yarn.

These yarns stood out for me because of the item I wanted to immediatly make associated with it...As you go through the book the designs are truly inspiring, my crochet hook was humming[it actually jumped on me and ready for work:)] As you work out the kinks in getting the yarn I find this book to be inspiring for the itermediate-advance crocheters. Though in the beginning there are the HDC,DC, Treble stich that a beginner can do and work there way to the other pages to better there skills. This book is what crocheting should be~Im happy

I've never seen such a fantastic book on crochet and after spying it in a store ran to pick it up on Amazon. I haven't been motivated to pick up a crochet hook in years but in a matter of minutes it changed. At last, there is an innovative design, a truly art-like approach which pushes boundaries and (for some of us), makes us try our hand at designing our own patterns based on the extroadinary work shown here as well as try our hand at the actual patterns. Not everyone enjoys wearing 'art', and for those who yearn for the more conventional patterns - there are plenty of books to collect and copy. This one, thankfully, is very different. I LOVE the thick, stiff, wooly masterpieces. Can not wait to make the cape on the cover and add my own touches. Wohoo!
BTW - check the author's website for error corrections:
"Loop-d-Loop Crochet''Your edition of this book may contain the following errors, which appear in bold type:''Marguerite Jacket (page 88)'The missing text at the end of the description should read:'(a portion of the proceeds from its sale benefits women in Nepal). '>>See pattern on page 97.'''Clover Fan Jacket (page 104)'Middle column:'BACK LEFT SHOULDER INSERT'Row 20: With WS facing, skip first 13 sc, join yarn in next sc, ch 1, sc in same sc, skip next 2 sc, *5 dc in next sc, skip next 2 sc, sc in next sc, skip next 2 sc, 5 dc in next sc, *skip next 3 sc, sc in next sc, [DELETE ASTERISK] skip next 3 sc, rep between * and *, skip next 2 sc, sc in next sc (center sc of Back), turn, leaving rem sts unworked.'[Rows 21 and 22 are correct]''BACK RIGHT SHOULDER INSERT'Row 20: With WS facing, join yarn in center sc of Back (last st in Row 20 of Back Left Shoulder Insert), ch 1, sc in same sc, skip next 2 sc, [ADD ASTERISK] *5 dc in next sc, skip next 2 sc, sc in next sc, skip next 2 sc, 5 dc in next sc,* skip next 3 sc, sc in next sc, skip next 3 sc, rep between * and *, skip next 2 sc, sc in next sc (center sc of row), turn leaving rem sts unworked.'[Rows 21 and 22 are correct]"