Customer Reviews

Tunisian Crochet: The Look of Knitting with the Ease of Crocheting

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I have Sharon's second book on crocheting so I was ready for the nice photos and good layout in this book. Sharon has designed everything herself this time plus all the instructions. Photos showing the most basic Tunisian stitches begin the book followed by 16 projects which include scarf, wrap, skirt, shawl, shell, duster, clutch, vest, jumper, sweater, pillow, baby blanket, afghan, pillow, ottoman cover and placemats. I like the woman's shell or vest, second vest, baby jumper, sweater, and the two afghans. All instructions are written out with no charts. Skill level, and schematic included with each project and also helpful notes and working photos included. In the appendix is a standard sizing chart and one chart for the standard yarn weights. So my one criticism is that nowhere in the patterns are the yarns given that important information and some of the yarns are a bit unknown to me such as Blue heron yarns rayon metallic. I'll have to go look them up online and add that information to this book. Otherwise, certainly recommended for anyone interested in this lovely type of crochet that so closely resembles knitting.

If there were a higher rating than 5 stars, this book would get it!

As a deigner, I write a lot of patterns, and I have to say, this book is so very well written. It will be the standard that I hold my future pattern writing too.

The pictures are very clear, and the instructions are very detailed, without being too wordy. If you have not done Tunisian Crochet yet, but were tempted, this book is the one.

The book has some great patterns, and makes it easy to test the stitch before starting the project. I can not say enough good about this book.

Tunisian Crochet is a bit of a mystery... Sharon helps to bring it into the main stream.

Tunisian Crochet: The Look of Knitting with the Ease of Crocheting

I knew nothing about Tunisian crochet. This book helped me to understand how it worked. The illustrations and directions were top notch and clearly showed me how to do the stitches. After making a sample piece, just to get the hang of it, I realized that it did indeed, look like knitting, BUT this kind of crocheting makes an extremely thick finished product. I got to thinking about the implications of this as my ball of yarn disappeared at an astounding rate. This way of crocheting really eats up yarn!

More patterns playing to the strength of Tunisian crochet would have strengthened the book. The patterns are for various clothing items (most of which I wasn't too excited about), but there was not one purse in there. Tunisian crochet would make a wonderfully sturdy handbag or even a nice, thick winter hat. I used it for the strap of a crocheted purse that I had almost completed. No worry about a too-stretchy strap now!

I give the book 3 stars weighing in the look of the book (beautiful), ease of learning how to do the stitch (very easy with great illustrations), types of patterns (lacking, uninspiring), and unfortunately, my new understanding of the yarn eater that this type of crochet is (think the Cookie Monster here). Yes, it looks like knitting, but definitely doesn't have the draping, feel, or stretch of knitting. Lovely book though!

This kind of book is long overdue and Sharon has done a great job of bringing tunisian crochet to the public. The instructions and photos are clear and helpful. There is a great variety of projects ranging from beginner to advanced - truly something for everyone. As someone who loves and teaches tunisian crochet, I consider this a must have book.

The photographs and diagrams are very clear, and the instructions are precise. As a knitter who switched to crochet after seeing Silverman's prior books, "Basic Crocheting" and "Beyond Basic Crocheting", I am eager to begin these new projects, starting with the pillow and the afghan.

A crafter from Jenkintown

I just got this book yesterday and I have to say that I am wowed. This is the most comprehensive "how to" tunisian book that I have been able to find. The beginning section is very clearly photographed and easy to understand. There are a variety of patterns and they are beautiful. I would have given five stars but I did have a few problems. First, there are only a couple of easy patterns. Second, she uses a variety of novelity yarns that (at least in my area of the country)are very difficult to find and once shipping is factored in very very expensive. But overall a good addition to my crochet library. I love the Frosted Stitch Afghan, the Have it Both Ways pillow and the little girl Jumper that I will be making for my daughter when I am more comfortable with the craft.

I take issue with the author's assertion that Tunisian crochet has "the look of knitting - with the ease of crochet". First off, it doesn't look like knitting; at least not to a knitter. Second, if you truly want the look of knitting, knit whatever it is you are making. And lastly, "ease" comes with practice; I find my knitting as easy as crocheting because I have chosen to practice. I do not understand why crocheting constantly has to prove its worth alongside knitting or be compared to it. They are two separate techniques, and I consider Tunisian to be yet a third, in spite of its obvious closeness to crochet. Having gotten that off my chest, let's continue with the review.

I really like this book. The pictures and instructions are clear and concise. The photographs of each project include a front and back shot, along with closeups of the pattern stitches. Too many books focus on having wildly modern styling, as if they long for their projects to be in the pages of Vogue magazine. I am exceedingly grateful to the author for bypassing this in favor of showing us the actual projects in such a way as to showcase THEM as opposed to the photography. Thank you. Also there is a wonderful appendix giving information on sizing, industry standard measurements, yarn sizes, and resources. It's short, but contains a true wealth of information sadly lacking in many similar volumes.

The projects themselves are made in lovely yarns and are well blocked and presented. "Chain Main Scarf" - rated easy, in Tunisian purl stitch. Simple, yet lovely, worked in two fine yarns. "Wild and Wooly Wrap" - an easy shawl in a chunky yarn, in Tunisian simple stitch. I liked the look of this, and I think most would like it, although I am not a fan of chunky garments. "Honeycomb skirt" - intermediate in Tunisian honeycomb stitch. The yarn and stitch used here create a lovely and interesting texture. "Shimmer shawl" - an intermediate wrap in various lace stitches. I thought this absolutely gorgeous and plan on making it when I can track down the yarns. "Ivory Shell" - an experienced level sleeveless garment with a v neck, in staggered X-stitch. There is some intricate shaping here and it is not for the beginner or the faint of heart; I made this in the recommended yarn - Lion organic cotton - and it was beautiful and well fitting; and the pattern easily followed and correct.

The next garment in the book "Ladders and lattice duster" (experienced level) gives me pause. It looks great in the photos except for the sleeves, which are constructed in single crochet and chain loops. Perhaps it was simply easier to do this than pattern Tunisian sleeves to go with the body, but I think it made the overall effect a bit sloppy. If I make this, I will definitely change the sleeves. "Felted clutch" - intermediate - is the Tunisian version of every other simple felted bag going around. I confess I am addicted to felting right now, and tried this to see if it were any easier than a knitted or crocheted bag. The nature of basic Tunisian stitch is to be a strong, tight fabric, and I did find the resultant bag felted very well, quickly, and retained an interesting texture. Some experimentation could produce some fascinating felted fabric textures.

"Warmhearted vest" - intermediate skill in Tunisian knit stitch. It is good looking; but here again is my issue -- it would look better and have ease and stretch if truly knitted. It would also work up tremendously faster. I am curious if non-knitters actually find this worth making? My discomfort with the Tunisian knit stitch carries over for the next garments, "Hugalicious jumper" intermediate for children, and "big sister sweater" intermediate in Tunisian net stitch. All three of these garments seem to rely on asking one thing to be another, and this isn't knitting, nor does it look like it. The garments look sloppy and second best to me.

Then the book moves into home decor. Two pillows, both functional and pretty, two afghans, an ottoman cover (huh?) and place mats. "Sweet dreams baby blanket" is my favorite piece in the book. It's exceptionally lovely, in two alternating patterns, and while it takes some time to work up it is well worth the investment. Truly beautiful.

The book works great on many levels, but for me falters when it gets into the whole Tunisian (wanna be) knit stitch. When the author sticks to explaining and exploiting the many wonderful Tunisian stitches and fabrics that can be created with these variants, it's excellent. It doesn't have to look like knitting. It can simply be wonderful and beautiful, and Tunisian. Definitely among the better books available on the subject.

I bought the Kindle version of this book knowing full well that the photos would not be in color. It was an experiment in simplifying. With my Kindle I don't have overflowing bookshelves and I thought that it might be convenient to have the book and patterns it contains with me along with my other reading material.

I've found that it's pretty easy to navigate through the book and read it of course. The pictures, even zoomed, are not that great...but I decided I could put up with it. I just wanted to learn Tunisian crochet.

As far as the book and the technique--I am pretty good at regular crochet and found the book is clear and the projects interesting. The author explains the steps and it may seem repetitious when she repeats the steps for each stitch but if you are skipping from one to the other stitch in the learning process this actually helps keep from flipping back and forth...oh wait, no pages with the Kindle.

Today I realized that with Kindle for iPhone I can have the color pictures, too! They enlarge really well to show stitch detail in luscious color.

So that makes it the best of both worlds when purchasing a book of this type for Kindle. Although I don't really like reading regular books on the iPhone, it's great for this use!

This type of crochet has intrigued me since I am a knitter at heart and have started crocheting
recently. To be able to do both in one sitting seems a plus. One of the problems for me has
been to find local stores that carry the tunisian hooks. It takes a while to get the hang of it,
but I love the look and am anxious to try out some of the easier patterns.

I have been crocheting using this method for years and the book is great. I do have a comment on the Ivory Shell pattern that is shown on the cover. I used a cotton yarn that has the same 4 weight rating and the gauge is all off. I made the sample gauge and by the results, my creating chain would only be 74 stitches for the largest size. I am an experienced crocheter and was surprised by this.....If anyone else has the same issue it would be helpful to know.