Crochet Adorned (and giveaway!!!)

Crochet Adorned is the new book by Linda Permann.  If you follow Linda's blog, you know that she is a master with yarn and a crochet hook as well as a talented seamstress.  Her book is just as lovely as she is!

 

And if you have been reading this blog for awhile now, you know that I don't really crochet much at all.  I taught myself how to do it just so I could make granny squares.  And really, that is about all the crocheting I have done.  This book has given me the confidence to move beyond the granny square and try something new.  Linda gives wonderful advice and directions for beginning crocheters and lots of illustrations to help you get going.  The back of the book has an immense stitch glossary - trims, motifs and stitch patterns all written out and charted.  I had an epiphany when looking at the charts!  Crochet started to make sense to me and now I know that with a few basic stitches, I can probably make anything in this book.

So of course, I had to try to make something!  In the book, Linda shows you how to adorn store bought and hand sewn items as well as to alter clothing you might already have with crochet.  The possibilities are endless.  I took the same trim that Linda added to this trench coat and crocheted it to add to a pillow for the window seat in Jane's room.  I had never made anything with a foundation chain before so I was a little worried that it wouldn't come together properly.  With Linda's written directions and the chart, it was a breeze.

 

 

It's super cute and it received the Jane stamp of approval.  It was also a very quick project which means I will definitely be making more pillows for her room with crocheted trim.

 

 

Some of the other projects that I really like are the tote bag with trees and the apron with a butterfly.  But I think the butterfly might end up on a t-shirt and the trees might end up on a pillow.  Like I said, these projects are versatile and will get you thinking about how you can use crochet to adorn different items.

Linda has been kind enough to offer a copy of her book to one of my readers.  If you'd like a chance to win Crochet Adorned for yourself, leave a comment on this post before 3:00 p.m. EST on Sunday, August 23.  I will announce the winner next week.

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In other news, I've been working on camera straps so there will be a shop update within the next couple of weeks.  When I have a definite date, I will post it on the blog.

Thank you all for the kind comments about the plight of my tomatoes and the girls' first day back at school.  It's been a full week around here with its share of ups (school starting, gifted tomatoes from a friend, riding bikes to school) and downs (late blight, the kitchen faucet that broke off in my hand).  I am so glad it's Friday.

Happy weekend, everyone!