Reviews

Crocheting Adventures with Hyperbolic Planes

Daina Tamina has written a marvelous book linking the natural world to the human mind, to symbol-making, to art and to abstract mathematical concepts. The book begins with an overview of geometry and proceeds to the more specialized subject of hyperbolic geometry: "the intrinsic geometry of a surface with constant negative curvature that extend(s) indefinitely in all directions." Negative curvature is when a surface folds in on itself, as you can see in kale and many other natural objects, and in ruffles in fabric. Hyperbolic geometry -- where constant negative curl creates form -- is a mathematical concept, but mathematicians did not believe it could be given concrete form.  Daina describes her own efforts to do so with crochet, and her stunning models -- each a real work of art -- attest to her success.  In teaching math, she uses her crochet models to give difficult concepts a touchable form.

Perhaps taking her cue from the idea of infinite extension in all directions, Tamina takes off on several trajectories, with a chapter on geometric patterns in folk arts from the Maori, Incas, and Pacific Islanders. She shows how geometric symbols were used in  human societies to convey cosmological knowledge, and how these symbols circulated via art.  She then leads a grand tour through the development of geometrical concepts from building and construction, navigation and stargazing, and motion and machines.  There are 300 photos of ancient objects.  "It's a coffee table book about mathmatics," Daina told me in our interview.  

It all amounts to an eye-and brain-opening journey connecting the history of ideas to their natural sources and practical applications. Lots to ponder.  It takes a mind like Daina's to bring material like this together, and to convey it in scupltures that sit tranquilly in the natural landscape.

To see lots more photos of Daina's work and learn more about hyperbolic crochet, check out our Audio Interview of Daina here!

Creative Crochet Lace: A Freeform Look at Classic Crochet

This is a real breakthrough book by Myra Wood that develops her special perspective on freeform crochet.  For those seeking to go beyond scrumbling, Myra offers five alternative freeform techniques she calls  Funky Filet, Doodle Lace, Tossed Salad, Wild Irish Crochet and Organic Lace Scrumbling.

Funky Filet offers a stitch count formula which allows you to line up blocks of filet and fill them in any number of ways you like. Doodle Lace is a clever and simple method of creating freeform lace in one large piece, and Myra’s Peacock Path, a Doodle Lace cape, is stunning. With the Tossed Salad technique, Myra introduces “lace logic,” a method for changing stitch patterns at will whike keeping  the edges of your work even. Wild Irish is a modern approach to traditional Irish Crochet, making it adaptable to the yarns of today and far less painstaking to execute. Finally, Organic Lace Scrumbling shows how scrumbling with openwork stitches is quite different from “traditional freeform” (if one can use such a term). This last technique appears to be the most spontaneous, and Myra has several awesome examples,including Beauty in Bloom, a long duster, September Blush, a tunic, and Sweet Romance, a blouse.

There is some lovely inspirational writing in the book as well, as in this passage:

   Everyone has the abiity to unleash his or her own creative side.  While you are               crocheting, take it one stitch at a time and reserve any judgment about what you are       doing.  The first steps are only the beginning, and each piece grown into a splendidly       woven fabric the more you work on it.

Wish I could follow this advice more myself!

I was fascinated to read that Myra’s freeform methods are underpinned by structured and sturdy mechanisms: the dress form and templates. It’s the backbone of freeform, vital to achieving the intended effect, especially in the hands of an artist like Myra. Myra self-published this beautiful book, and shows herself as adept at book-making as she is at crochet.

Crochet on the Edge and Single Crochet from A to Z

Crochet on thge Edge is an amazing resource of ideas with potential far beyond edgings. Bendy is among the most prolific, knowledgeable and gifted crochet designers working today. There are over 140 edgings shown, organized around these headings: Lace, Floral, Ribs, Beads, Sculpture, Fringe, Points and Ruffles. These are not the edgings one has seen in many a collection, but rather a terrific array of Bendy’s original notions.

The floral section includes flowers of applique, tacked down loops, post stitches, and embroidery. The ribbing section is rich in dimensional effects, including a variety of cables. 3-D crochet is taken even further in the sculpture section, with such items as Chevron Weave, Woven Spike Stitch, Hollow Coils, and a granny square look achieved entirely with surface crochet. Each of these takes a traditional technique and develops it into something unique and decorative. The fertility of this woman’s imagination is impressive. There are also several full-scale projects in the book.

Bendy has also given us a volume called Single Crochet from A to Z, a book of blocks, each featuring a different technique. I have to admit that I am not a lover of single crochet stitches, but this book is changing my mind. With blocks of Intarsia, Jacquard, loop stitches, slip stitch crochet, spike stitches, and more, it’s another virtuosic display of creativity and technique.

These books teach much more than how to do the specific technique shown. They show a mindset that approaches crochet as a tool for making fiber do whatever you want it to.

Surface Works

Another volume just bursting with creativity and innovation is Jenny Dowde’s Surface Works, aimed at both knitters and crocheters. It’s 200 pages can keep you going for a long time to come. Jenny introduces a myriad of techniques with which to embellish knit or crochet fabric, most of her own invention. Many offer a way of using small amounts of fancy yarn to add pizazz to a piece. For example, her “fluffle stitch” is more interesting than surface crochet chains, in two ways: you add the surface yarn as you crochet your main piece, and the stitch makes the yarn not quite ruffle, but “fluffle.” There are sections on textured stitches, braids and cords, collage, and arty bits, the latter two showing many inventive ways to incorporate fabric, buttons, wire, beads, embroidery, and even paper clips into designs. All this is in the first half of the book. The second half is devoted to projects: 7 bags, 6 hats and scarves, 4 cushions, 2 shawls, 9 jewelry pieces and 7 tops. Whew! Jenny’s sensibility is different from what I see in American designs, more playful and casual. She uses basic underlying forms overlayed with ornaments that are sometimes very artistic, sometimes whacky, and often both at once. It’s a refreshing and inspirational approach from this marvelous Australian designer.

Textured Crochet

The upsurge in demand for crochet books has made it possible for many talented fiber artists to present their imaginative revision of crochet traditions. In Textured Crochet, Helen Jordan explores dimension, organizing her work around several “families” of stitches, including Irish-style, post stitches, long trebles, Aran-style, and several more. Within these are subsections, where she has “taken an idea and ‘played’ with it, coaxing out all its' variations in order to introduce you to different techniques and their possibilities. She has indeed coaxed to excellent effect. One subsection called “Wedges” uses stitches of graduated heights as post stitches to create lovely looks I’ve not seen before. Another called “Curlicues” has all kinds of fabulous creatures emerging from a background. Many common stitches like bobbles and puffs appear in several sections, so that ideas double back and expand even further. Other favorites of mine are “Faux Bullions,” and “Stylized Ripples.” There are no projects in the book, which is fine by me as it encourages one to meet the challenge of creating a project of one’s own. Recently I’ve been playing with cables myself, and was pleased to see Helen fooling with similar ideas and getting very different results than mine. Crochet is endless, isn’t it?

Blueprint Crochet

It’s fascinating to watch the creative people in our biz blossom. Robyn’s first published designs, which I saw in “crochet me,” immediately showed someone with a definite vision and great control of her materials. Her training in architecture was an obvious asset. Robyn’s designs have kept coming in the magazines we love, and her particular style of flattering and beautifully structured fashion has continued to evolve. Motifs have more recently become a dominant theme, and she has found lovely ways of making motifs modern. In her debut book for Interweave, Robyn’s combined all of her technical expertise with an unleashed imagination, and  one gorgeous garment is featured after the other. This is a beautiful book where you can learn all about crochet symbols and see them excellently deployed.

Crocheting on the Edge

Nicky Epstein has a special gift. She can take things we’ve seen many times before and make them fresh and exciting. She makes two repetitions of a pattern look like a precious jewel. It’s the eye of an artist. Nicky’s feminine and romantic sensibility stays up to date due to her great sense of color, proportion and texture. Her color and yarn choices always clothe the stitches in a special new light. This book rivals the beauty of Sasha Kagen’s “Crochet Inspirations” published last year. The crochet scarf and wrap (see below) are to die for.  I also admire the book’s design -- wide pages with lots of white space, popping color photos with swatches floating right on the page and multi-color diagrams almost as pretty as the swatches they illustrate. This is a hardcoverbook -- we don’t see that often enough in crochet! It makes for a luxurious look and feel that suits the quality of the work.

Wrapped in Crochet

Kristin is known for her gorgeous designs, and she doesn't disappoint in this lovely book. The wraps, scarves and shawls are totally wearable and range from the casual to super chic. Kristin has a very original way with crochet, and always finds something surprising to do, be it unusual stitch combinations, constructions, shaping, or yarn choices. She explores a variety of techniques as well: broomstick, hairpin, Tunisian, motifs and lacework. A great learning tool for the crocheter who wants to widen their creative horizons while making some great stuff to wear. Brava Kristin, it's a beauty!

Crochet Liberation Front First Ever Book

A distinctive, idiosyncratic and charming collection of patterns, tutorials, memoirs, and musings from the coolest ravelry group ever. CLF was founded by Laurie Wheeler on ravelry some two years ago to counter the negative attitudes toward crochet within the yarn and publishing industries. Soon rants devolved into creative urges and the book was born. The presentation is well done, complete with photos and diagrams, and yet retains an endearing home-made character. There are beautiful crochet fashions from Pyo, tapestry skull and cross bones bag from Carol Ventura, a cool carry-all from Yavanna Coulter Reyolds, pedicure socks by Deneen St. Amour and lots more, both whimsical and practical. This could be the start of something big!

Beyond the Square Crochet Motifs

Edie’s last book, The Crochet Answer Book, is one of the bestsellers in the genre. This new volume is another valuable resource. The opening how-to section is as complete, and clear as any I’ve seen, offering several ways to begin and end rounds, and join motifs together. The motifs themselves are lovely and Edie’s use of color makes them especially pretty. There are both familiar and innovative new motifs in here -- including some that use spike stitches and interwoven strips. I especially like the pages of drawings showing possible ways to use motifs, some of the very clever. I hope Edie will make up some of these ideas and publish the patterns!