Tunisian Crochet

I have been facinated with Tunisian crochet for several years. I love doing it and I love the end result. It is a small niche within crochet and it has been hard to find a wide array of books on the technique. Stitch bibles and encyclopedias usually carry a chapter or section on Tunisian, but the information only whets my whistle.

A new book has been published on this fun technique: Tunisian Crochet: The look of Knitting with the ease of Crocheting by Sharon Hernes Silverman. This book is a great reference for someone who is new to Tunisian as well as those of us who have loved it for some time. The first section of the book is a How To that includes pictures of the stitches being made and where to place the hook for the various stitches. It also includes information on decreasing.

The next section is a project gallery. These projects range from home decor to clothing. The variety of projects provides lots of opportunities to practice and hone your skills. The pattern instructions are well-written and easy to understand.

There are other great books and booklets that are available on Tunisian, but this book is the most complete and comprehensive book I've found for someone who is interested in learning and developing this technique--a one-stop-shopping book.

Book Review: Crocheted Socks

What do I look for when buying a book? Obviously, lots of great designs! But, I also look for a book that packs a lot of information. Crocheted Socks! by Jane Rehfeldt and Mary Jane Wood does just that.

The first section of the book discusses yarn choices, tools that you will need (or . . . what I love . . . tools that are not necessary but can make your work easier or more convenient), the all-too-important sock construction (or sock anatomy, as I like to call it), a discussion on making custom-fitted socks, and a thorough explanation (complete with diagrams) of stitches.

There are 16 patterns in the book, and they range from a basic sock to dressy and/or elegant socks to just plain fun socks. There are toe-up sock patterns and top-down patterns.

But what really excites me about this book is the variety of stitches and stitch patterns that are employed. I chose the Ribbed Hiker. The leg is a stretchy ribbing created by FPdc and BPdc. But the foot is where I took total delight; the pattern calls for a split single crochet (ssc). It took some practice before I got the correct tension, but the result is fabulous. It has the look and feel of stockinette stitch.

I think this book has a place on any crocheter's shelf, whether you are a novice or experienced.