Barbara Christopher (1)Critiques

Lending

An extremely disappointing crochet book.

The designs are extremely simple - most are 4 or 5 rounds, use only a few basic stitches, and most of the ornaments are variants of one another, with only one or two rounds different from each other. The photographs are very simple (each ornament photographed on a plain background) but what got me about the photography is that clearly the ornaments were not properly blocked & / or stiffened, like all thread ornaments should be. I got the impression that perhaps the designer is not as experienced as one would like, to make such a rookie mistake (the only other book I can find by the author is another crochet ornament book, with equally badly photographed & unblocked ornaments).

Another thing I found really unaccepted for a thread crochet book are that none of the ornaments are charted.

In addition to snowflakes there are also a couple of hearts, a bow, and a leaf garland. I found the instructions clear and was able to make a heart for a friend for Valentine's day. When I realized the snow flakes had to be starched, I wasn't as enthusiastic as I had been, but this is a book I might pull out again.

Every design includes an embroidery stitching guide. I've had some problems with the transfers in the past, but I tend to let the book sit around for ages before using it, which undoubtedly doesn't help.