Crocheted Gifts
Crocheted Gifts
by Deborah Burger
Who do we crochet for? Ourselves? Our friends and family? Many or most of us probably make a majority of our projects especially to give as gifts. The new book, Crocheted Gifts: Irresistible Projects to Make & Give, by Kim Werker aims to help us with that goal. Like all the Interweave Press books, this one is layed-out well and formatted in a readable type, with clear photographs and excellent written directions and stitch diagrams. It’s also a handy size and shape for flipping through, or for laying out flat while working the patterns.
The collection of projects includes work by a stellar line-up of some of my favorite designers, from Doris Chan’s afghan on the cover, through wristies by Myra Wood, socks by Robyn Chachula, and elegant wraps by Kristin Omdahl and Annie Modesitt, just to name a few. The variety of projects represents all skill levels, and ranges from very cute (Berry Baby Hat and Booties, p. 30) to absolutely elegant. There are projects aimed at children, men, babies, girlfriends/sisters/moms, and more than a few that each crocheter may want to make as gifts for herself. (I will certainly be making myself a gift of Annie Modesitt’s Trinity Lace Shrug, p. 42) Some of the projects introduce or explore “cutting edge” techniques in crochet, such as using hairpin lace with wire instead of yarn to create baskets! (p. 24, a design by Donna Hulka). And whether you need a “quickie” project to make a gift in a hurry, or have plenty of time to prepare for that wedding, graduation or birthday, you will find possibilities abounding here. The yarns listed in the projects cover a wide range of prices and availability, and in every case all necessary information is given for successful substitution.
All that said, I was a little disappointed in the organization of the book… which appears to just be lacking! As a catalog of “gift ideas and projects”, I think it would serve readers better if divided into sections or chapters, each containing gifts geared for a particular audience; for instance, grouping all the baby gifts together, and all the menswear or housewarming items together with others of their type. When I’m looking for a gift project for a particular person or occasion, it’s easier for me to find the correct section and look there, than to randomly flip through the whole book, hoping some project will jump up and volunteer to be the right one for the person I’m wanting to create for. On the other hand, if you are by nature more of a “window shopper”, you will probably really enjoy using this book to browse your way through your gift list for the next year or so!