Crochet That Fits By Mary Jane Hall Book Review
33 Projects for Garments and Accessories Plus a ShapingTechnique
Dec 14, 2008
Crocheters who know Mary Jane Hall's work, will be familiar with her approach to crochet. Instead of cloaking crochet in a mystique of complicated terms and ideas, she makes it as simple as possible for crocheters to create great items.
Mary Jane Hall's designs are accessible to crocheters of all experience levels, however they are far from boring. The boxy and unflattering garments that sometimes spring to mind when thinking of crochet have no place in Many Jane Hall's designs. Instead, crocheters will find crochet designs that have been approached from a fresh angle.
Crochet That Fits
Mary Jane Hall's latest book, Crochet That Fits, tackles the thorny issue of creating crocheted garments that are simple to create yet also look good and give a flattering fit. Using the 'graduated stitch system' that combines crochet stitches of different heights, Mary Jane Hall has designed a series of garments and accessories that are simple to create and also easy to adapt for a customized fit.
The graduated stitch system is an innovative approach to crochet shaping and this is a technique that is clever in its simplicity! Instead of making increases and decreases to shape the work, the varying of the stitches used in each row 'sculpts' the crochet, giving it shape and form.
Projects
There are 33 illustrated projects contained in Crochet That Fits. Mary Jane Hall also makes suggestions and recommendations for adapting and customizing the designs, allowing crocheters to develop their ideas further. The projects range from quick crochet projects, such as a head band, through to larger projects including a sweater and dress.
Not all of the projects are for garments. Some of the projects don't really require fitting, which might seem a little strange given the title of the book. The principles and techniques for shaping, however, are easily translated to a range of other projects.
In addition to detailing the yarn brand that is used for each project, crocheters will also find that the standard yarn weights are given too. This information is invaluable for crocheters who want to substitute yarns.
Crochet Experience Level Required
Crochet That Fits is ideal for beginner crocheters as clear step by step instructions are given. This includes the very basics of crochet including how to make the core stitches. More experienced crocheters will also find the book interesting and may well find that shaping using the graduated stitch system is an answer to many of the challenges of crochet design.
Conclusion
Crochet That Fits is a crochet book that works on many levels. As a book for a beginner it will help a novice crocheter undertake interesting and rewarding projects. For more experienced crocheters, in addition to offering a range of inspiring designs, Mary Jane Hall's approach to shaping crochet should provide plenty to interest.
The main drawback of Crochet That Fits is the title. Some crocheters may find the title of the book slightly at odds with parts of the content. As many of the projects require shaping as opposed to fitting, perhaps a title that reflected this might ensure that crocheters' expectations, when buying the book, are met.
Further Information
- Title: Crochet That Fits
- Author: Mary Jane Hall
- Publisher: Krause Books
- ISBN: 0-89689-662-5
- Publication Date: November 2008
Further information about Mary Jane Hall can be found on her website, M J Crochet.
