Dora Ohrenstein - The Crocheters Skill-Building Workshop

Slip Stitch Edging

Its very exciting to be designing and writing about crochet at this moment in time. Crochet has emerged from its relatively short history at least from the time its been documented in the mid-nineteenth century and appears to be in full blossom, with no signs of stopping. There is fabulous crochet on the runway every season, and amazing designs aimed at crafters too. No more is crochet confined to granny squares (although I still love them) and afghans. The great proliferation of yarns in thinner weights and fluid, silky fibers is also contributing to the crochet renaissance.

It seemed obvious to me, therefore, that the crochet community needed a book that would help crocheters move into these new areas, by providing knowledge and techniques that draw on the traditions of the past but go beyond them. If you yearn to do more sophisticated projects, or design your own, I believe youll find many tools in this book to assist you.

As a self-taught crocheter, Ive learned many things from studying books and patterns, yet Ive been puzzled by the lack of information about certain aspects of crochet. One of these is how to control tension: many crocheters seem to have difficulty meeting gauge or executing certain stitches where good control is required. Others feel they crochet too tightly or loosely but dont know how to improve. Given my background as a singer and voice teacher, where training motor skills is routine, I have applied this knowledge to the topic of hand and tension control.

Another information gap seems to exist on the topic of shaping with complex stitch patterns. Its a hard one to address, because there are so many variables. Nevertheless, I have discovered guiding principles that I share in these pages. They will help you understand how shaping is accomplished and vastly improve your understanding of patterns and how to create your own designs.

The purpose of the book is to cover a broad range of techniques commonly used in crochet. I aim to provide fundamental knowledge for crucial matters such as choosing yarns and fibers and working in the round, intermediate techniques like squares and miters, and more advanced skills such as shaping with complex stitch patterns. The term technique includes such things as hand-and-hook maneuvers, control of tension, how and where the hook is inserted anything you may encounter about which there might be a question, or where some bit of special knowledge could be helpful.

As you explore this book, you may realize that while you are an expert in some areas, you might be a novice in others. Crocheters tend to have a high skill level in areas of crochet theyve done many times. If you love to make hats, you probably already know quite a bit about working in the round. If you are a committed maker of afghans, you know your favorite seams for attaching blocks. When approaching a different area of crochet where you have less experience, some of your skill and knowledge will apply, but unresolved questions may come up, or puzzles you havent encountered before. This is quite common, and very few people, including me, are expert in every aspect of crochet. If you want to keep learning and growing your crochet skills, approach the less familiar areas not with trepidation, but rather with an inquisitive, open mind.

For example, if you have always done something a certain way, and you find a stitch or technique in this book that differs from your practice, try it you may like it. There are very few things done only one way in crochet. You may find a particular technique that I describe works well for you, helps you adapt something you already do, suggests a new approach, or points out something you havent thought of.

Crochet has many traditional techniques and practices that have come down over time. Some of these practices have become quite entrenched, to the point where anyone suggesting an alternative is seen as unorthodox. I believe that crochet is too young and rapidly evolving a craft to be restrained by convention. Many strategies I discuss are time-honored, but just as many are more recent developments or things Ive discovered on my own. I believe this eclectic approach fosters continuous growth and innovation, and respects the traditions of the past no less for it. For a craft to stay vital and alive, it must evolve, as its proponents use newly developed materials and strive to create items that suit contemporary needs and tastes. Todays yarns and hooks are very different, and in some ways improved, from those of the past, and they allow us to do more with crochet than ever. We seek a different look and feel in our garments, which in turn affects the stitches and techniques used to make them. I believe our techniques change as our materials and aesthetics do.

Designers and artists around the globe are inventing fantastic new ways to do and use crochet, perhaps inspired by the amazing variety and sophistication of contemporary yarns. In the fashion world, crochet continues to be featured season after season. Fine artists are also discovering crochets amazing possibilities.

Its impossible to cover everything in one book, so I have focused on areas that I believe appeal to most crocheters and where information is limited or hard to find in one place. My focus is on broad topics shaping, construction, texture, and color that apply to many different projects. My hope is that the book will be a resource to consult before tackling a pattern or developing your own designs.

Youll find patterns for 77 swatches, each meant to be a quick and effective way to learn a particular technique. Think of each one of these swatches as a lesson. If youve never used swatches in this way before, you may be surprised at what an effective teaching tool a swatch can be. People learn best by doing. Imagine learning a complicated dance step without moving your feet! Its the same in crochet. By actually working the swatches, youll have a more satisfying learning experience, and youll also have your swatch to refer to when the technique appears in a project.

The five projects in this book also employ many of the techniques discussed in the preceding chapters. Its often easier to understand a concept when its put to use, so the projects here include working in the round, cable stitches, uncommon stitches, edgings, and seams.