Judith Copeland - Modular Crochet: The Revolutionary Method for Creating Custom-Designed Pullovers

Copyright

Copyright 1978 by Judith Copeland

All rights reserved.

Bibliographical Note

This Dover edition, first published in 2015, is an unabridged republication of the work originally published by M. Evans and Company, Inc., New York, in 1978.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Copeland, Judith.

Modular crochet : the revolutionary method for creating custom-designed pullovers / Judith Copeland. - Dover edition.

pages cm

Originally published: New York : M. Evans, c1978.

eISBN-13: 978-0-486-80516-0

1. Crocheting. 2. Sweaters. I. Title.

TT825.C66 2015

746.434-dc23

2014043604

Manufactured in the United States by Courier Corporation

79687601 2015

www.doverpublications.com

To my mother,

who taught me the value of independent thinking

Photography: Andrea Blanch

Illustrations: Carol Hines

Hair Styling: Louis Alonzo

I would like to thank my husband Robert Copeland for his editorial guidance; Marga Bremer, Glen Bumside, Millie Garcia, Chin Hsin Chen, Pak Nang Lau, Esther Rosenstark, and Fumi Wellington for taking great care with the pullovers they crocheted; Terry Arthur, Glen Burnside, Diana Cecil, Taylor Drot-man, Cindy and Seth Greenberg, Constance Kevlock, Michael Levy, Kim Neblett, and Dana Nicholson for contributing their time and enthusiasm in the modeling of the garments. And finally, I would like to express my appreciation to the people at M. Evans and my many professional friends for their freely given advice and support as this book was being put together.

Modular Crochet is an exciting new method for making crocheted garments. It has been developed for people who would like to design their own pullovers but need a way of working that will help them understand the structure of a garment and how to assemble its various parts. In evolving the modular way of working we have done two things that make the task of working on your own easy and efficient. First, we have considered the garment to be composed of rectanglesone of the most elementary formsand have joined these rectangles together as simply as possible. Second, we have done away with the usual figures and computing that confuse so many crocheters and teach you instead through photographs and diagrams how to make garments by working directly on the body. To sum up quickly, this is how Modular Crochet works: You work the garment vertically from a beginning center chain that is made to fit right to your body. The length of the chain depends on your size and the style of the garment. You then add the rectangles one at a time, on each side of the chain, by working right onto the existing pieces; and you also fit them right to your body. Because you are working vertically and from the center of the body out, you can try on the garment to check your progress every step of the way. This makes it extraordinarily easy to get a good custom fitthe main problem most people encounter when crocheting a garment. In Modular Crochet, since all garments in all styles are made from six or eight rectangles, which are joined together in the same way, you do not need the usual written instructions for each individual project. You can achieve tremendous variation in styling and silhouettes by making the rectangles different sizes or varying your choice of yarn, color, and stitch. The results are all kinds of pullovers that are quick and easy to make. Even the most timid crocheters will find the method simple. It is, of course, a perfect way to introduce beginners to the art of crocheting, for they can turn out a sophisticated garment on their first try. To work in the modular method all you need to know are:

a. How to make the chain stitch

b. How to make the three basic stitches: the single crochet, the half doublecrochet, and the double crochet

c. How to crochet back and forth in a straight line

tells how to design and work on your own, and by the time you are done with this lesson you should be able to select any yarn and make a pullover in any size and style you wish.

About Stitches and Detailing tells you how to make the three ridge stitches, how to sew up seams, and how to work sleeves in the round. These fine points and other techniques described are of particular interest since good detailing is especially important in simple garments. About Yarn discusses the characteristics of the various fibers used and lists them in an easy referral chart. If you want to see how the yarns look made up consult the color photographs. You will note that the modular pullover can be transformed into a completely different garment simply by using a different yarn; each yarn creates a fabric that looks and behaves in its own special way. Garments made from rectangles can be as simple or as dramatic as you wish. For instance, the plain, unadorned rectangles, worked in the same yarn throughout and in neutral colors, make garments that are practical, comfortable, and easy to wear. The highly decorative rectangles, worked in a variety of yarns, colors, and stitches, or crocheted in a highly textured yarn such as a boucle, make fanciful vests, fringe-covered ponchos, and handsome turtlenecks. Rectangles tapered at one end, by combining short and long stitches in the same row, make more complex or shaped garments, such as the bloused and smocked silhouettes. These are just a few of the possibilities inherent in the modular approach; there are as many variations as there are crocheters. This way of working means simple shapes and simple construction, with easy-to-learn and easy-to-apply techniques. In essence, Modular Crochet has made two key decisions for youthe shapes of the individual pieces and how they are put together. The remaining decisionsthe choice of the color and kind of yarn, the stitches, the size of the rectanglesoffer you ample opportunity to arrive at a unique solution that reflects your personal taste.

In Modular Crochet all pullovers are made from six or eight rectangles (six if they are sleeveless, eight if they have sleeves), and, for all styles, the procedure for putting them together is exactly the same. This lesson shows how the rectangles are joined together. All garments made following this method are worked in the ridge stitch. The main instructions are for the double crochet ridge stitch (dcr) and the half double crochet ridge stitch (hdcr); and the procedure is the same for both stitches. When working in the single crochet ridge stitch (scr), the number in the parentheses (x) tells you what to do. If you have any questions about abbreviations, stitches, detailing, consult the section About Stitches and Detailing. In our instructions you will note that there are no measurements or numbers of stitches given. This is because in Modular Crochet we have done away with gauge and measuring in the usual sense and teach you through photographs and diagrams how to work directly on your body. In this lesson the photographs will be your primary guide. To work from them, note in each step where and how the beginning chain and the rectangles of the garment fall on the body. Then work your beginning center chain and all subsequent rectangles so that they fall on the same places on your body. The text tells how many chains to turn and how to join the rectangles. That is all that you have to keep in mind, aside from being sure that the fabric is worked at the right tension. It is best to work each set of rectangles simultaneously ( to the same size. Crochet the other two sets (sides and sleeves) in the same way. Working in this way you can easily see how the fabric hangs and behaves, and you can get a good fit. This lesson is the key to the modular approach. Once you finish it, you will be able to make all of the styles shown in this book in all of the stitches by following the exact same procedures. You will also be prepared to work and design on your own.