Melissa Horozewski - Austentatious Crochet: 36 Contemporary Designs from the World of Jane Austen

It has been my intention to entertain Jane Austen fans with the fictional vignettes establishing each chapter. Though the order in which Miss Austen wrote her novels is widely documented, I found it very amusing to imagine all of Janes heroines and characters existing together simultaneously. Forgive any anachronisms that may occur as a result of this fiction. And for the most discerning of Janeites, you can find where I made use of Miss Austens own text where possible in the heroines dialogue for veracity and amusement.

I f you long for the elegance and modishness revealed in the books by your favorite author, Jane Austen, or you are a lover of all things Regency, then this book and these designs were created just for you. Austentatious Crochet will have you stepping into the world of Jane Austen and exploring the romance of the Regency era with crochet. Visit with Jane Austenand expand your wardrobe. Who knows? Perhaps these designs will bring you some romance of your own!

In this book are delightful designs reminiscent of Jane Austens era, including all the simple adornments and accoutrements so prized in that period of fashion. With thirty-six patterns, designed with both the beginner and advanced crocheter in mind, along with fun facts about Miss Austen and Regency fashion (accompanied with a recipe or two), this book will transport you to Longbourne, Pemberley, Lyme, Bath, or any Austen destination of choice. So if you are a fashion forward chitthat is, a romantic girl who loves Regency-inspired clothing and isnt afraid to wear it with her own twistthen bring out your hooks, brew up some tea, and kick back with this book.

T hough fashion is not discussed at length in Jane Austens novels, it was not because clothing and fashion were not of interest to Miss Austen. Janes own letters, mostly written to her sister Cassandra, included frequent references to clothing, textiles, and accessories. She once devoted more than two hundred words on a detailed description of a new round gown Mrs. Mussell was making for her, even including her own sketch of the gown in a letter to her sister.

Like today, it can be expected that fashion would be discussed among intimate friends or sisters, more so perhaps as it was quite customary for women of the Regency period to spend a large part of their days making many of their own wearables and accessories. Josephine Ross, in Jane Austen: A Companion writes: Working for young women in Jane Austens novels meant working with the needle. It was considered undesirable for a female to sit idly about; and in any householda communal work-basket was generally to hand containing garments to be made up.

Like those of Miss Austens time, proficiency with a hook and needle today is still quite an accomplishment, more so now in this age of ready-made. I consider the needle arts not only to be a pleasurable and skilled employment of time but a catalyst of further creative inspiration, as did Jane. According to Jane Austens nephews Memoir, Jane enjoyed needlework immensely and sewed beautifully. He writes that she often interrupted her needlework to jot something down at her desk. She would then return to her sewing only to repeat the behavior, suggesting she knew the connection between stitching and imagination and used the inspiration of such to the fullest. He also notes some of her merriest talk was over clothes which she and her companions were making, sometimes for themselves and sometimes for the poor.