CREATIVE CROCHET----Review by Shirley Guess
Leisure Arts/Oxmoor Publication
Pub. 1996 - List Price $14.95
144 pages (quality paper) Sixty Two Patterns

Order through Leisure Arts
P.O. Box 5595
Little Rock AR 72215
(501) 868-8800

  • This is a beauty of a new book by Leisure Arts and Oxmoor House. Definitely one that you can show off and one that you will use.
  • The patterns are clearly written and easy to follow.
  • This new book is stuffed with useful and decorative designs.

    I'll confess it right upfront. Sometimes I buy a crochet book simply because it's pretty. People buy "coffee table" books that feature the works of George O'Keeffe and Vincent Van Gogh. Why not a crochet book? Crochet is certainly an art form.

    Creative Crochet, Leisure Arts and Oxmoor Publications brand new book, could easily hold its own as an art book. Its layout is well-balanced; the photographs are exquisite, with flawless color combinations and warm background settings. However,it is far from just another pretty face.

    This book is literally stuffed with all kinds of useful projects. Of course, there are afghans. But there are also crochet decorations for just about every room in the house; there's a nice section for gifts and one for fashion; there's a creative holiday section and collection of items for the new baby. The patterns are clearly written and easy to follow. Unlike some patterns in magazines, there is plenty of "white space" around the instructions which makes them so much easier to read.

    Before writing this review, I tried out several patterns. I was especially smitten with this book's Bandanna Afghan pattern. I made up a couple of squares for CP's Warm Up America collection (organized by Denise Dennett). Each square was a snap to make! And, it really does look like a bandanna.

    Throughout the book, there are patterns that are labeled "quick." They are perfect projects when you only have a few hours to crochet. When we were invited to a friend's house for Easter Brunch, I decided I "needed" to make a hostess gift. Of course, I only decided it the night before so I didn't have gobs of time. I didn't want to buy flowers. Instead, I flipped through my new book and found the pattern for Rosy Coasters. They were labeled quick. Perfect, I thought. And, the were. I whipped up two thread coasters in under an hour.

    Later this year, I will need to make some baby items for friends of mine who are expecting. I've already decided that I will make at least one "Crib Caterpillar." Pictured in lavender and light yellow and with an embroidered face, it is a cute & soft toy for a brand new baby. It's so adorable that I might even have to make an extra one-- just for me!

    There are a number of rug and doily patterns, a tablecloth, and a couple of crochet patterns using fabric--one is a sturdy looking tote bag that would be great for the beach. Oh, and I can't forget to tell you that there is a colorful crocheted clown that stands 13" tall. Like I said, this book is stuffed.

    This is a beauty of a new book by Leisure Arts and Oxmoor House. Definitely one that you can show off and one that you will use. ####
    Reviewed by S. Guess for Crochet Partners 4/96. shefog@nas.com