Wednesday, July 23, 2008

REVIEW: Crochet Lace

Crochet Lace
by Jean Leinhauser & Rita Weiss
Hardcover: 144 pages
Publisher: Sterling Publishing Co. (June 3, 2008)


CrochetLace

As a non-crocheter (at least so far), my first thought when I glance as this lovely book is "I wonder if I can talk my Mom in to making me the Animals on Parade Child's Spread." After all, I am her youngest child, right?

Crochet Lace showcases a collection of antique tablecloths and beadspreads - each more magnificent than the previous - and revises many of the old techniques used to create heirloom vintage lace pieces of the past, only to suit today's crochet threads. Vintage lace is simply stunning, you don't have to be a crafter to realize that. This book brings back the classic charm, paying special attention to working with traditional steel hooks and choosing the perfect crochet threads.

Each of the 23 project patterns include instructions in easy to read type and large, clear charts. Each project also features full page color photos to help make the intricate designs easy to follow.

You already know that I am partial to the Animals on Parade, however there are many favorite pieces in this book. The Butterfly Filet Table Topper is perfect for any little side table and I'd love to feature the Daisy Filigree Tablecloth on my own dining table. The beadspreeds are glorious (even if not practical in a 4 doggy household).

These projects will take time, however the results will most certainly become tomorrow's heirloom pieces that your friends and family with cherish for many years to come! If you're lucky enough to have vintage lace pieces in your collection, you already know what they mean and the memories they hold... why not start creating some of your own?

About the Authors: Jean Leinhauser and Rita Weiss have teamed up to provide unique projects for knitters and crochets for many years. They are co-authors of several books, including 100 Afghans to Knit & Crochet, 100 Purses to Knit & Crochet, 100 Hats to Knit & Crochet and the bestselling, 7-Day Afghans. Leinhauser founded Leaisure Arts, America's first independent needlework publishing company and Weiss currently serves as President of the Crochet Guild of America.

CONTEST! I have a copy of Crochet Lace to give away to one of you! To enter, simply leave a comment here telling me if you have any vintage lace pieces and what they mean to you. If you don't have any, what would it mean to complete one of your own? Deadline to enter is Wednesday, July 30th at midnight. Winner will be selected by random number generator. Thank you to Sterling Publishing for providing the books for review and giveaway.

The winner of the Poochie Bells from a previous review was drawn via random number generator... Congratulations Turtle! I will be in touch to get your mailing address.

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Oh Nicole, I do crochet and I love daisies, so just the mention of a daisy lace . . .

I do have dainty lace pieces created by my great grandmother. She was an incredible farm woman and the lace is one of the few things I have from her. She made a set of doilies for each of the great grands. By the time my kids came along her eyesight was such that the great, greats all got quilts. I keep those three little doilies safe from doggy lips and put away :) g

Anonymous said...

I love to crochet, and for this Holiday I've crocheted a vintage doily that I found on Vintage Celts website for one of my daughter in laws. I had a lovely table cloth that was passed down and I in turn passed it on to this daughter in law, and I know she will pass it on to her daughter. Sounds like there's a lot of wonderful patterns in this book.

Joanne said...

Oohh, that book is lovely. I love crocheted lace but I do not know if I have the patiences for it. The doilies I have are from my grandmother and HER mother. I'd love to pass down something I made, dainty and fragile, like me!! Yeah right...Anyway, the book sounds wonderful...

Turtle said...

So cool i won the bells, or should i say the animals won the bells!!

I love vintage lace and find it beautiful, i alwasys look at the antique markets and yard sales. But sadly i cannot crochet, i alwasys have to ask my mother in law, who recently retired! hmmm, time on her hands! lol

Gigi said...

I don't own any vintage lace, but I purchased some machine made lace about ten years back. It adorned my bedroom furniture for about 10 years before it wore out! Now I want to make some of my own. =-)

silfert said...

Everything Mom would have inherited from her mother was stolen by her stepmother, so there aren't any vintage pieces in the family. I do have the memories she shares with me though! Like learning to crochet from one of the ladies she worked with at the State Hospital. Mom took those lessons and made them part of her everyday persona. She taught me to crochet when I was eight years old and stuck in the house with pneumonia. She can look at a thing or situation and say, "I need one of those", then go on to make one. Without a pattern. She made the handfasting ribbon for our wedding, a king-sized afghan for our bed, and lots of doilies and Christmas ornaments. Even a pair of seamless boxer shorts! Someday, these will be the vintage pieces in the family. Well, maybe not the shorts...

SissySees said...

I'll have to blog about my vintage lace treasure... Remind me some day, will ya? My dad's mother or her mother inlaw did it. It's a round doily, and it's framed, hanging in my hallway.

Note I didn't say whether I crochet or not? I do, but not as well as I'd like.

Alana said...

I do have some wonderful vintage crocheted lace made by my grandmother. There are a couple of tablecloths, and even a small bedspread. She did the most intricate work, and with such fine thread. I also have quite a few doilies, but most of them I made myself.

Now you've got me thinking... I need to take some pictures and do a post about these lovely heirloom items!

Funny, but just yesterday I bought a book of doily patterns, "Extra Special Doilies". The patterns are all exquisite, and are also all labeled "experienced". I can hardly wait to try one of them!

gypsyknits said...

Thank you for the review as always.

I have several vintage pieces from my great grandmother. She made pillowcases with beautiful crochet edgings and crinoline girls on them. I also have several doilies that she made for me. She has been gone now for 10 yrs and I cherish each one of them and put them out on special occasions. I am trying to carry on the tradition of crocheting doilies for my own kids as she did for her grand, great-grand and great-great-grandchildren. Yes, she lived long enough to see one great-great grandchild graduate from high school.

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