My press copy of VOGUE Knitting’s Crochet 2012 Special Collector’s Issue arrived in my mailbox by surprise a few weeks ago. At the time, I was able to take a quick skim through the magazine, and my first impression was WOW! Now I’ve had a little bit more time to spend with this issue, and my impression is still WOW!
As crocheters, we all know that crochet has been pretty cool for quite a long time now. I’m very glad that the knitting community is finally realizing just how cool crochet really is. We could lament about how long it’s taken them to look around and see all the fabulous crochet designs available today, but is that really fair? After all, since they really LOVE to knit, they just may not look at crochet very often. I mean, we all LOVE to crochet, but do we really spend much time looking closely at knitting patterns (or beading patterns or cross-stitch patterns or any other kind of pattern)? Probably not. We all tend to spend most of our craft time focusing on the craft that’s nearest and dearest to our hearts.
All photos © 2012 VOGUE Knitting. All rights reserved. Reprinted with permission.
Personally, I’m just glad that more and more knitters are becoming interested in learning to crochet. I also hope more crocheters will be interested in learning to knit. (You can safely stick a cautious toe in the water by checking out the new (very small) knitting section here at Crochetville.) We’re all fiber artists and crafters: the more tools we have in our tool belts, the more amazing things we’ll be able to do with yarn.
Speaking of amazing, there are some really amazing things about this issue. Let me walk you through some of them.
One of the first things I like to do with a new magazine is sit down and look through the ads. I love looking for new yarns and new patterns. This magazine has many ads from companies that have historically devoted much more time and attention to knitting patterns. However, most of them actually featured crochet patterns in their ads! How refreshing! The projects are quite beautiful. One of my favorites is The Flower’s Edge crochet shawl pattern (it’s free!!) made from Polaris yarn by Rozetti Yarns. I saw this shawl in person at various STITCHES Events this past year and fell in love with it. The yarn is just waiting for me to make this shawl, unless it decides it needs to grow up into Karen Whooley’s fabulous Pineapple Dreams shawl pattern. I think half my skeins want to be one shawl and the other half want to be the other shawl. I may have to let them fight it out!
If you are mainly used to using yarns that you find in your local craft store, I urge you to spend some time studying these ads. You are going to see lots of fabulous yarns that you’ll soon be itching to try! Please try to make some time to drop by your local yarn store to pet these yarns in person. Even better, make plans to attend one of CGOA’s Chain Link conferences in conjunction with the Knit and Crochet Show or one of the STITCHES Events. You’ll find lots of crochet classes and products at both of these consumer shows. (And if you really become interested in knitting, check out one of the VOGUE Knitting LIVE conferences!) Let’s show our support of these vendors and purchase their yarn and crochet patterns!
Now let’s move on to the pattern and editorial content magazine. I could describe a number of the garments and accessories for you, but I think the better thing to do is just show you some pictures. So check out, in no particular order (descriptions taken from the magazine captions):
Lace Jacket by Lisa Daehlin is a thigh-length jacket crocheted in Zealana’s Rimu 4-Ply with loads of casual flair. Its wrapped drop stitches and textured fabric are formed by a clever combination of broomstick lace and Tunisian crochet.
The Floral Top: Lush, feminine touche abound on Nicky Epstein’s cable-edged shell, crocheted in Aslan Trends’ Invernal. Bead-centered rosettes (crystallized Swarovski Elements Crystal Pearls in cream and champagne tones) adorn both the front and plunging back neckline; a ribbon prettily threads through the hemline cables.
The Trellis Shrug: Nicky Epstein’s ethereal shrug, crocheted in Kid Paillettes from Schulana/Skacel Collection, features a ruffled picot collar and a large floral front closure. It’s worked as two long open mesh-stitch rectangles that cross in back.
Melody Ossola’s retro-chic clutch, crocheted in a trio of KPPPM colorways by Koigu Wool Designs, is worked from the bottom up in bobbled rows separated by single crochet. A hand-sewn lining lends shape and strength.
Melissa Horozewski’s single-strand necklace is made by threading chalk turquoise beads onto Fire Mountain Gems’ Polished Hemp Cord, then positioning the stones as long single crochet stitches are worked.
Floral motifs entwine into lacy wreaths on Doris Chan’s graceful topper, shown in Eco Baby by Debbie Bliss/KFI. Completely seamless, it is gently shaped through the clever use of four-, five-, and six-sided versions of the motif, which form the snug shoulder cap, nipped waist and flared hip.
Lovely and leafy, Anna Al’s unique scarf will no doubt be the talk of the crochet grapevine. The individual leaves, alternating in two shades of shimmery Beaded Silk Light from Artyarns, are joined with slip stitches and chains.
Central circles surrounded by single crochet anchor medallions of various sizes–all featuring small and large seed and bugle beads that radiate outward–on this show-stopper of a necklace designed by Vicki Hollingsworth of Knot Therapy. The piece, which uses Handy Hands Tatting Lizbeth Size 20, is suspended by long crochet chains interspersed with even more beads.
Opulence incarnate, Pat Harste’s resplendent necklace boasts a cascading fringe of Swarovski crystal teardrops that dangle from a central ring. The fiber, Purely Silk Beading Thread from Fire Mountain Gems, has a beautiful sheen; the long chain is worked in single crochet embellished with jet-black faceted beads.
Using a flat-back drilled gemstone as a base for her textured pendant, Shiri Mor crocheted four distinct motifs in Bernat’s Handicrafter Crochet Thread, then nestled the stone disk snugly inside before working the final few stitches.
Mary Beth Temple’s hippie-chic Tunisian-crochet lace tunic is stitched with Koigu Wool Designs’ KPPPM. Buttons along the sleeve tops allow for some improvised shoulder-baring.
Cristina Mershon’s shawl-collared circular sweater is crocheted in Classic Elite Yarns’ Fresco and Pirouette in striped bands of double and single crochet.
This motif-laden coat by Jenny King is crocheted in Kauni Wool 8/2 Solids by Kauni/RYN. The main body is striped in double crochet in several pieces, while a trio of circle sizes dots the front edges, sleeve caps, and lower arms.Quite an amazing array of fashion, don’t you think? And there are many, many more designs in the pages of this magazine.If all these designs aren’t enough for you, what about the fact that the magazine features a number of in-depth technical articles?Have you ever been nervous about making a crocheted garment because you don’t have very much sewing knowledge or experience? Then you’ll want to check out Dora Ohrenstein’s article “Fine Finishing for Crocheted Sweaters.” Dora walks you through the techniques you’ll need to make your next sweater a work of art on the inside as well as the outside.
Daryl Brower has written a fascinating article titled “The Art of Crochet,” featuring interviews with six fiber artists who “blur the distinction between art and craft.” The pictures are breathtaking! You will love learning more about Babukatorium, Jo Hamilton, JungJung, Sophie Digard, Prudence Mapstone, and Agata Oleksiak.
Robyn Chachula has contributed an article titled “Decoding Crochet Symbols,” in addition to creating many of the symbol charts throughout the magazine.
Crochetville even gets a shout-out in the “Hooking Up on the Web” column by Erin Slonaker, mentioning Donna and me by name as well.
I have really enjoyed this Crochet 2012 magazine, and I hope crocheters and knitters both will respond with such enthusiasm that VOGUE Knitting will begin publishing this magazine on a regular basis.
By the way, the digital version of this magazine is terrific! Yes, I purchased it even though I had the hard copy version. My iPad goes with me everywhere, and now I can have the magazine with me everywhere, too.
Link to review on Crochetville forum
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VOGUE Knitting Crochet 2012 Special Collector’s Issue
Purchase Hard Copy: $6.99
Digital copy: $4.99 (download iPhone/iPad app here; purchase digital copy within app)
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Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher specifically for review purposes without any monetary or other compensation.