I recently had the opportunity to browse through this new book by Sharon Silverman. This book has been recently published by Stackpole Books and is available in several venues, including Amazon.
I’ve got to be honest. When I first saw the cover, I felt like “Oh, a scarf book. Do people really need a scarf book?” So many people free-hand a scarf that it made me wonder whether it was really necessary. This is one of those times that I should have listened to the words of “Never Judge a Book By Its Cover.” This book shouldn’t have been called Crochet Scarves. It should have been called Learn Just About Any Technique in Crochet With Amazing Photography and Extreme Close Up Tutorials and Use Those Newly-Learned Techniques to Create A Beautiful Scarf Because a Scarf is A Perfect Way to Learn and Practice Them. You think that title is too long? Then, you haven’t seen the book.
Sharon covers just about every single thing in this book and the photographic tutorials are amazing. The tips are amazing. And, the charts! There are even charts. If you are a visual person, oh my goodness, you should thumb through this book because you will probably run to the check-out counter and purchase the book immediately, with careless abandon.
I’m only going to give you a few examples because I have little doubt that you’re going to want to head to your local bookstore and browse through this book yourself straight away.
With Sea Splash, you’ll be making a scarf worked lengthwise with a yummy alpaca/silk blend. The edges have this beautiful lace border. The chart is literally on one full page. No copying to enlarge. No looking for your readers. It’s big and beautiful. You get to learn to make bobbles, make lace, read charts and use a laceweight yarn; all very useful things to learn. And, when you practice everything together, you get a gorgeous scarf as your prize.
For Monet’s Village, you’ll get some hands-on experience with filet crochet. Sharon helps you take the mystery out of filet charts.
How about some broomstick lace. For Cactus Lace, Sharon will have you working on a project in broomstick lace in no time with her very clear, extreme close-up photography of each and every step.
I love the look of this swatch photo of Grecian Ladders.
And, here’s something really unique. Marabou is made with Katia Tul which is a mesh ribbon, a fabric all on its own, which Sharon teaches you to use with crochet.
This book is an incredible resource hidden behind a name which doesn’t give it full justice. But, I think the name I chose might have been slightly too long.
- Tunisian Cables
- Mitered Squares
- Filet Crochet
- Broomstick Lace
- Front and Back Post Stitches
- Surface Crochet
- Reading Charts
- Learning to Work with Unique Yarns
You will learn all these things and more with this book. I am very impressed and give it both thumbs up!
Legal mumbo jumbo: I was given a copy of this book from Stackpole. I receive no monetary compensation and this review is completely unbiased. I love the book and would have recommended it even if they hadn’t sent me a copy of it.
August 16, 2012 at 9:17 am
Kim, I can’t thank you enough! I am thrilled that you like the book. I have so much respect for you, your designs, the way you help people learn, and your focus on being constructive that your words of praise carry a lot of weight. I do hope we will be able to team up one day, perhaps to teach a class. Until then, keep up the great work, and thanks again.
August 16, 2012 at 4:41 pm
Thanks for the review. I saw this book and passed it up. Now I will consider adding it to my library.