I was recently asked to take a look at the new
Tunisian Crochet Baby Book by Sharon H. Silverman. The book is published by
Leisure Arts.
The book contains 8 pretty designs that highlight several different tunisian crochet stitches including cables, ripples, stripes, bobbles, and basket weave. Each design is separated from Easy to Intermediate.
From the Leisure Arts website:
"If you are new to Tunisian crochet, or need a refresher on the basics,
the Tunisian Crochet Skills section will help you get started. Free
online technique videos are also available".
Sharon was interviewed by Cute Crochet Chat below. Some of our favorite designs from the book are highlighted during the interview.
1 How
did you learn to crochet and how old were you when you learned?
All
sorts of crafts appealed to me when I was little. I made "horse rein"
on what some people call a Knitting Nancy, did mosaics, made potholders, and so
on. My mother taught me to crochet when I was 6 or 7 years old. She also taught
me to knit, but I never felt as comfortable with that. Crocheting was always
fun. I used some published patterns but also made up my own designs. I vividly
remember using a K hook with two colors of blue yarn held together to make a
shoulder bag.
. How
long have you been a freelance crochet designer?
I have
been a freelance writer since 1988, and I switched from travel writing to
crochet design in 2005.
3 Are
you a part time or full time crochet designer?
Crochet design makes up the bulk of my current work. I also
write a quarterly column, "Shop!" for The Hunt magazine (a Brandywine
Valley lifestyle
magazine), do public relations writing for several local museums and cultural
sites, and pick up other writing
assignments occasionally.
How
did you learn Tunisian Crochet?
I discovered Tunisian crochet in a stitch dictionary while I
was designing projects for my first crochet title, Basic Crocheting: All the Skills and Tools You Need to Get Started.
I learned the basics from that book, then sought out other sources to extend my
knowledge of the technique. It was really exciting to see the fabric that
Tunisian crochet creates. I never liked projects with rivers of double crochet
stitches—too loopy!—and Tunisian had a totally different look.
5 Where
did you get your inspirations for the afghans in this Tunisian Crochet Baby
Blankets book?
Tunisian crochet lends itself to interesting textures and
colorwork. I was inspired by those possibilities, and by my interest in
bringing a contemporary color palette to today's nurseries.
I also
wanted to present projects at various levels of difficulty; people who were
newer to Tunisian crochet would successfully make beautiful projects that would
build their confidence, and more advanced crocheters could try something
challenging and add to their skill set. The most complicated project in the
book is "Bright Strands," which uses stranded colorwork in vivid
yellow, navy, and white. It's rewarding to teach this technique through my
pattern.
6 What
are your favorite kind of crochet projects to make and/or design?
If I'm making something for myself, I like fitted garments
as opposed to boxy ones. Crochet lace makes wonderful accessories like scarves
and shawls.
For
design, it's exciting to be inspired by the colors and patterns in nature and
to translate that into a pattern that other crocheters can use. Blankets and
accessories are the easiest from a practical pattern-writing standpoint, since
each project needs instructions in only one size.
7 \ Do
you have a favorite weight or brand of yarn that you like best?
Depends on the project. There are many excellent yarn
companies, large and small, out there today. The products are such high
quality, with a limitless selection of materials and colors.
I love
Egyptian mercerized cotton in lace weight for shawls and lightweight wraps, but
I like DK and worsted weight yarn as well. I don't gravitate toward bulky yarns
as much, but I'll try anything as long as it does not split or shed. Can't
stand fibers flying into my eyes and nose!
8 Are
you working on anything new at the moment?
I just finished a book for
Stackpole Books, Tunisian Crochet for Baby, which is
scheduled for publication in September 2014.
You can meet Sharon at her blog:
or her website:
www.sharonsilverman.com
You can also find Sharon at Ravelry as: CrochetSharon
and on Facebook
Sharon Silverman Crochet
and Pinterest:
http://www.pinterest.com/crochetsharon/
As always, our readers have a chance to win a copy of this book. For a chance to
win, please leave an email address
(or some other way of contacting you!) in the COMMENTS.
We will
pick a random winner on 2/18/14. Without an email address, I cannot
contact you in case you are the winner!
Good luck!
The review and giveaway copies of this book have been provided by
Leisure Arts.
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