Tag: crochet

decorating with crochet

Retro Crochet

Craptastic Crafts and Hobbies 15 comments

Decorating with Crochet
Halliday
1975

There are some lovely decorating tips in this book for all of you looking for a “retro” look for your home. Particularly fetching is the wall hanging of a grandfather clock and the homage to macrame wall hanging on the last picture below.

As a mediocre to poor knitter/crocheter, I can appreciate the skill set, but I just cringe at these projects. It is a waste of yarn. I am also old enough to remember 1970s decor, so I can also tell you that this would have been awful in the 1970s. (At least in my opinion.)

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afghans cover image

Craft yourself an Afghan just like Grandma

Craptastic Crafts and Hobbies 13 comments

Afghans
Traditional and Modern
Bray
1977

I was prepared for a very 1970s vibe for this relic of a craft book. I wasn’t disappointed with a few crafts that looked like it came from a grandma’s couch. However, I was surprised that a few were actually quite good. There were some very plain but nicely detailed afghans that would have made nice throws for a couch in this century. The bad news is that the projects were crowded out with the examples below. (Warning! A clown afghan is one of the examples!)

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Illustrated Patchwork Crochet

Retro Granny Squares

Craptastic Crafts and Hobbies 14 comments

Illustrated Patchwork Crochet
Contemporary Granny Squares for Clothing and Home Decorating
Scharf
1976

In the land of crochet styles, nothing says 1970s like a granny square. This had a lot of influence in many of the “fashion” of the time. (I personally sported a sweater vest of granny squares in junior high.) There have been some nice modern takes since this book was published. So we will use the word “contemporary” loosely in this instance.

Aside from the very obvious 1970s vibe, this particular book was in good shape (aside from some yellowing). I have seen better and more modern takes on the granny square, but if it is still getting checked out, doesn’t smell like feet, and works in your library, then by all means hang on to this one. Granny squares will always be part of the crochet universe since they are great for newbies. Stick to baby blankets, because babies don’t care.

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little hats crochet patterns

Tiny Hat Decor

Craptastic Crafts and Hobbies 16 comments

Doilies to Crochet for Little Hats
Thomas
1985

The word “doilies” always makes me think of my great-grandmother or any other seriously old person. I mean REALLY old. I can’t remember the last time I saw a doilies for decoration. Anyway, now doilies have a new purpose: little hats. The little hats are for decoration not for wearing on tiny people. I am going to bet that the fashion trend of tiny hats isn’t as strong as it was back in the 80s.

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