New book! Crochet Kaleidoscope by Sandra Eng
Crochet Kaleidoscope
Never again will you have to spend hours scouring the internet for the perfect granny square motif! At least, not if you’ve got access to a copy of Crochet Kaleidoscope by Sandra Eng. This compilation of 100 motifs includes a super helpful lesson in color, as well as a handful of projects to inspire and get you going. These colorful motifs are organized by shape – from circles and squares to triangles and hexagons – and there’s way more in here than just your average granny square.
I love crocheting little motifs, for many reasons. They’re a great way to use up leftover yarn and play with color, but I also find such piecework projects to be incredibly meditative. Not to mention there’s no shortage of designs to play with, as illustrated in the above photo. Once you learn the basic instructions for creating a circular motif, it’s not too much of a stretch to get creative with your stitches. The same goes for any motif shape – check out the squares below:
Look at all those variations and colors! I should mention that all the individual motifs shown in this book were crocheted using Cascade Ultra Pima Cotton Yarn. If you’re looking for more colors than what’s offered in that line, I would recommend taking a look at some 3/2 Pearl Cotton Yarn mini cones. That’s a slightly thinner yarn than the Ultra Pima, and it’s great for colorful crochet.
Looking for a little heavier wool instead? Try either Plymouth Encore Worsted Yarn or Jo Sharp Classic DK Wool Yarn for beautiful pillow covers or blankets.
And here are some variations on hexagon motifs. Crochet Kaleidoscope also has a section on triangles and other shapes, along with even more variations. I love that black and white hexagon at the top – it catches my eye every time, and I’d be curious to see a bunch of them pieced together. Speaking of piecing them together, here are some of my favorite projects from this book:
Vintage Bauble blanket
Mod Flower shawl
Zinnia table runner
Ok, I really love that Mod Flower shawl. Eng’s use of color is beautiful, and in Crochet Kaleidoscope she helps you understand how to pick and arrange colors like a pro. Most of the projects are designed to be joined as you go, but Eng also includes some handy tips on how to make your motifs individually and join them together later. By the time you’ve made one of these projects (or created something unique of your own!), I wouldn’t be surprised if you already have the next one in mind. If colorful crocheted piecework is as appealing to you as it is to me, you’ll have all the resources needed to make these and many more beautiful items.
Looking for the right hooks?
Try the lovely birch wood 10 hook set by Lykke, which includes sizes E – M. They feature a nice deep hook and are quite sturdy. Or, for smaller hooks try the individual Skacel soft-handle metal hooks, which feature a textured plastic grip and are great for finer yarns.
Related items of interest: • Crochet Books • Our yarns • Light weight yarns • Cotton yarns • Fine weight yarns • Medium weight yarns • Synthetic yarns • Wool yarns • Crochet Equipment
