Product Description

Ditch the dowdy and focus on fashion! Crochet connoisseur Lily Chin reinvents the craft in Couture Crochet Workshop - a modern, ultra-fashionable approach to crochet that will have you running for your crochet hook and yarn. There's nothing more satisfying than creating a beautiful garment that fits like a glove. Lily shares all her inside tips and tricks for crocheting ready-to-wear clothing and jewelry while demystifying garment making with thorough explanations about choices in yarns, stitches, hooks, silhouettes, measuring accurately, and more. Lily's patterns will revolutionize the crocheter's approach to the craft. Even if you're a beginner, "Couture Crochet Workshop with Lily Chin" will have you hooked on creating these one-of-a-kind garments. You'll learn how to FIT a garment even before you take on a project. Not only will the reader get a refreshing eyeful on just what crochet can achieve, but will also be inspired and encouraged to customize and cater garments to themselves.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #86296 in Books
• Published on: 2008-04-03
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 160 pages

Review
There's lots of good advice and theory in this combination of textbook and collection of garment patterns but if you don't like the garments and/or the colours in which they are presented, presumably aimed at the North American market, you might easily be put off what is a great introduction to designing one's own fitted garments in crochet. No more slash-necks and drop shoulders with this guide. Yarn substitution for the actual patterns might be a bit of a challenge as all the pieces are worked in branded yarns and one has to guess that the skeins are 50g in order to estimate quantities, but there is no need to rework the version shown, as Lily makes clear. She draws on a lifetime's involvement in the garment industry to produce a launch pad for crocheters who want to branch out and design their own garments that fit. --Lesley Fidler, SlipKnot Sept 2007

Lily Chin may well be most familiar to us as being the fastest crocheter in the world - with record-breaking speeds of 328 trebles in three minutes! What you may not know is that Lily has practically spent all her life in the fashion industry since working school holidays when she was thirteen. Her knowledge and skill are now being shared in this book. The first five chapters in the book are an invaluable 'behind-the-scenes' insight into the tricks of the trade. Lily's aim is to share 'the knowledge and ability to adapt and even design from scratch'. The text reads like Lily is actually sitting at your shoulder and explains the procedure, along with many other words of wisdom, in an accessible and inspirational way. The beauty of crochet is that it can be adapted as you go to fit a paper pattern which is not so easy with knitting. Once you see your crochet as fabric, then it is easy to visualise your own creations. The following five chapters are patterns to follow which demonstrate the process with simpler stitches, circular constructions, lace stitches and chevrons. The garments have a very tailored elegant look with jackets, skirts, dresses and suits and come in a range of sizes and, of course, with Lily's expert tuition you can size them up or down. --Knit Today, Jan 08

About the Author
Lily M. Chin is an internationally famous knitter and crocheter. She designs knitwear for magazines and yarn companies, and is the first American designer to have her own line of yarn. Lily has crocheted runway pieces for Diane von Furstenburg, Isaac Mizrahi, Vera Wang, and Ralph Lauren. Her pieces have appeared in Better Homes & Gardens, Woman's Day, and more. Lily is the author of Knit and Crochet with Beads (Interweave Press, 2004), The Urban Knitter, and Mosaic Magic: Afghans Made Easy. Lily lives in New York City.

Customer Reviews

Superb Approach to Crochet
Ok!, it is an American book which means that you have to swop their terminology for ours - HOWEVER!
This is a serious look at designing individual crochet garments that fit and look good. It encourages free thinking about design and how to make unique garments that are tailored just for you.
Lily gives a number of tried and tested approaches from using dress making patterns to using garments from your own wardrobe to get that special look.
But, if that all sounds like too much work! - She has included lots of super stylish patterns that you can work with straight from the book. I think this book is possibly unique for it's workshop approach in the crochet field - Well done Lily!

Excellent information
I am always looking for information which will make my crochet look more professional. This book is full of it. The first chapter has information which will make your work look good by eliminating gaps and getting the foundation chain the correct tension. It also explains why you should do a swatch and what you should do to it before you start your project. It continues with how to read charts, planning your own patterns, refining fitting and making stitch patterns. The book also includes a number of patterns to help you get the idea. Although they are not the sort of thing I would wear they are certainly a foundation for patterns you want to make yourself. This book is not for the beginner as it does not show the basics for crochet such as stitches and methods but if you think you would like to make your own patterns this is a good addition to a book that teaches the basics.

Just what i was looking for!
This book is great for anyone who like me wants to design and make their own crocheted garments. Lily Chin has everything explained in an easy to understand way, so you can make your own garment that fits your size and shape how you want it to. If you don't want to do that, then there are lots of other gorgeous patterns to choose from and make. This book is really inspirational, informative and will definately encourage anyone who's into crochet to challenge themselves and take it one level further.