Product Description

Everything is coming up roses with this delightful collection of flowers to knit and crochet. This work offers the perfect way to use up scraps of yarn or practice using novelty yarns - you can use them to decorate clothing, hats, bags and belts, embellish home accessories, or make a beautiful bouquet as an unusual display piece. Choose from simple spiral roses, pretty poppies, elaborate layered blooms, and fabulous felted flowers. The flowers are beautifully arranged on the pages, with stitched leaves and embroidered stems, and are cross referenced to a separate section featuring clear pattern instructions and information on yarn requirements. You will also find plenty of inspiration for embellishing your finished flowers with beads, buttons, sequins, and embroidery, plus ideas for using them in a range of fun ways, from unusual jewellery to decorating gift-wrapped packages.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #363 in Books
• Published on: 2009-01-13
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 128 pages

Review
A collection of beautiful blooms for embellishing clothes, accessories, cushions and throws. It's the perfect way to use up scraps of yarn or practice with novelty yarns and this one really is a 'must have' book. You can use the knitted and crocheted flowers and leaves to decorate clothing, hats, bags and belts, embellish home accessories or make a beautiful bouquet as an unusual display piece. Choose from simple spiral roses, pretty poppies, elaborate layered blooms and fabulous felted flowers. The flowers are beautifully arranged on the pages, with stitched leaves and embroidered stems. They're also cross-referenced to a separate section featuring clear pattern instructions and information on yarn requirements. You'll find plenty of inspiration for embellishing your finished flowers with beads, buttons, sequins and embroidery plus ideas for using them in a range of fun ways, from unusual jewellery to decorating gift-wrapped packages.-Machine Knitting Monthly The name Lesley Stanfield is well-known in knitting and crochet circles. In this book, she presents a colourful selection of flowers. You'll find exciting ways to use them as embellishments. This is an attractive book, with a simple but effective layout, good photography and clear instructions. A comprehensive introduction leads into the book explaining materials and equipment, basic knitting and crochet know-how and much more. A directory of flowers follows. This begins with a beautifully photographed close-up of each flower. Favourites include many roses, carnations, tradescantia, clematis, viola, lavender, borage, poinsettia, poppy, sunflower, hellebore and many more including butterflies. There is also a leaf and fruit and vegetables section. The flowers are portrayed in sumptuous colours. Just pick the one you want and move onto that page to learn how to knit or crochet your chosen flower. The instructions are organised by skill level. Charts are provided for the crochet projects. In addition, you'll find a series of projects for using your flowers. A knitted daisy enhances a peg bag, whilst crocheted roses look sweet on an evening bag. Use a poinsettia to enhance Xmas gift wrap. There are ten projects in all. I think part of the fun of this book is in thinking up more ways to use the flowers as embellishments or even creating more flowers from your own imagination.-KarenPlatt.co.uk At last a stylish, contemporary knitting AND crochet book on flowers (and veg!). Unlike other books which revive old patterns, [this book] generates a plethora of new, colourful and exciting designs. The book gives inspiration for the complete beginner (a short how to guide at the beginning) with clearly labelled basic designs for the novice to try. And for the adept knitter, patterns honestly labelled as intermediate to advanced. The use of colour combinations is excellent, the cover showing an enticing layout, stylishly displayed. An absolute must for all makers - a great mix of knitting and crochet; the combination of both skills being a winning formula. It is great value for GBP10.99 (approx 10p a pattern!) and a lovely square, handbag-sized book. It is equally inviting for the groovy teenager wanting to customise their lapel with a coloured garland, to women of all ages, inspired to add a contemporary corsage to their outfit or household items.-Craft Business Adorn anything and everything in sight with these beautiful knitted and crocheted flowers. As the cover shows in glorious color a vast array of flowers can be created to decorate holiday items, clothing, furnishings, presents and more. Not only flowers, but a few leaves, butterflies and vegetables too, as well as mistletoe and acorns. This is not a primer aimed at teaching the beginner to knit and crochet, but a book aimed at those who can already do these things to a reasonable standard. To jog the memory however there are useful tables of abbreviations, laundering symbols and some diagrams going swiftly through some stitches. The crochet patterns are shown with charts, so anybody not sure how to use these might be well advised to learn how to read them elsewhere, although the symbols used are given and explained. Knitting patterns are written out in the traditional manner. All the flowers are shown full size and looking their best on a series of pages first so you can choose easily what you want to make, then there is a section on knitted ones and a section on crocheted ones. These are arranged in skill levels, basic, intermediate and advanced. At the back is another section of projects to display your blooms, although sadly these are just shown and briefly described and you have to make up the patterns yourself or buy blanks. Decorate a peg bag with a fresh daisy to cheer up washdays, adorn a gift box with a poinsettia or crochet some forget-me-nots to use as buttons and trim for a baby's cardigan. This is a good example of a Search Press book - lovely photos, plenty of direction as to what to buy, instructions for making up and a gallery of master works. Also, an unusual and interesting subject not covered elsewhere. One for the keeper shelf.-Myshelf.com A delightful collection of blooms, ideal for decorating clothing, accessories and homewares. Choose from simple spiral roses, pretty poppies, elaborate layered flowers, and fabulous felted blooms, all of which are a perfect way to use up scraps of yarn. You will also find plenty of ideas for embellishing your flowers with beads, buttons and sequins.-Knit Today This book is flying off the shelves - and for good reason. Lesley Stanfield has created a pattern in this book for every flower imaginable, from forget-me-nots to snowdrops. And then there are the incredible fruit and vegetable knitting patterns, including lemons, grapes, carrots and surprisingly beautiful asparagus. There are project ideas too, which give practical applications for these lovely decorative details. This book is a brilliant labour of love, and if you've never thought of knitting what grows in your garden before, we bet you won't be able to resist once you've seen this.-AllAboutYou.com As with certain DIY products, this book provides exactly what it says on the label. And then some more, since there are also leaves, vegetables, butterflies and fruit in addition to the flowers. The beaded blackberries look edible they are so plump and glossy. The crochet instructions are both written and charted. The pattern for each flower is only in one technique, so if you wanted to crochet the lavender or knit the pansies, you will have to try and adapt from knitting and crochet respectively. The collection goes over some of the same ground as Suzann Thompson's Crochet Bouquet (Lark Books) but with charts for the crochet and different interpretations where the flowers are the same. There's room for both on my shelves, but if I had to choose I'd pick the "100 Flowers" because of the crochet charts, the lavender bunch and the single, comprehensive index that Suzann's book lacks. Lesley Fidler-SlipKnot If you're looking for small projects to use up oddments, you'll love what this book has to offer. While the majority of the book covers a comprehensive directory of flower patterns, there are also designs for leaves, vegetables and insects, with a butterfly, bumblebee and a ladybird all included! Whatever you're favourite bloom, this book is sure to cover it. Towards the back there are also ideas on how to use them to embellish clothing, accessories and gifts. With versatile and simple designs, this book will become a staple in your knitting library.-Knit Today

About the Author
Lesley Stanfield is a long-time hand-knitting designer and has been the knitting editor of several women's magazines. She has produced a number of books on knitting and crochet. She lives and works in Whitstable, Kent.

Customer Reviews

WOW - what can I say? The best knitting/crochet book I own
I saw this book in my local yarn shop and couldn't resist. I am so glad I didn't resist.

There are more flowers in this book than any I have ever seen. Because the content is so specific, you get a fabulously comprehensive collection of patterns. Each beautifully made creation in the book is inspiring, with an index and recommendations on how difficult each one is.

The content is split about half and half between knitting and crochet, so it is well worth buying even if you only practise one type. There is also a section at the back with suggested projects for your creations.

I have been knitting for a couple of years, and started crochet last month. I would not rely on the book to provide an absolute beginner's introduction to either craft, but as a follow on book for someone looking for inspiration, this is second to none.

For 10.99, this was exceptionally good value, with 100 unique designs. I will definitely look for more books by this author.

Should say Flowers to Crochet and Knit
This is a lovely book and yes the finished results really do look like flowers.
I would give it 5 stars for the look of the book alone except the title implies more knit than crochet and if you do not crochet you might be disappointed, or you might try to learn!
There are 41 pages of crochet work but only 18 of knitted patterns. Also all the crochet patterns are charted but there are no charts for the knitted ones.
The most amusing patterns are the carrots and peas hidden among the flowers!
There are 20 pages of colour pictures of the flowers plus 2 of leaves and 2 of fruit and vegetables plus a few pages on techniques and equipment at the beginning and 12 pages of project ideas at the end.
Overall it is beautifully laid out, well photographed and enjoyable to use.

THE BEST Book on Knitted & Crocheted Flowers you can buy!
This book is absolutely BRILLIANT. (I have previously bought both Nicky Epstein's Knitted Flowers & Crochet Flowers books - but they don't come close to this beautiful book). The patterns are better - they REALLY DO LOOK LIKE THE FLOWERS THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO BE - the layout is more attractive & the classification into skill levels for both knit & craft is really well thought out.
Another thing which is great is that Lesley classifies the wool required for each flower by colour & yarn type ('4-ply', DK wool, tapestry wool & embroidery silk) rather than by supplier & shade ref. - so you really feel that you can go rummaging in your very own wool stash to make these beautiful items, rather than having to buy new yarn.
If you are stuck about which book to buy on the subject - trust me - you won't regret buying this book!(I have already bought a copy for a friend & she loved it too)!