Book Review: Colorful Crochet by Marianne Dekkers-Roos
Marianne from maRRose just released her new book called Colorful Crochet, and BQueen is beyond flattered to be included in the Blog Tour and share our review with you. BONUS, you can enter for your chance to win a copy - just head over to our Instagram to enter.
Marianne's book is packed with over 20 different crochet projects of various skill levels, with brightly colored patterns for blankets, home accessories, clothing items, and decorative pieces. It is easy to see that a lot of work has been put in to this book, including crochet charts and explanations of techniques to accommodate any crocheter's level of experience. Some patterns are perfect for the beginner crocheter, such as the "Anne Granny Square Blanket," yet others are a welcome challenge, incorporating fabric sewing or Tunisian crochet (such as the "Lotte Blanket").
When I first received the book, I immediately fell in love with the "Ursula Shawl." But, lack of time (and sleep) got the best of me so I had to put my shawl on hold. Fear not, I already knew what pattern I wanted to try next, and so chose the first pattern from the book: The Wall Hanging. The chart that Marianne included with this pattern is a lifesaver, since I am picking up and setting down my crochet so sporadically and it's much faster for me to stop and go from a chart's instructions.
I chose my 4.5mm American Holly hook and used Raffia yarn in Sunshine, which is a paper-like ribbon from Premier Yarns. Raffia yarn is made from 100% Cellulose Rayon and is actually considered a worsted weight.
It took me almost an entire ball of Raffia, but I love how it turned out.
Marianne's pattern is so easy to follow, even with some special techniques that have you dipping down in to previous rounds. The texture and colorway of the Raffia Sunshine yarn with Marianne's pattern created a unique design that is the perfect representation of summer.
In celebration of Marianne's book release, she and TuvaPublishing.com have given me an extra copy of her book Colorful Crochet to give away! Head over to our Instagram and find this mandala to enter. Giveaway ends June 10th at 11:59PM MST. Open internationally.
Supporting our fellow makers is so important, and I've been acquainted with Marianne for quite a while through @craftastherapy since we are both moderators for the account. If you're looking for the next book to add to your crochet collection, look no further than this talented, extremely sweet maker. You can pre-order the book from Amazon (below) or check out Marianne's website HERE for all of the details. If you're looking for a new medium to try and crochet or knit with, try Raffia yarn! It comes in many different colors and is easy to work with.
A big thank you to Marianne for allowing me to sneak a peak at her hard work and well-deserved praise. Well done, Marianne!
Next on the blog tour is the very creator of @craftastherapy and someone I sincerely admire for their creativity and kindness in the crochet community - Mandy from Red Agape.
Have a wonderful, crochet-filled weekend!
Makenzie