by Ardeana Hamlin
for The Weekly
“Christmas Crochet for Hearth, Home and Tree” by Edie Eckman is a needlework library essential for those who enjoy a handmade Christmas. The author has focused on stockings, ornaments, garlands and trees. She assumes that users of the book already know how to crochet. Patterns that are best for beginners are marked Easy.
The book’s many projects, for the most part, are not time consuming and some can be completed in an evening, making it possible to create last minute gifts, right up until Christmas Eve.
In the Hearth section, crocheters can opt for a basic, undecorated stocking to hang from the mantel or enjoy the challenge of the snowstorm stocking lavishly decorated with crocheted stars and snowflakes in four different yarns.
Other stockings are created using flame stitch, basketweave or ripple stitches.
In the Tree section of the book, instructions for small ornaments include the how-tos of felting. The section also offers a fan-stitch, beaded tree garland, angel ornaments, and my favorite, crocheted bird ornaments.
The Home section includes instructions for bows, tabletop trees and an Advent garland composed of tiny mittens and socks.
Instructions for nine snowflakes also are given — hang them on the tree, stitch them to a purchased throw pillow or use them as embellishments on the crocheted stockings.
Both text and charted instructions are included for many of the projects.
Yarns used for the projects include Brown Sheep, Cascade, Red Heart, Tahki, Universal, Imperial Yarn Columbia, Classic Elite, Lion Brand, Filatura di Crosa, Berroco, Plymouth and crochet cotton.
The book’s handy size — 9 inches high by 6 inches wide — and its 183 pages, makes it easily portable. It contains well-laid out Abbreviations and Symbol Key pages, a glossary and an index.
For information, go to storey.com. Or, stop by your local bookstore or public library to inquire about the book.