Convertible Crochet: Customizable Designs for Stylish Garments

293 Pages·2013·10.71 MB·English

by  Doris Chan

Copyright © 2013 by Doris Chan
Photographs copyright © 2013 by Potter Craft, an imprint of the
Crown Publishing Group, a division of Random House, Inc.
All rights reserved.
Published in the United States by Potter Craft, an imprint of the
Crown Publishing Group, a division of Random House, Inc., New
York.
www.crownpublishing.com
www.pottercraft.com
POTTER CRAFT and colophon is a registered trademark of
Random House, Inc.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Chan, Doris.
Convertible crochet : customizable designs for stylish garments /
Doris
Chan.
Includes index.
1. Crocheting—Patterns. 2. Clothing and dress. I. Title.
TT825.C383 2013
746.43’4—dc23
2012021120
Paperback ISBN 978-0-307-96570-7
eBook ISBN: 978-0-307-96571-4
Book and cover design by Karla Baker
Book and cover photographs by Alexandra Grablewski
Technical editing and illustrations by Karen Manthey
v3.1
v3.1
You wouldn’t expect a Venn diagram of the set of people who
are avid crocheters and the set of people who are sci-fi geeks to
show much overlap. But that’s the intersection where you’ll
find me as well as all of you others to whom this book is
dedicated.

acknowledgments
Hey, Mom, Harry, and Nick! Cookie, please stop barking. Here we go
again.
Incalculable thanks to Karen Manthey, illustrator and technical
editor extraordinaire. She makes sense of my work. I forever respect
and value her input, expertise, and abilities far beyond those of
ordinary mortals.
Much inspiration arrived by way of communing with goddesses.
Huge, deep thoughts came through crochet whisperer Vashti Braha,
whose genius is shared in her DesigningVashti.com newsletter.
Thanks, darlin’, for the slip stitch education, for the pants thing, and
for the Via, fresh lychees, and Emergen-C. Hugs for Diane Moyer,
Tammy Hildebrand, and Suzanne Halstead, who are never too busy
to lend an ear.
Full marks and credit to Jane Rimmer, the thread crocheter who
dared to boldly go where I would not. Her White Dwarf doily sample
is brilliant and her words of encouragement were so helpful.
Deep appreciation to my friends and industry contacts who came
through with yarn support, no questions asked: Cari Clement and C.
S. Carpenter; Stacy Charles, Diane Friedman, and Debbi Skinner at
Tahki Stacy Charles; Jocelyn Tunney at Tunney Wool Company; Lisa
Myers at Fairmount Fibers; Valerie Teppo at Blue Sky Alpacas; Lori
Goldbach at Kraemer Yarns; Karen Carter at Bryson Distributing;
Susan Festa at Knitting Fever; Jonelle and Kat at South West
Trading Company; and Norah Gaughan at Berroco and Laura Bryant
at Prism Yarns.
To my family at Tulip Company, Japan, Ms. Hyomin Kang, Ms.
Kazue Ohara, and Mr. Kotaro Harada, I send my greetings and
thanks for the awesome tools.
Thanks to my Potter Craft editor, Betty Wong, for her impeccable
taste.
In addition to coffee, I am grateful for geeky sci-fi, Pop-Tarts, and,
strangely enough, Spam, all of which aided the authoring process.

PREFACE
INTRODUCTION
How to Use This Book
THE ORIGINS OF ENTROPY
Entropy Throw and Shawl
White Dwarf Doily
Tempest Skirt and Poncho
SPAWN OF ENTROPY: motifs
Copernicus Motifs
Carina Motifs
Constellation Motifs
Universal Assembly
Measuring Motifs
Working with Motifs
THE DESIGNS
INSIDE THE BOX: squares
Telesto Stole
Gliese Cowl
Skyliner Skirt and Poncho
HEY NINETEEN: hexagons
Carina Shawl and Throw
Stella Blanket Wrap
Chaos Wrap
Miranda Vest
POLYGONZO: pentagons
Galaxy Skirt
Titan Top
Zodiac Tunic
Callisto Top
Phoebe Shrug
ANGULAR MOMENTUM
Corsair Collar
T-Bird Four Ways
Fairlane Jacket
Eldorado Jacket
STRING THEORY
Kerry Top and Skirt
Andromeda Vest
Andromeda Peplum Vest
Andromeda Dress
Add-on Flutter Sleeves
RESOURCES
Master Key for Stitch Symbol Diagrams
Abbreviations
Strings
Buttons
Chainless Foundations
BFF (Blocking Friends Forever)
Sources for Yarns and Materials
INDEX