Fair Isle Tunisian Crochet: Step-by-Step Instructions and 16 Colorful Cowls, Sweaters, and More

by Brenda Bourg

Overview

Intimidated by knitting with all the colors needed to create a beautiful Fair Isle pattern? Now you can get the look of colorwork knitting with the ease of Tunisian crochet!• Photo-illustrated instructions on the basics of Tunisian crochet, plus detailed directions and tips on how to work Tunisian with more than one color at a time• Put your skills to work on 16 projects including fashionable sweaters, boot cuffs, cowls, mitts, headbands, and bags• Patterns for bright, beautiful afghans for your home

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780811715386
Publisher:	Stackpole Books
Publication date:	01/15/2016
Pages:	112
Product dimensions:	7.80(w) x 9.90(h) x 0.30(d)

About the Author

Brenda Bourg is coeditor of Talking Crochet Newsletter and creates crochet patterns for Crochet World, Red Heart Yarn, Knit Picks, Cast On, and others. She also sells her designs through Ravelry and Craftsy. She resides in Colorado.

Editorial Reviews

So on to the book. It is incredible and I know you are going to love it! Brenda is extremely thorough and covers everything you could think of so even a beginner could create these projects. There are step-by-step photos for all the stitches which I found enormously helpful. I'm a very visual person so this was great! Brenda includes sections with tips and hints, seaming, blocking, tension, changing colors and all that entails as well as helpful tools and choosing your own colors! She has provided everything you need to know to sit down and get started right away. The only thing that you are going to find extremely difficult is which project you would like to start with first!

Tammy Hildebrand

Do you love the look of colorful handknits but prefer the ease of crocheting? If so, you won’t want to miss out on a new book called Fair Isle Tunisian Crochet: Step-By-Step Instructions and 16 Colorful Cowls, Sweaters and More by Brenda Bourg. You might or might not already be familiar with Tunisian crochet, a technique that results in beautiful and intriguing fabrics that can sometimes resemble knitting. If you’ve spent time learning this technique already, you’re likely aware that it’s easy, versatile and interesting to do. With a few exceptions, most Tunisian crochet projects I’ve encountered fall into one or the other of two categories: 1.Solid-colored projects or multicolored projects that result from only one yarn being used throughout — either a solid-colored yarn or a variegated yarn featuring multiple colors; or Colorful projects that result from the Tunisian crochet work being done in one yarn color and then cross stitch or other embroidery stitches being added overtop of the crochet work to create coloful embellishments. But these two scenarios are not the only possibilities. Did you know you can create spectacular stranded colorwork designs in Tunisian crochet that resemble Fair Isle knitting designs? If this is news to you, I think you are going to be really excited to check out this book. This is both a crochet pattern book and a technique instruction manual. From its pages you’ll learn the basics of yarn substitution, how to read charts, how to change colors, how to work with multiple yarn colors, how to “lock” the color you’re carrying, how to choose your own color combinations and more. The book includes a full-page color wheel for reference, so you won’t need to buy a separate color theory book to apply what you learn here from Brenda. You also get step-by-step photo tutorials for several Tunisian crochet stitches including Tunisian knit stitch, Tunisian purl stitch, Tunisian increase stitch, Tunisian seed stitch and ribbing. After you’re comfortable with these basics, you’ll be ready to tackle the variety of colorful, beautiful projects Brenda has shared in this book. ... The Best Things About This Book The timing of this book is outstanding considering that Fair Isle designs top the list of hot fashion trends for winter 2017. While Fair Isle patterns are always in style, right now they’re hogging the limelight. Top fashion designers have been featuring Fair Isle knits in their collections, and these delightful garments are making appearances on runways and catwalks worldwide. Scandinavian design is another top trend, and this book incorporates traditionally inspired Scandinavian style knitwear motifs into many of the pattern designs. Despite the trend-conscious styles presented in the book, these projects are also classics that will continue to be wearable far into the future. This combination of on-trend designs plus classic sensibility makes the book an ideal choice for investing in. There’s another interesting aspect to this book that many crocheters are likely to appreciate. Lately there’s been a trend towards craft books that also double as armchair travel books. While this book isn’t overtly about traveling to the Colorado Rockies, the destination in which it was written, the photos do give you fascinating glimpses at an historic Colorado property known as the Clear Creek History Park. If seeing the book’s photos arouses your curiosity about this locale, you’re likely to enjoy the author’s notes that give you more insights about it. The book includes lots more wonderful details including attractive color photography and a helpful visual project index. The text of the book and the charts are printed large enough that I can read them easily despite my three years out-of-date eyeglasses prescription. The book is organized logically and intuitively. Crochet Projects Included in This Book: Here’s a breakdown of the types of projects you’ll find in this book: ·2 blankets ·2 ladies’ sweaters ·2 pairs of mitts ·3 headbands ·3 cowl-style neck scarves ·2 pairs of boot cuffs ·1 jar cozy ·1 crochet or knitting project bag

From the Publisher

I love playing around with Tunisian crochet. It’s the perfect in-between craft for knitters and crocheters. It’s like the best of both worlds.

Poetry In Yarn - Lindsey Stephens

Delve into Tunisian colorwork with Fair Isle Tunisian Crochet. There are step-by-step photos for each Tunisian stitch used in the book as well as basic principles of color selection using a color wheel. The sixteen projects range in size and complexity from small boot cuffs and mitts to women's sweaters (size S to 3X) and afghans.

Summer 2016 Interweave Crochet

The designs in this book are oh so very lovely and practical.  They include boot cuffs, headbands, cowls, mitts, sweaters and afghans!  Most of these are beginner level projects and can be worked up in a weekend or less. The sweaters are definitely a bit more advanced, but not at all intimidating with the clear instructions.  And if you have never used this technique before, don’t worry - there is a stitch guide at the beginning of the book with very clear step-by-step photos to help you.

Bonnie Barker

Today, I bring you a review of a really fun book Fair Isle Tunisian Crochet by crochet designer, Brenda Bourg, and published by Stackpole Books. Are you familiar with Tunisian Crochet? Wikipedia describes Tunisian Crochet in this way: "Tunisian crochet, also known as Afghan crochet, is a type of crochet that uses an elongated hook, often with a stopper on the handle end, called an Afghan hook. It is sometimes considered to be a mixture of crocheting and knitting." Have you ever wanted to try Tunisian Crochet? Or perhaps you have tried Tunisian Crochet, but would love to tackle the beautiful color-changing technique of Fair Isle? You don't need to worry if you have never tried this technique before or if you have only done it occasionally. The author, Brenda Bourg includes a great tutorial on how to do Tunisian Crochet if you are a beginner. She also includes beautiful step by step photos for mastering the color changes needed to complete the projects in Fair Isle Crochet. Included in the book is a great explanation of Fair Isle Tunisian Crochet, 17 pages of step-by-step photographs of basic Tunisian Crochet stitches and color change techniques, how to read charts and everything you need to learn Fair Isle Crochet and complete the projects in this book! The charts are large, colorful and very easy to follow. As a bonus, they could also be used for other color changing techniques in needlework! If you are a beginner, there are small but fun projects to help you master this Fair Isle Crochet. There are a total 16 great Tunisian Crochet projects in this book!

Jocelyn Sass

Fair Isle Tunisian Crochet is a stunning collection of traditional Fair Isle designs to be crocheted.  The photos are beautifully taken in the Rockies of Colorado.  There are a variety of designs from mitts and cowls to sweaters and afghans.

Karen McKenna