Freeform Crochet and Beyond: Bags, Cushions, Hats, Scarves and More (Milner Craft Series)

Here's the deal -If you have a yen to be inspired, and already have significant experience and ability with crochet, you'll most likely find this book to be a good buy. You could also use the motifs for one of the most beautiful afghans or scarves you've ever done. That might help an moderately-experienced crocheter just to get into the idea of the form.If you have training in color theory, a particular photo might remind you about color combinations you haven't used in a while. But the teaching section on color won't add to what you already know. I suspected that before purchasing it, so it was no problem for me.Now, for the creative part of it: this just won't be to the taste of someone who prefers technique to design or the notion that it's your springboard to work on your own. Don't expect patterns for sweaters; instead, you'll make and design a pattern yourself. Start with a vest instead of a coat, for instance. And if you're not comfortable with abstract expression in paintings, you likely won't care for this book. If you want to let loose after working a lot of standard patterns, this book is quite good for that.A lot really depends on your own personality and approach to your work. There's nothing wrong with being someone who wants and needs strong guidance; it's just that this won't give you that. Moreover, it's not for using up odds and ends the way a granny pattern does. It's for crocheters who are willing to buy new yarns specifically to play with. I usually don't buy $20 - $35 skeins of yarn, but I do have several single skeins of fibers such as eyelash yarn, lots of chenille in different colors, mohair, angora, fuzzy, extra-bulky, metallic, and so forth. Normally speaking, I won't go near a non-natural yarn, but you have to give up that thinking if you really want to go a little nuts with free-form crochet. Of course you can always make huge piles and ruffles out of regular DK, sock yarn, four-ply strand natural fibers, etc. But you won't be doing your imagination justice that way. Haunt eBay, second-hand stores, classified newspaper ads, Craigslist, sales at your local shop or on line, and what not. Often yarns are being discontinued and there are only one or two skeins left. You'll regularly find deep discounts at online stores in particular. Looking at all these places, I found $40 yarns for $5 - $8 bucks or less. Often what's left are weird colors; that's really to the better.You aren't going to use all your nutty yarn stash in one garment, wall-hanging, or afghan. You might well be judicious about such a design because it makes the stranger ones more eye-catching.I believe that those who call children "creative" are wrong. Kids are very imaginative, but they don't have the experience to be creative. Being creative in an art form means breaking the rules, and you must know the rules and have followed them to break them. It would be very hard for a person without a strong imagination to get pleasure out of this book's ideas. If you can't get back to your early imagination - your old "child - mind" - don't bother with this book. But if you're willing to crochet with abandon, and have the skill-set to do it, I think you'll like this. There are other free-form crochet books on Amazon, and you really should continue your learning by studying a bunch of them. A terrific source of ideas can be found in studying old crazy quilts, which were designed the same way. Rock piles, flower gardens, row houses, scrap yards, and all sorts of things can give you ideas for textures, shapes, color pathways, and anything else within eyeshot will work.I also recommend books which aren't billed as "free-form crochet," too. Jan Beaney's books for embroidery are great for inspiring texture and color design. Look at "New Dimensions: Book 9;" "No Stone Unturned;" "Embellish and Enrich: Book 20," and others she's done with Jean Littlejohn. Another good embroidery book that inspired me Is "The Art of Embroidered Flowers," by Gilda Baron. When looking inside it, be sure to click on the "Surprise" button to see more pages. I've gone on long enough, I fear.Hope this review is helpful. Good luck using your imagination!

I want to make one thing very clear, this is not a book of crochet patterns. If you're looking for a book of patterns, move along, nothing to see here.What this IS is a book of inspiration. Inspiration to move beyond pattern following, and create your own, fantabulous confections of yarn, texture and color.It gives you:Great directions on how to create motifs, using crochet, both regular and tunisian, knitting and felting.Clear instructions on how to join them together.Instructions for how to assemble a garment, hat or bag using a commercial dressmaking pattern or a pattern / form that you created.Suggestions for beading and embellishment.Tons of gorgeous photos of the author's own beautiful creations.But what it doesn't give you is clear, concise project instructions, that is not what this book, or freeform crochet is about.I don't even put this book away any more. I'm constantly referring to it, trying new motifs and patterns, and sometimes just gazing in awe at the pictures.Since purchasing Freeform Crochet, I've completed 2 freeform handbags, and 3/4ths of the way through a third, and have the beginnings of another 3 or 4 projects in my head. I'm constantly seeing color combinations that I want to explore in another project!If you're ready to move beyond patterns and let your creativity and imagination run wild, buy this book. Buy it now!Have you bought it yet? What are you waiting for?UPDATE 7/5/2013:It's now been over 4 years since I bought this book, and I still absolutely love it, and freeform crochet. I hadn't done freeform in a couple years, but I recently learned to knit, and it inspired me to explore how I could add it to my projects. My obsession has now ramped up to full-bore.Here are a few things I've learned in my freeform adventures:* Keep Going! I'd find myself not being happy with how something was going, and I'd just stop because I was "doing it wrong". I finally realized there is no way to do it wrong, and even if I'm not totally happy with the finished project, the process was fun, and the next one will be even better. Plus, I have ALL THE YARN, so I need to stop hoarding it.* One thing that I felt wasn't fully covered in the book was joining. I tend to make motifs rather than big patches, and don't join as I go. What I've found works for me is to weave in (or crochet over) all ends as I go. Then I take the nice, neat motifs and pin them to my template. When I have enough to cover my template in a configuration I like, I flip them all over, re-pin, and sew them together with a long piece of yarn - preferably a rough & grippy wool. Then I fill in any gaps with popcorns, domes and surface crochet as she describes in the book.* If you're on Ravelry, there are some great freeform groups that provide amazing inspiration. They're doing some amazing freeform stuff in Russia!* This one is more of a personal taste issue, but I've found that with novelty yarns, less is more. A little accent here and there does the trick.* Keep Going! Totally bears repeating.Now let's get ready to scruuuuuumble!

This one goes to 11 :-)As has been mentioned many times before, there are NO patterns. Period. "Beyond" is the key word.The author goes through techniques (and, yes, there ARE instructions for those) and shows samples of her finished work. The crucial point: are you willing to purchase an original work (done by someone else, obviously) or are you willing to express yourself? If you are up for a workout (and a great stashbuster opportunity) this book is perfect. The book is a better reflection of the crochet creativity that flourishes in eastern Europe than of the pattern-obsessed mentality elsewhere (and a guarantee that you won't be buying another book with the same dreary patterns that you already own in duplicate).And, yes, the end product requires work and time... but odds are good that, with the author's guidance, you will have made an original work that you'll be proud of.

As a newbie I would have liked more project ideas with patterns. The work picture here is beautiful, but wasn't really what I was looking for.

Earlier this year I took a workshop on free-form crochet to learn crochet and free myself from patterns. I wanted more ideas on how to join individual scrumbles and ordered this book. What a joy! I didn't find precisely what I was looking for but what a new way of looking at crochet and suggested projects that are very different from what I see from American or British authors. The book is also written well and the project photos are as colorful as any I have seen. If you want to encourage yourself to do something new, buy this book!

This book is everything I hoped for and more. I have become really "hooked" on freeform crochet and am already half-way through my first cushion cover. But be warned - it is very addictive ! I find I get carried away when making a new "scrumble" and time just runs away with me. Late dinners and dust on the furniture are commonplace results!If you love crochet treat yourself to this book and I guarantee you will get hooked too. I have also taught myself tunisian crochet from the very clear instructions in this book. In fact, all the instructions are so clear I think even complete beginners would be able to follow them. Happy freeform !

For jumping off into freeform crochet, this is a great starting point. Don't expect patterns as, by definition, you create your own, but there's a variety of ideas to get you started.

I bought this book based on previous reviews, but sadly didn't read the comment 'not for beginners'! I've been crocheting for many years, but generally struggle with patterns unless there are good diagrams or pictures.This book is overly wordy with lots of symbol based diagrams, which simply left me baffled.The example stitches use cheap wools in nasty colours! Sure it clearly displays the change of texture or stitch, but for me was very uninspiring.I'm afraid to say that I've learnt more about freeform crochet on Youtube!

I love this book! I have several freeform crochet books but I am so glad I bought this one!!! All these books are a bit limited in what they can teach you as freeform is freeform but I love the new stitches and colour ideas that they present and this book is no exception!!! It is the ideas that come from reading the book that excite me to make something that is completely original.

This is a very inspiring book. There are no patterns as such but there is a lot of guidance as far as using the techniques yourself. Some of the designs are unique - they are things which I have not seen in ordinary crochet books. Definitely very satisfied with the service too.