Positively Crochet!: 50 Fashionable Projects and Inspirational Tips

by Mary Jane Hall

"Positively Crochet" lives up to its name with plenty of crochet projects and powerful messages for positive living.

This playful, project-focused guide concentrates on the patterns and stitches used to design the 50+ fashionable projects in this book, which include scarves, shrugs, sweaters, hats, purses and belts. In addition to trendy garments and accessories, you will discover pairings of design tips with inspirational insight, useful for improving crochet skills and making the most of every situation life delivers.

Genres: Crochet, Crafts, Nonfiction

128 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2007

About the author

Mary Jane Hall has been crocheting for thirty-eight years and has taught more than sixty people how to crochet. She specializes in crochet fashion design and is a Professional member of the Crochet Guild of America (CGOA). Mary Jane is passionate about crochet and loves designing trendy wearables. She designs full time and has had many of her original designs published in various books and magazines. She has given the talks "How to Get Published" and "Designing Tip" to local crochet groups, including the Dayton, Ohio, chapter of the Crochet Guild of America.

Originally from Texas, Mary Jane currently lives in Ohio. She has been married for thirty-eight years, and she and her husband, Terry, have three grown children who are all married and have families of their own. They enjoy their grandchildren, who are a huge part of their lives. Mary Jane manages a "free" clothing store, called United Voluntary Services, which clothes more than 1,500 people in their county every year.

Mary Jane's first book, "Positively Crochet: 50 Fashionable Projects and Inspirational Tips", is currently available. Visit Mary Jane's Web site at www.mjcrochet.com.

(Copied from "About the Author" inside "Crochet that Fits".)


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Reviews

[Kristen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Really only one thing I would actually make (the circular shrug) and a bunch of strange, Christian inspirational quotes sprinkled throughout. Just really not my cup of tea.
Some helpful crocheting hints throughout, which is why it gets two stars.

[Lauredhel · Rating 1 out of 5]

Weeeird. The first "inspirational tip" (which I had expected to be about, you know, crochet) was about her daughter thinking positive and smiling and winning a beauty pageant. It went downhill from there, into overtly preachy Christian territory, and scolding about "young ladies" wearing "revealing" clothing.

I didn't find any projects I wanted to crochet. Lots of weird square-mesh items, repetitive small projects, and ugly yarns. Garments not size inclusive but I'm assuming she thinks it's not Godly to be fat or something.

[Jo · Rating 3 out of 5]

So, I would probably have rated this book about the same as I've rated most of the pattern books I've looked at (2 stars), except that there was this peachy-orange top that is really cute and the exact color I've been looking for a shirt in for years. I had to give it another star just for that. Silly me. Overall, a good 50% of the patterns are cute and/or feasible patterns for actual wear. Some of them are a little too hippy (the tank with clover-leaf arm bands) or a little to dorky (the hat with knee-length braids) for my tastes, but others, like the peachy top or the cover sweater, were right up my alley (theoretically).

There were a couple of patterns using sari silk yarn, which I'm not a fan of. I love the idea (upcycling saris into yarn to make money in low-income households), but can't bring myself to embrace the colors. If they had sari silk yarn in variegated color families (blues, greens, oranges, pinks, etc.), I'd be all over that poop like… um, well, like stink on poop. As it is, with every color in the rainbow thrown together without any discernible pattern, I just can't take it.

With almost every pattern in this book is an "inspirational tip" – the kind of stuff Hall did/does herself to improve/maintain the quality of her life and relationships. I'm not a fan of that kind of touchy-feely stuff. But others are, and they were good tips (though some were fantastically corny). I did read them. Not that they'll influence my life in any profound way. But maybe if you were to ruminate on each suggestion while you worked on the project, you could find a deeper connection to it. On the other hand, if you're on my end of the touchy-feely spectrum and you aren't into that stuff, either, these tips are pretty easy to ignore. They've been cordoned off into boxes at the bottoms of the pages, so it isn't that difficult to skip over them if you so desire.

So, overall, this pattern book is a little less irritating than some of the others I've looked at, with stylish (or at least more stylish) designs that aren't as likely to make those of us bearing imperfect figures feel inadequate. (Why do I mention this? I just reviewed this other book, which wasn't as successful.) Suggestions for a "more positive lifestyle" (not a quote, but I can't say that with a straight face) give this book bonus points for some, without alienating those of us who don't feel the need for advice.

[Jennyslash · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received this book for Christmas and there are several designs that I am looking forward to crocheting. I have been crocheting since childhood and I enjoy doing laces and threadwork. These designs suit my wardrobe and I look forward to having the time to sit down with my hooks and some fresh yarn and make something for warmer weather.

The inspirational tips that are scattered through the text are not crochet-related. They are of a rather general nature and the exercise might have been more successful if the author had offered inspirational tips that were more closely related to the creative process, acquiring a new skill or something of that nature.

[Hope · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty nice patterns, that work with the inherent bulk of crocheted garments. the instructions seem well written an accessible. O could have done without the smugly Christian "Words of Encouragement" sprinkled between the patterns, but they were off to the bottom of the page so were easy to skip.

The patterns didn't really strike my fancy, but other folks might like them a lot.

[Wendy · Rating 3 out of 5]

There were some really cute projects in here. Some that given the time I would try. I liked the ring the best - mostly because it would be so quick to throw together, but i would try to crochet the beads on instead of sewing them.

[Katie Webb · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some of these projects looked a bit too 'crafty' for my liking. I want be to want the things I make, but not know that they are homemade. These were distinctly crafty suburban housewife type projects. There were some good, basic patterns in this though.

[Joshua Gage · Rating 2 out of 5]

There are a few cute projects in this book that I'd make, mostly scarves, but there's not much beyond that. A few too many chokers and bracelets for my taste, and the larger projects don't seem practical.

[Madeleine · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's Okay

Positively expected to find projects with a bit more sophistication to them. Stringing beads is more of a child's craft than crochet needle art. Perhaps I just expected too much. Not a bad book, overall.

[Jill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fabulous crochet book. Love studying the patterns and ideas.

[Angie · Rating 4 out of 5]

so many great projects I wanna make

[Renee]

just looked through, pattens are nice.

[Jawa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I give it 3 stars because I liked the patterns overall, (but I haven't tested them yet). I reallyenjoyed some of the quotes as well. It really is just a "positive" book overall.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ravelry Library:

Bracelet Watch
Patchwork Purse
Coffee Lover's Scarf

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

good book, lovely projects