Poetic Crochet: 20 Shawls Inspired by Classic Poems

The most beautiful, romantic-looking crocheted shawls I have ever seen. I'm crocheting one right now. I love looking through the book too, as each shawl is modeled from several perspectives, in color. The models are dressed beautifully and the settings are very poetic, like the title of the book. The instructions are excellent, with simple stitches making up the patterns. The only thing I had to figure out for myself was using a half double crochet stitch as the foundation row. I have always chained a long chain, and used that as a foundation row. But in the book, you create the foundation with the half double crochet. Most of the shawls call for more expensive yarns, such as those with part linen, silk, etc. However I found less expensive yarns made of 100% acrylic of the same weight of the expensive yarns, so the cheaper yarns are the right thickness and weight for the designs. The patterns are very innovative. The one I am crocheting now is shaped by the increase rows, so that it hangs nicely. Also the shapes are most often an irregular shape, created just for the specific shawl and yarn weight. The book also has excellent pages on wet shaping your finished shawl, using pins to hold it in place til it dries, in order to bring out the full beauty of the patterns. I just love this book.

No exaggeration--I probably have at least 200 knitting & crochet books & this gem is one of my favorites. It is a rare book, especially crochet, that I want to make over half of the projects contained. They are only shawls but one is more beautiful than the next & there are so many different styles. Crochet is so often heavy, boxy & cheap looking--not any of these. They are rich, delicate, beautifully made, even the heavier weight yarns, but most of these are made with dk or sock yarns. I am almost done with one shawl & have yarn for 2 more. I would be remiss in not mentioning the models. They are all in beautiful long dresses that enhance the shawls they are wearing & their hair is swept up with pins & whatever to look very elegant. I am a Lord of the Rings fan and these models sent me right to Middle Earth.

Fabulous book - I'm already midway into my first shawl. I love the fact that there are both written descriptions and charts. I already have yarn for two more shawls. I've been crocheting over 50 years, collecting books for most of that time, and this is one of my favorites. It explains blocking well and care of the shawl. The yarns range from lace weight to worsted weight and the hooks are not the fine steel hooks but rather the larger hooks - much kinder to older hands. The styles are great and the shapes vary widely. I highly recommend this book.

When I 1st downloaded this I thought darn, just not my style. Today I wore a necklace to church I had made many yrs ago as an exercise... To learn certain stitches. It came out beautiful however I believed I wouldn't ever wear it. It looked perfect on me to say the least I was extremely surprised. Tonight looking through my books I read it again. Their are quite a few i want to make for myself, need to cover overly skinny arms from a major upheaval in my life which caused Multiple Sclerosis to put me in the hospital 3 times just got home from a 3 week stay. I don't know why I felt like I did when I 1st read it. I may have been getting sick. The shawls are beautiful and instructions well written, drawing you in to want to make them. Maybe I forgot I had the yarn already to make my favorites. It really doesn't matter why or how, I am grateful that I took another look to find such beauty for me and my new friends. Of course for some I won't met but will make them with love.

I have been crocheting quite a lot (almost every day) but only for the last year, so I consider myself a beginner. I have taken about 10 classes on how to read patterns and attended a few ‘crochet socials’. For me I have made four of the patterns and had no problem understanding the instructions. The patterns and yarns/colors used are really beautiful. I do recommend this book as the patters are well written with very good photography.

Beautiful and some new techniques I’ve learned. Does use mostly light weight yarn

This book has 20 wonderful shawls. The instructions are well written and the charts are nice and large. Full page color photos including closeups really show off the beauty of the shawls and stitches used to make them. I appreciate the notes/tips, they're very helpful. She also has a informative section on finishing and blocking. Sara has a shawl for everyone, crescent shape, triangles, rectangles etc. If you love to make shawls this book is for you. Susan Parker

I originally checked this out from my library and, after about 5 minutes, decided I HAD to have it. The shawls are beautiful and so much more than I expected. I usually knit my shawls because crocheted ones are kind of bland. Not the crocheted ones in this book! Absolutely wonderful!

Lovely book with some beautiful patterns, can't wait too make some.

All the patterns and the shawls are worth making.

Beautiful pieces, quite challenging, but so very rewarding to make. Well written, too.

海外の編み方パターンは，文章での説明だけという本が多い中，この本は言葉がわからなくても理解できる記号の編み図が全作品ついているので助かりました。英語ならまだしも，ドイツ語やフランス語などはもうお手上げ。世界共通の編み図が必要です！買ってよかった！！！

Je suis ravie de mon achat. D'habitude dans un livre de modèles, on est souvent déçue car il y a peu de modèles accessibles ou réellement beaux. Là TOUS les modèles sont très jolis et très bien expliqués, car les explications sont écrites mais il y aussi les diagrammes. Bref je ne peux que recommander ce livre. Ces modèles sont en plus accessibles au plus grand nombre.