Dora OhrensteinCustom Crocheted Sweaters: Make Garments that Really Fit

I have already made two sweaters from this book. Excellent if you are up to a new challenge of making ga sweater. Instructions are detailed enough for self-guidance. The garments are more on the classy side, but anyone can find one or more for themselves. Highly recommend this book.

This is really an amazing book! It boosted my confidence enough to make me try my first crochet sweater. I did knit several in my life, but never tried a crochet garment before other than accessories: a hat, a scarf, mittens, slippers, etc. The information on how to take measurements and how to understand and alter any pattern to make it fit is the true value of this book. It will free you up from the rigidness of all the other crochet garment patterns!In addition, among the ten beautiful patterns included in the book, there are several sweaters that I want to make right now.This book changed my attitude to crochet altogether. Most people think that crochet fabric is inelastic, so that close to the body garments cannot be made comfortable. The Uptown Sweater I just finished is a clear contradiction to this statement. Its stitch is so incredibly stretchy in all directions that if someone showed this sweater to me just 2 months ago, I would not have believed it was crocheted.True, the book has some errors and I hope the more accomplished crocheters will keep submitting correction suggestions to the author or to the publisher for the sake of future users.I just learned that you can download two errata from Lark Crafts' website. The book I bought few days ago from Amazon though, after using a library book for 2 months, is the first reprint and has all these corrections implemented already (and so did the library book!). If you find errors not included in these errata, you can submit them to [email protected], so that the mistake can be remedied. Or you can contact the author via her page crochetinsider.com or through ravelry.com (must be a member). You can also peek at the sweaters' pictures included in the book at crochetinsider.com.There is another aspect than errors in the patterns that may be turning off many crocheters: the yarns used for the models and instructions are often quite expensive (kid mohair, alpaca, silk, merino superwash, etc.) and some sweaters would require yarn purchase for well over $100. It would be really helpful to provide less expensive alternatives. Not experienced crocheters may have problems with finding a suitable substitute and many crafters find animal fibers either allergenic or not appealing due to their beliefs (e.g. vegans). In addition, in my area, large box stores like Michael's do not carry DK weight in adult (non-pastel) colors and my LYS (Local Yarn Shop) does not carry cheaper yarns. Only one sweater in the book uses worsted yarn weight (#4), other yarns are thinner: DK (#3) and fingering (#1).I think this book should be in all crocheters' reference library. If you are skeptical, wait few more months for more corrections to be implemented or a second edition, but I can assure you, one can learn A LOT from this book as it is now, even if it did not have any patterns included. These patterns are meant as progressive lessons and are analyzed in detail prior to giving concise directions. I love it. I hate patterns that don't tell you where you are going, I simply don't bother to try them.I don't think it is geared towards the beginners though. I consider myself an intermediate crocheter and still had frustrating moments because of gauge adjustment to a different yarn weight, but I made it! Maybe I had some problems because I started from the last but one sweater rather than from the first in the book. I am on my second sweater from this book now and I know of people who plan to make every one of the ten designs and in multiple copies. As far as I am concerned, this book will serve me for years, it is a great investment.BTW, I am not related to the author or to the publisher in any manner and I did not receive any remuneration for writing this review.

I'm a relatively new crocheter (very experienced knitter) and I was looking for sweater patterns with a custom fit. I know there is a place for "free" patterns (with numerous errors!) for un-shaped garments on all those crochet blog sites with 50 million flashing ads, but I am so over them! After starting several crochet sweaters, from many different designers, and having to improvise or give up entirely due to pattern errors, I realized that this is a pervasive problem with crochet pattern sites, and I need to stop going to them. I can tolerate errors and I can tolerate way too many ads on a web site, but not both at the same time. I found this book, took a chance, and ordered it. I've read through it, and believe it is exactly what I was looking for. It's tempting to get free garment patterns, but in my experience, they are very hit or miss. I don't like wasting crochet time or yarn, so I have given up on crocheters blog sites for good.

This had been great to read and a good source of learning how to create custom-fit sweaters. My only complaint is knowing that there were several errors in the first few printings, so whenever I come across something that doesn't quite make sense, I'm afraid it is because of error and start to fear that I've spent a lot of time on a project to only find that I'm not going to be able to complete it because of a lack of precision, fact-checking, and proofreading before the book was released. So far, so good, but the fear is real and almost paralyzing. (FYI, I did spend time on the publisher's website making sure my copy is error-free, but knowing it was released with so many errors only increased my fear that there are several that have not yet been caught. I don't understand a craft publisher releasing a publication and then depending on it's readers to discover problems. I will think twice before ordering another book from this publisher our author, which is sad because this is a great resource.)

The sweaters in this book are really beautiful. I can't believe all of the mistakes in the patterns. I have made quite a few of them and want to make them all, they are so pretty. Be prepared to fix a lot of mistakes in the patterns. One of them I finally gave up and just winged it. Why would they print a book with so many errors?

What I like most about this book is that it really digs into making alterations to crocheted garments. These principles don't just apply to the patterns in the book. Once you learn the principles you can apply them to any garment you crochet. The book is written very well, it is clear and concise and it has excellent examples and photos (color). It is a great read and and excellent reference book to have on the shelf for future use and needed.

I've been crocheting for nearly three years. Early on, I decided that I wanted to master the art of crocheting garments for myself, as well as making accessories and home decor items. I've amassed a nice little library of crochet books, but had none that served as a complete tutorial in sweater construction -- until now. Whatever I've learned about crocheting garments has been through trial and error, accompanied by disappointment and wasted time.So I was thrilled when I heard that Dora Ohrenstein was writing the crochet book I needed most: one that teaches a "master class" in sweater construction through a series of projects. I received my copy yesterday and have only glanced through it so far, but already I'm impressed. The sweater designs are attractive and contemporary, and each includes detailed lessons in various construction and shaping techniques. I can see that this is a book I'll be using and learning from for years to come.

This book is amazing, I started the Floating Tee (pic) and I’m so happy at how it turns out. I can’t wait to do the rest! The absolute best part is: diagrams!!! This is the perfect book for me!****

This is the best crochet book I have ever purchased...I am experienced and have struggled to find patterns that look modern and professional (i.e. not home made in a bad way and mumsy!) I intend to make all the garments in this book. Well laid out, clear instructions and handy little user-friendly tips along the way too. Would recommend.

I found this book very easy to understand however the choice of thread used in the book is very expensive and I found it a challenge to choose a more reasonable alternative and I initially hadn't realised that it was written with American terms. This is not a problem as a glossary at the back.

The book is really useful. I enjoy crochet but find it difficult to find pattern for clothing. This book does and shows how they can be adapted to fit me. Very pleased.

This is a wonderful book with great patterns and clear instructions.