I went charity shopping today, as I do most Saturday mornings. For me it’s the most satisfying kind of shopping. I ‘m even pretty happy when I don’t find anything at all. Just wondering about, looking at all the wondrous things other people once deemed worth having and then no more is fantastic. Today I had already scoured 7 shops for garments destined to become something different, and had bought two cashmere tops, one scarlet the other a sort of claret colour, and one dark brown mohair jumper, when I decided to go to Oxfam, which I usually do not do. I find Oxfam too expensive. But I went in and it became one of those rare shopping highs when absolutely everything you find gives you a buzz.
First I spotted a Newzealand possum jumper. Possum! Until then I had only known possum hats. The jumper is too small for me, but just the right size for my half-newzealandish son. What a find!
Then I found a woolen, gray and white skirt with houndstooth pattern. Oh, how I love that pattern. It’s one of my all time favourites. It’s firmly on my list of patterns that I have to do before I die.
In the book section I found two craft books. One basic book about patchwork. I never do patchwork but that does not matter when you find a book in which loads of block patterns are listed with name. That alone is worth buying it. It’s ‘The perfect patchwork primer’ by Beth Gutcheon.
The second book I tell you about when I have told you what happened at the till. It seemed to be buy-one-garment-get-one-free day today, which I had not even noticed. So I got a pleasant surprise when the lady at the till told me that I would get the skirt for free. Free?!
Now, the second book deserves special mention. I opened it and thought I faint on the spot, and that for £3.99. It’s the best crochet book I have ever seen: James Walters’ ‘Crochet Workshop’. It does not only cover the basics, but describes all sorts of advanced techniques in a very detailed and incredible fun way. It’s bound to change my crochet life.
Judging by this picture James Walters must be what Germans call a Spassvogel, a ‘fun bird’.
Though I am a confident knitter, I never actually learnt how to crochet – this picture makes me wish even more I would!
Thanks for sharing ;-D
If you can knit then learning to crochet isn’t difficult. I do knit more than I crochet but I do enjoy crochet very much.
[...] him up. It’s not hard to cheer anyone up if you happen to have James Walters’ book Crochet Workshop lying on the table. I showed him the pictures with freeform crochet. Instant success! Henry liked [...]