Hobby Stash » Crochet Books

Popcorn Pinwheel Bedspread

Linda — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 13:57:03 +0000

Are you looking for the pattern??

After seeing Frances Johnson’s creation,I must admit I was enamored when I saw the original YouTube video of Frances Johnson. After seeing the video, my quest began to hunt down the pattern. It wasn’t as easy as it should be but here are the results.

Google immediately served up these two:

iOffer.com – Popcorn Pinwheel Bedspread Vintage Crochet Pattern for $3.00. This was a cumbersome process and not one I recommend. You have to wait for Karen’s Variety to respond before actually getting the pattern after payment. Her site, KarensVariety.com, offers it for the same price and provides immediate download after payment. However, for $7.00 you can download The Spool Cotton Company’s Bedspreads pamphlet which includes 10 additional patterns with the Popcorn Pinwheel Bedspread pattern.
Vintage Home Arts via Amazon for $7.99 ($9.99 after adding shipping). Quite steep for one pattern.

Frankly, the best source for this pattern is one I found completely by accident. I was searching for doily place mat patterns and decided to buy The Crocheter’s Treasure Chest: 80 Classic Patterns for Tablecloths, Bedspreads, Doilies and Edgings (Dover Needlework). Imagine my surprise when I found Popcorn Pinwheel on page 42. I spent a whopping $8.76 with free shipping.

I still plan to try a doily or two before I attempt something on this scale. But, as a result of my hunt for this one particular pattern, I now have a very nice stash of some wonderfully creative vintage crochet patterns. Now to see if I can actually hold and work that oh so tiny crochet hook…

Aran Afghans to Crochet

Linda — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 14:41:49 +0000

While cruising the book section of Hancock Fabrics last week, I discovered Aran Afghans to Crochet (Leisure Arts #4948). My copy has a different front cover image but the same ISBN number. On first glance, it looks like a reissue of the patterns contained in Fisherman Crochet Afghans (Leisure Arts #250). I quickly tossed it into the shopping cart, purchased it, and prepared to share the delightful news here. Hmmm…then I noticed the names of the patterns had changed…

So I examined the two leaflets side by side. Wow. Two different authors. Bonnie Barker’s designs (#4948) uses the main panels from Anne Rabun Ough’s designs(#250), adds different side stitches before joining the panels and then calls the designs her own. I suppose technically they are. But Anne Rabun Ough wasn’t given credit anywhere in this leaflet as her inspiration. In my opinion, it’s rather like using someone else’s tune with your own lyrics and then selling the entire song as your own.

I own both of these leaflets and recommend both. I have not yet made any from Leaflet 4948 but plan to. I was just shocked the authors were different. Having said that, I’m a big one for taking a design and expanding on it. You can see quite a few in my Afghans gallery. But I also give credit where credit is due and point out the differences.

I’d love to hear your opinions….

31 Vintage Bedspread Patterns to Crochet

Linda — Sun, 09 Oct 2011 12:10:45 +0000

Ever since I watched the Popcorn Pinwheel Bedspread video, I’ve been wanting that pattern. This morning while searching for something else on Amazon I ran across a kindle version of 31 Vintage Bedspread Patterns to Crochet. To be honest, if they’d had a print version, I’d have ordered that instead. But they don’t so I thought what the heck…on my kindle it went. I actually think there might be an advantage to using the kindle…no pages to wear out and that battery certainly lasts (I have the old black and white kindle…ha). The instructions are easy to read, pictures, well they are black and white and not the best.

Afghan Lover’s Collection

Linda — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 10:35:44 +0000

I just recently purchased Afghan Lover’s Collection and I’m itching to get started on one of the designs–the hard part, deciding which one. It is packed with an outstanding collection of afghan designs. Rarely do I find so many I want to use in one publication. It even has the Pinwheel pattern I adapted for Tunisian crochet.

Wow!

Rating: ★★★★★

Leisure Arts Quilts to Crochet

Linda — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 12:27:37 +0000

I’ve had several requests for pattern information related to the quilt afghan featured in my afghan video. Leisure Arts Quilts to Crochet leaflet #3542 served as my inspiration. All the patterns in this leaflet are done using the half double crochet stitch but can easily be converted to the tunisian crochet stitch, which I did with my afghan. Other common quilt patterns featured in the leaflet include Log Cabin, Double Irish Chain, and Flocks of Geese.

Unfortunately Leisure Arts no longer prints this little gem. But I found it available through Amazon’s third-party sellers. You might also check out eBay.

Rating: ★★★★★