Crochet Jewelry: 40 Unique Designs is a great book for crocheters looking for something a little different. It is packed full of inspiration for new ideas and challenges for crocheters of all experience levels. The book, by Waejong Kim and Anna Pulvermakher (Loopy Mango), is a collaborative project including designs by designers such as Jennifer Hansen of Stitch Diva fame.

Unlike many books on the subject, Crochet Jewelry is dedicated just to crochet, so there are no knitting patterns sneaking in and detracting from a crocheters delight, and also the book gives instructions for projects worked in yarns and threads as well as wire. Therefore crocheters who may have been put off making jewelry because they don't fancy working with wire still have plenty of options.

One of the great things about a book like this is that it sews seeds of inspiration and offers the reader the opportunity to vary and adapt the designs and projects creating unique items of jewelry. A project for earrings, for instance, can easily be adapted to make a pendant or brooch.

Projects
There are 40 projects in the book and these are broken down into necklaces, bracelets, earrings, pins and rings.

The projects use a variety of materials including yarns, wire, beads and buttons. Helpfully the book uses the American Yarn Council Standards to describe yarns therefore making it easy and straightforward to pick the right yarn for a project.

Techniques and Experience
All the patterns in the book use techniques that are fully explained. Standard crochet stitches are used and, should a reminder prove useful, illustrated instructions for each stitch are given. While the instructions are comprehensive, this isn’t a 'how to crochet book', there are plenty of other resources available both on and off line to help a beginner to pick up the basics.

Fans of Hairpin Crochet will find some projects using this technique and there are also felted projects. These projects bring an interesting contemporary take on these traditional techniques.

A beginner will be able to attempt most projects in the book, and experienced crocheters will also find projects that will offer a challenge of some new techniques.

A great aspect of crocheting jewelry is that these are tiny projects using small amounts of materials, therefore these are good ways to practice new techniques but also if something goes wrong then there is no great waste of time or materials.

Embellishments
Many of the projects would also make great embellishments for other items of crochet. Decorations for bags, mobile phone charms, edgings and much more could be made from designs in this book.


This is an excellent book for someone looking to do something a little different with their crochet skills. There are a wide range of designs and projects and a crocheter should be able to build on what they have read in the book and develop their own unique style of crocheted jewelry.

Book Details
Crochet Jewelry: 40 Beautiful and Unique Designs
Authors: Waejong Kim and Anna Pulvermakher
Publisher: Interweave Press
ISBN13: 1-59668-035-0
Page: 128