Review: The Art of Crochet Blankets: 18 Projects Inspired by Modern Makers

The Art of Crochet Blankets: 18 Projects Inspired by Modern Makers by Rachele Carmona
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Many thanks to Netgalley, Interweave (F+W Media) and Rachele Carmona for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. My opinions are 100% my own and independent of receiving an advanced copy.

Welcome to the world of crocheted blankets. But be aware! These are not the blankets your grandma used to make, that’s for sure. There isn’t a flame stitch, chevron pattern or granny square to be found in these pages and thank heavens for that. This is a unique take on crochet blankets that will make you excited to add one to your home decor.

There really is nothing better than making something with your own hands that you can use to curl up with or snuggle under. The beauty of blankets is that you are released from the struggle of making something to fit nicely. If if comes out a little bigger or smaller who cares and really who’s to know? Without the fit restrictions, it also allows you to be more flexible in choosing yarns that work and that means there is an opportunity to stash bust - always a plus when your stash is as big as mine! Carmona doesn’t market her book as a stash buster, but with her colourful designs, I think it lends itself to looking at what you might already have. However, should you choose to follow her designs as written, you will not be disappointed.

In this book you will find 18 patterns where Carmona looks at other art mediums for inspiration. She takes on weaving, digital art, fabric design, paper cutting, cement tile and quilting for coming up with fresh new ideas in designing blankets. You get a little bit of info on the artist and a picture of the original piece of art so you can easily spot the idea that sparked her creation. Some of the blankets are stunning, especially the graffiti blanket and the ombre stripe, where the colours are exceptional. Others are a bit of a stretch, or maybe not exactly my taste, but they might strike a fancy for you. What is original here is the source of inspiration. What a great place to look for design ideas. Carmona does not include how to design your own blanket, but after following her model, it seems like something I could do on my own.

There are lots of bright pictures, charts when needed and clear written out instructions so there is no guesswork in recreating these blankets. Because it is so well organized, it seems like it would be easy to change the colour palette if you wanted to make it match your own home decor. I did observe that a few of the patterns had to be done in pieces and you then had to assemble the blanket and sew (or crochet) the pieces together. Usually, the appeal of a blanket is just that it is one big piece, but I can see why the more intricate designs need to be done in pieces. There is a range of difficulty, from beginner to more intermediate patterns, which is always nice if you are going to invest in a pattern book.

Overall, a refreshing, original take on crochet blankets. So many new ideas and appealing designs that you should definitely check it out!

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