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Book Review: Paper Yarn

Monday, December 9, 2013

Paper Yarn by Uta Donath, Eva Hauch, Petra Hoffman, and Claudia Huboi


In recent years it has become a common practice for crochet designers to “hook up” with a yarn company to design with their latest yarns. The designer’s expertise in addition to lots of swatching brings out the best in the yarn, provides upscale designs that crocheters hunger for and brings notice to the versatility of crochet.

Recently, I unintentionally came upon an exciting book while passing by the “Hobbies” cart at my local library. Paper Yarn is a unique and exciting book which brings a wealth of knowledge about style and technique to the niche of using paper yarn. The five authors bring an impressive resume of experience in the fiber field to their presentation of this book: textile and fashion design, creative design at magazines and publishers to name a few!

They have teamed up with Habu Textiles, BJ’s Craft Supplies and Papershed who provided the materials which are used in the basic yet interesting patterns for projects in 6 techniques: crochet, knitting, weaving, sewing, braiding and layering & wrapping. Since I am a die-hard crocheter, I will not comment on the quality of the patterns in any of the techniques except crochet. I will say, however, that each chapter provides an excellent tutorial on the use of paper yarn in that specific technique in addition to a wonderful overall  review of the characteristics of paper yarn in the introduction, “Material Facts.”

Beautiful color photography and styling of the projects makes me want to make each and every crochet project in the book: bowl, basket, container, hat and sculpture. The book contains 24 decorative and functional projects to make from paper yarn, paper ribbon, paper twine and paper cord. Excellent illustrated step-by-step instructions ensure you can complete every project successfully.

I can't wait to get started on the basket and as luck would have it, I have a stash of Habu paper yarn!

Habu Shosheni Viscose
This book was first published in Switzerland in 2008 by Haupt Bern and translated and published by St. Martin’s Griffine  in 2009. It is available on Amazon for an incredibly low price. If, like me, you just concentrate on only one of the needle arts, this book is still well worth having on your fiber arts bookshelf. The sheer joy of its bountiful color and style has plenty to make you smile. Oh, and by the way, I went to the stacks and got a crochet book which I surreptitiously placed on the hobbies cart as I noticed it was the one hobby that had not been selected. Holding my hook high ...

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