Skip to main content

Book Review: Crocheted Abode A La Mode by Twinkie Chan


Twinkie Chan has the sense of humor and knack for executing realistic-looking "food" just for fun and also for useful items. I thoroughly enjoyed her first book, Crochet Goodies for Fashion Foodies. I adore my radish boa and my 6-year-old granddaughter insists that her mother wear the pizza scarf when they go out for pizza! She has dedicated her newest book, Crocheted Abode A La Mode, to keeping the home cozy and "yummy"with 20 food-themed crochet patterns that transform the adorable style of amigurumi to useful items for the house.

Admittedly, I am probably not fun-loving enough to appreciate Twinkie's creative spirit when it come to MY home decor. I don't have a strong need to transform my living space into something "delicious." However, if you are like me, try applying some of your own creativity to these patterns. Rather than used as a toiletpaper cozy, any child would love a crocheted birthday cake that becomes an annual tradition at party time.

Birthday Cake Toilet Paper Cozy
The Honey Bear Apron is adorable bur not practical. Turn it into a Halloween costume or make two in a scaled-down size. Once you join the two sides; fill with stuffing and voila... you have a teddy bear gift!

Honey Bear Apron
Sitting on a cherry pie may be a cheap thrill, but really?

Cherry Pie Seat Cover

My favorite project is the Taco Pencil Case that can also be used as a handy hook pouch; and the pattern offers an opportunity to get your feet wet with felting if you've never tried it.

Taco Pencil Case
If you are young at heart or want to be and you enjoy the process as much as the final project, this book is for you! Published in April 2016 by Creative Publishing International, Crocheted Abode A La Mode retails for $21.99.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Craft vs. Fine Art: How is Crochet Blurring the Lines

I was awakening to the world of crochet in 1972,a time of immense artistic expression through fiber arts; and crochet was not the “ugly stepchild” at the time. In fact, Ferne Cone Gellar who I admire as a successful fiber artist said in “Knitting: The Stepchild of the Fiber Arts?” ( Fibercraft Newsletter 1978), “Has knitting been slighted among the areas of the fiber arts? The very word ‘knitting’ evokes images of the little old lady in tennis shoes. Over the years, I’ve learned to ignore all those jokes.” Cone Gellar went on to publish Crazy Crocheting in 1981 and encouraged her readers to create more than bedspreads, providing ideas such as “things to play with or to display on a shelf or hang on a wall.” A photo of single crochet from bread wrappers served as inspiration.  In 1972 in her book, Creating Art from Fibers & Fabrics , Dona Meilach wrote: “Why are fibers and fabrics becoming increasingly appealing to artists? Most artists agree

Wartime Crochet With Attitude, Part I

Wednesday, October 30, 2013 Karen Ballard and I have a mutual love of free form crochet. We met for the first time in a class taught by Prudence Mapstone of Australia at the Chain Link Crochet Conference 2011. I admire Karen's vast knowledge of needle work history and am grateful for her willingness to share with us as my guest blogger this week. Karen wearing a World War II-era knitting hat with stubby needles on top Karen's Heritage Heart,  with flowers symbolic of her heritage, is currently on tour with Prudence Mapstone's traveling "Hearts & Flowers Exhibition" in Australia and New Zealand   World War 1 Attitudes About Crochet by Karen Ballard In 2008, I coined that term, "Workbasket Campaigns" to describe the organized efforts during World War I (WWI) and World War II (WWII) coordinated through the American Red Cross {ARC} and the Navy League to create needle crafted items.  These items were mostly knitted but also sewn, qu

Crochet and Society: How Crochet has Contributed

Wednesday, September 4, 2013 Because I am passionate about crochet and because it plays such an important role in my life. I am constantly “thinking crochet.” I want to bring awareness about crochet to everyone in the world. They don’t necessarily need to achieve the level of passion that I have for the craft, but my dream is that our society in general would come to recognize crochet as a valuable art and craft.  I also want to see the entire genre of crochet planted firmly on a continuum with all the other needle arts as a valuable pastime and art, and for the day to come when society stops confusing it with knitting! I have often joked that I am “covering my world in crochet” and that’s because I think crochet can beautify nature as well as contribute to many aspects of my community. I have been covering rocks for years and I turn them into sculptures or decorative o bjects. Claire Zeisler:  Fragments & Dashes , Threads magazine, Oct/Nov 1985 My first cover