Title: Crocheted Abode a la Mode: 20 Yummy Crochet Projects for Your Home Author: Twinkie Chan Format: Softbound, 112 Pages ISBN: 9781589239302 Publisher: Creative Publishing International Size: 8.5 x 8.5 Published: April 1, 2016 Price: $21.99
Crocheted Abode a la Mode, Book Review
What a fantastic book! Read my book review below.
Something I’m sure you all know about me by now is I tend to lean toward the more practical types of crochet patterns – “patterns with a purpose”. So I was pleasantly (very pleasantly I might add) surprised when I opened Twinkie Chan’s newest book and discovered each of these yummy crochet projects does have a purpose! At the same time they are super FUN!
I have a number of favorites – including the functional TV Dinner Tablet Cozy, the bright and colorful Licorice Allsorts Afghan and the Cheeseburger Tissue Box Cozy.
Crocheted Abode a la Mode: 20 Yummy Crochet Projects For Your Home includes the following patterns:
Little Cherry Zipper Pulls,Carnival Pen Cozies, Red Licorice Wrist Rest & Bubble Gum Bath Matt.
Home Office
TV Dinner Tablet Cozy
Taco Pencil Case
Carnival Pen Cozies
Bread Loaf Letter Organizer
Red Licorice Wrist Rest
TV Dinner Tablet Cozy, Carnival Pen Cozies, Taco Pencil Case and Bread Loaf Organizer.
From cover-to-cover the book is visually pleasing. Bright colors and pretty illustrations are used throughout. The font used is clear and easy-to-read, the important text is bolded and indentations are used to make it easier to locate and keep track of your place in the instructions. Both the front and back flap extend to be used as page-markers too!
Basic crochet instructions have been provided from page 106 to 111. This section includes the essentials in a Crochet Tool Kit, recommendations for types of yarn, the importance of gauge and basic stitches you will need to know to complete the projects. Written instructions (U.S. Crochet Terms) and diagrams have been included for the basic stitches and definitions; which include:
Foundation chain
Slip Stitch
Single Crochet
Half Double Crochet
Double Crochet
Half Treble or Half Triple Crochet
Treble or Triple Crochet
Decrease by Working One Single Crochet into Next Two Stitches
Invisible Decrease
Work Even or Work Evenly
Skip
Continuous Spirals vs. Joining Rounds
Fasten Off or Break Off
Weave in Ends
Change Yarn Colors
Basic Abbreviations in Alphabetical Order
Which project(s) would you like to try?
Darla and Andrew already asked me to make them the Carnival Pen Cozies!
(part of the Quarto Publishing Group USA Inc.) has provided us with an excerpt of the following pattern:
Cheeseburger Tissue Box Cozy
The first time I crocheted a cheeseburger tissue box cozy was for the 2012 Plush You! art show which is founded and annually curated by my friend Kristen. Ever since then, people have been writing to me for the pattern, and now I’m excited to serve it up with a juicy patty, frilly lettuce, tomato slices, onion strings, cheesey goodness, and even cute little sesame seeds on the top bun. Your tissues will become a talking point, and you will be the first person you know with a cube-shaped burger to impress all the gourmet-burger fanatics! If anybody happens to shed happy tears over the savory amazingness of this cozy, you’ll already have something handy to wipe them away.
INGREDIENTS
worsted weight
Lion Brand Vanna’s Choice, 100% Premium Acrylic, 3.5 oz (100 g)/170 yds (156 m) per skein: 1 skein 860-130 Honey (A)
Red Heart Soft, 100% Acrylic, 5 oz (141 g)/256 yds (234 m) per skein: 1 skein #E728-9344 Chocolate (C)
Small amounts of worsted weight acrylic yarn: 10 yds (10 m) Beige (B), 5 yds (5 m) Green (D), 9 yds (9 m) Yellow (E), 6 yds (6 m) Red (F), 6 yds (6 m) White (G) Small amount light tan wool felt OR small amount of B for sesame seeds
17 sts x 21 rows in sc = 4″ (10 cm). Take time to check gauge.
Finished Size
4.75″ (12 cm) wide x 4.75″ (12 cm) long x 5.25″ (13.5 cm) high
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Special Stitches Used
DOUBLE TREBLE CROCHET (DTR)
Yo 3 times, insert hook in st, yo and draw up a loop, [yo and draw through 2 loops on hook] 4 times.
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Note: The top of the cozy is worked first in rows. Then, work is continued in rnds for the sides.
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Bun and Burger
With A, ch 19.
Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook, sc in each ch across, turn—18 sc.
Rows 2–10: Ch 1, sc in each sc across, turn.
Row 11: Ch 1, sc in next 4 sc, ch 10 (for opening), sk 10 sts, and sc in next 4 sc, turn—18 sts.
Rows 12–20: Ch 1, sc in each sc across, turn. Do not turn at end of row 20. Do not fasten off.
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BEGIN SIDES
Rnd 1: Ch 1, sc 19 evenly along side of square, sc 18 across foundation ch, sc 19 evenly along 2nd side of square, sc in next 18 sc, join with sl st to 1st sc, turn—74 sc. Place marker for beg of rnd.
Rnds 2–8: Ch 1, sc in each sc around, join with sl st to
1st sc, turn. Fasten off A. Join B.
Rnd 9: Ch 1, sc in each sc around, join with sl st to 1st sc, turn. Fasten off B. Join C.
Rnds 10–18: Ch 1, sc in each sc around, join with sl st to
1st sc, turn. Fasten off C. Join B. Rnd 19: Rep rnd 9. Fasten off B. Join A
Rnds 20–27: Rep rnds 10–17. Fasten off and weave in ends.
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Lettuce
With RS facing and cozy facing right side up, join D to beg of rnd in the first B rnd up from the bottom of the cozy. (Photo 1)
Rnd 1: *[Ch 4, sk 1 st, sl st in B st] 3 times, [ch 6, sk 1 st, sl st in B st] once. rep from * around, ch 4 sk 1 st, sl st in 1st st to join. Fasten off and weave in ends.
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Cheese (make 3)
With E, ch 2.
Row 1: (3 sc) in 2nd ch from hook, turn—3 sc.
Row 2: Ch 2, (hdc, sc) in first sc, sc in next, (sc, hdc) in next sc, turn—5 sts.
Row 3: Ch 2, (hdc, sc) in next st, sc in next 3 sts, (sc, hdc) in next st, turn—7 sts.
Row 4: Ch 3, sc in next 6 sts, (sc, dc) in next st—8 sts. Do not turn.
Border row: Ch 1, work 6 sl st along the side of the piece, (sl st, ch 1, sl st) in point, work 6 sl st along opposite side. Fasten off, leaving a tail 24″ (61 cm) long for sewing, and weave in short end.
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Assembly
Place cozy on tissue box. Arrange cheese slices as desired along the upper B row. Whipstitch top of cheese slice to B row, then using straight sts, sew down cheese edges.
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TOMATOES
Join F in st to the left of a cheese slice.
Row 1: Ch 3, sk 3 sts on cozy, work 1 dtr in the 4th st, (ch 3, dtr into same st as previous dtr) twice, ch 3, sk 3 sts on cozy, sl st in the 4th st. Fasten off and weave in ends. Rep for 2 more tomatoes.
. .
ONIONS
Cut a 2 yd (2 m) strand of G and join to cozy 2 spaces to the right of the left side of tomato (between the center and left of tomato).
Row 1: Ch 18, sk 8 sts, sl st to the 9th st on cozy, sl st in next st on cozy, ch 18, sl st in st to the left of joining. Rep for 2 more onions, being sure that they reach the cheese slices.
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SESAME SEEDS
Cut sesame seeds out of wool felt and attach to top of cozy with fabric glue as desired. OR embroider sesame seeds to top of cozy with B.
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How fun is Twinkie Chan!! I had no idea there were so many cute patterns in this book. I really like the corn dog pen holders.
The Banana Split Throw Pillow made me giggle. I’d love to make it.
This book has some adorable patterns.
This is so cute, my grandkids would love these to play with.
Just what I was looking for to make foods for my grandaughters new play kitchen.
I love this book-give more than 5 stars!! Made the frosted animal cracker banner!!
Thank you for the review. I love Twinkie Chan’s whimsical style!! It’s so much FUN! A must have for any crocheter especially me. 😀
I would love to have this book, but haven’t seen it anywhere (yet). Such cute things 🙂
I love all these food ideas for crochet items. So cute and creative. Thanks for sharing.