Crochet That Fits
Mary Jane Hall
In A Nutshell: Hit and miss crochet patterns shaped with different height stitches
Mary Jane states her aim is to create fitted and fluid crochet designs without the need to do any shaping. She achieves this by making stitches of varying heights on the same row. 33 designs, including bags, headbands, belts, dresses and tops illustrate the system.
There are some interesting patterns, but the choice of colours and styling fails to “sell” the designs. A striped sleeveless turtleneck sweater has been made in a truly awful stripe combination. You need to be able use your imagination to visualise different colours and wools.
I bought this book specifically for the baby-doll top pattern. I made the top half without any problem. It’s made in one piece, using crochet in the back loop only, to create a bodice that will stretch to fit around the bust. This worked well, and was easy to adjust for a good fit. Problems arose when I commenced the lacy lower half. The graduated effect is achieved by starting with double crochet and working up to double trebles. How I hated making those double trebles. And I didn’t like the overall effect at all. I don’t abandon many projects, but this is one of them.
I had more success with the flared tweed hat, albeit using a non tweed yarn. The graduated technique worked better here. I quite like the finished hat, though it’s a little floppy, and I intend to add a band, rather than the flower used in the pattern.
Personally I don’t have any problems in shaping crochet the normal way, and prefer it to Mary Jane’s method of different stitch heights. But I’m pleased to have learnt the technique, and may come back to it in the future.
