The Crocheter's Guide to Yarn Cocktails

30 Technique-Expanding Recipes for Tasty Little Projects

Anastasia Blaes and Kelly Wilson

A hip instruction book for needle artists

The new needle arts enthusiasts are young and hip. Most are either new to needle arts or are crossing over from knitting to crocheting and vice versa. The Crocheter's Guide to Yarn Cocktails presents crochet as a fresh and exciting leisure activity, dispelling any former notions of the hobby as grandmotherly. Each fun project in The Crocheter's Guide to Yarn Cocktails teaches a specific skill so techniques can be learned in easy increments. The simple patterns offer a mixture of techniques which are the ingredients for learning more advanced projects. Angled toward the younger, emerging needle arts enthusiast, each project is inspired in name and attitude by a popular drink. By completing a "Yarn Cocktail" pattern, the reader will have created a beautiful unique accessory or garment and mastered a new crochet skill, and be empowered to tackle a more challenging project. Each pattern is accompanied by a recipe for the drink that inspired it, encouraging needle artists to knit as a social activity. But remember, the authors' motto is: Yarn Over, not Hangover!

Anastasia Blaes was taught to crochet by her grandmother at age six. Too rebellious to follow traditional patterns, she soon began designing for herself. Discovering that others were interested in her original designs, she sold original finished garments locally and in a baby boutique in Chicago. Anastasia has designed for such companies as Lion Brand Yarns and Jeanette Crews Designs. She is a member of TNNA and the Prince William Purlers knitting guild, where she served on the board as publicity chair for the years 2002 and 2003.

Kelly Wilson, a self-taught crocheter, has taught people of all ages to knit and crochet. She is the author of several booklets published by Leisure Arts and Jeanette Crews Designs. A former knitting editor, Kelly has proofed patterns for Leisure Arts, Herrschner's and Jeanette Crews Designs. Kelly is a member of TKGA as well as CGOA, where she serves on the Education committee.