Magazine Review :: Love Crochet

I was asked, recently, if I would like to review the current issue of 'Love Crochet' magazine. Of course I said 'yes', so here goes...

'Love Crochet' is an annual publication, first published in 2011. It features a wide range of projects and has a cover price of £7.99. The magazine comes with a free gift of a 4.0mm crochet hook and, in addition, contains several offers for crochet books at a reduced price.

The front cover of the magazine states that it contains 36 patterns, but once you open the magazine you'll see that there are 24 projects. The number 36 comes from including, for example, the bootees and dress in in the 'Game, set and match' project as two distinct patterns. So whilst claiming there are 36 patterns in the magazine is technically correct, I do find it a little misleading.

The magazine contains a wide range of patterns contained within 5 sections:

1. Children's wear including baby blankets, clothes and hats 

2. Ladieswear including hats and scarves/snoods 

3. Home including cushions and table mats

4. Teeny Tiny which is a section on amigurumi 

5. Summer Accessories including bags and brooches.  

Several of the patterns are by well-known names in the crochet world: Linda Permann, Erika Knight, Rachel Henderson, Catherine Hirst, Nicki Trench and Nicky Epstein. As you may expect given the names behind the patterns, they are well written, well illustrated and several include charts as well as written instructions.

There is also an interview with Catherine Hirst, author of 'Teeny tiny crochet', two patterns from which are included in the magazine. At the back of the magazine, there is a short section on how to crochet and how to read crochet patterns. 

I would say that most of the patterns in the book are suitable for beginners, but there are enough more advanced patterns to keep a more experienced crocheter interested.

16 of the 24 projects are either book extracts or have been previously published elsewhere. Where a project has been extracted from a book it is accompanied by a 'Reader Offer' to buy the book at a special price.  

I have been inspired to make a couple of projects from the book, both of which are from Erika Knight's 'Crochet Workshop'. The first was based on these table mats. The mats pictured below are made with 2 strands of cotton DK and a 5mm hook.

I made mine with 4-ply cotton and a 3mm hook and they came out the perfect size for coasters, but instead I strung them together to make a garland. 

The other project I've started is the snood.

This pattern is a lot easier than it might look at first glance and works up incredibly fast. Although the fabric created looks quite dense it is actually quite light and has a lovely drape. I think this would make a great Christmas gift.

In fact, many of the projects would make great gifts - the Kindle case, the hats or snoods, the flower motifs could be used to make brooches or hair slides, and so on. And, if my children are anything to go by, you can't go wrong with an amigurumi, they are more or less the perfect stocking filler!

All in all, I think the magazine is reasonable value for money when you consider that monthly crochet magazines have a cover price of around £5 and don't contain as many patterns.  So, if you see this magazine in the newsagent, have a flick through - you might see something that you like.

If you can't find the magazine in the shops, it can be purchased on-line here.

disclosure: I was not financially compensated for this post. I received a copy of the magazine for review purposes. The opinions are my own.