Crochet with London Kaye: Projects and Ideas to Yarn Bomb Your Life

By London Kaye

Whimsical indoor and outdoor projects from the yarn artist known for her “boundary-unraveling work” (The New York Times).

Yarn has always been a popular medium, but in the hands of artists like London Kaye, it becomes a vibrant new form for expression and personal creativity. 

Full of tips and techniques on crochet, types of yarn bombing, and at-home projects for the beginner and advanced crocheter, Crochet with London Kaye promises to engage and inspire crafty readers around the world. With beautiful photos of her most admired street art pieces, yarn artist London Kaye brings the lesser-known world of yarn bombing into focus, with the added bonus of more than a dozen of her most sought-after patterns: crochet covers for your sneakers, a vibrant case for that blue IKEA bag everyone has at home, or her signature eyeball that you can personalize and add to your own bag, jacket, or attire of your choosing. Her projects are unlike anything else you’ll find today, and with this book you can take an up-close look at her work—and take your needlework in an exciting new direction.

• Language: English
• Publisher: ABRAMS
• Release date: Sep 17, 2019
• ISBN: 9781683356714

Book preview

CROCHET 101

how to crochet

rochet is a chain of knots that moves from right to left, then turns at the end of the row. This process is repeated until the project is complete. There are a few exceptions to this movement, such as when working in a circle or on something abstract.

POSITION OF THE HANDS

You can hold a crochet hook a few different ways. You will need to experiment with the position of your hands until the hook feels comfortable. If your hands are tense, your stitches will be uneven.

Hold a crochet hook between the thumb and index finger of your dominant hand, and guide the hook with the middle finger. Your other hand holds and controls the yarn. After a little practice, your hands will assume the proper position automatically.

HOW TO CHAIN

Every crochet starts with a foundation chain. The length of the foundation chain depends on what you are making.

Make a slip knot: Pull about 8 inches (20 cm) of yarn off your skein. Wrap the tail end of the yarn around your index and middle fingers. Continue to pull the yarn through the loop, stopping before the entire tail comes out. (PHOTO A)

Hold the slip knot in your nondominant hand, and insert the crochet hook in the slip knot from front to back.

Move the tail end of the yarn into your dominant hand while keeping the working yarn in your other hand. (PHOTO B)

Wrap the working yarn over the hook from back to front. These wraps are called yarn overs. (PHOTO C)

Turn your hook about ¼ inch (6 mm) so you catch the yarn with the hook, and pull it through the loop. You have made your first chain. (PHOTO D)

To add chains, repeat as needed. Practice making a chain until it feels natural and your stitches are even and not too tight.

HOW TO SINGLE CROCHET

The single crochet is the most basic crochet stitch.

Crochet a foundation chain. You will work your first row of single crochet stitches into this foundation chain. (PHOTO E)

Hold your foundation chain and your yarn in your nondominant hand, and slide your hook from front to back into the second chain from the hook.

Wrap the working yarn over your crochet hook from back to front and catch it with the hook. (PHOTO F)

Pull the hook and the yarn through the first loop so you have two loops left on your hook. (PHOTO G)

Wrap the working yarn over your crochet hook again from back to front. (PHOTO H)

Pull the hook and the yarn through both loops so you are left with one loop on your hook. This completes a single crochet stitch. (PHOTO