Contemporary Crochet Inspiration

Found this London based family company specialising in original handmade crochet and knitted accessories. It's what I love, designer meets handmade, not just homemade. It's craft, but not as you know it. Check them out, definitely not for your granny. I especially love the hats, girly fantasies ahoy!   http://www.domakaya.com/

Free form crochet purse by Domakaya

                                         
This is one crazy crochet lady designer. I discovered her a few years ago. Her name is Ana Voog. She is based in New York, and makes what are utterly unique one off creations. It's definitely wearable art, even if it's not to your taste, you have to admire the skill and imagination that goes into these. http://www.anacam.com/hats/2005collection/2005collection.html

Now for the cute and lovely! Nobody does contemporary craft books like the Japanese, it's a whole genre of its own. I've bought a couple in my time, they're so gorgeously designed and presented. I'm going to endeavour to post links to some of the best websites for obtaining these books, there's a few sellers specialising in them on Etsy and Ebay. This is a book from a seller on Etsy who has a huge selection of Japanes craft books available at http://www.etsy.com/shop/pomadour24

Here are a selection of pictures, all from Japanese crochet craft books, and believe me this isn't all of them. It's a pleasure just looking at the gorgeous presentation of these projects and if they don't convince you to take up crochet then I don't know what will!
Check out this amazing crochet edging, a whole book dedicated to fancy novelty edges, all crocheted. They could easily be bunting, done with the right size yarn. I especially love the little gingerbreadmen, delectable!

                                       Another edging/braid book,

  This is a sample of crochet with beads, in this case butterflies,

This is one of my favourites, beautiful, rustic, simple, chic,

How sweet are these bags!

                                                            

                                                     This is so stylish!

                                                    

 This is one of the craziest ones, a whole book dedicated to tiny crochet miniatures, I'd love to get my hands on those patterns but one must be disciplined!

 My particular love is the world of  Amigurumi, adorable little cartoon style softie animals, check out the examples below. It's like entering a strange little world of Japanese cuteness!  There are a number of Japanese pattern books dedicated to these patterns. Just remember, I got all these images from this Etsy seller, who specialises in Japanese craft books: http://www.etsy.com/shop/pomadour24?ref=seller_info. I especially love the tiny dolls, pretty and adorable.

There are also, of course, a whole selection of free patterns on the internet, and the image below is one to give you an idea of what you can do with the free pattterns avilable at the link below the picture.

This is the most comprehensive list of free Amigurumi patterns I have come across, it's huge, http://mycrochethelp.com/free-crochet-patterns/free-amigurumi-crochet-patterns/ .
There are also plenty of groups and websites dedicated to the love of these little critters. So much joy from a bit of wool! This is a collection of creations taken from the Amigurumi Flickr group, I love the wonderful, kitsch, cheerful quality of all of these. This is about delight, pure and simple. http://www.flickr.com/groups/amigurumi/