Are you perpetually on the hunt for gloriously beautiful and impressive crochet projects? Do you seek out eye-catching projects that compel people do a double take and look closer? Would you enjoy having access to a brand new collection of home decor and other patterns which all fit that description? And would you be excited to crochet a new blanket, rug, pillow, mandala, purse and other projects that feature an interplay of rich textures and vibrant colors? If so, there’s a brand new pattern book you’re going to want to take a look at. It’s called Overlay Crochet: 10 Projects Add Dimension and Style to Your Home.
What You Need to Know About This Crochet Pattern Book:
Overlay Crochet Book by Kristi Simpson, Published by Leisure Arts
Author: Kristi Simpson
Publisher: Leisure Arts
Copyright Date: 2019
ISBN 10: 1464777969
Book Formats:
This book is available in the following format(s):
Number of Pages: 64
The Focus of This Book:
This book is exclusively dedicated to giving you projects that utilize the overlay crochet technique. This is both a project book and a technique book, but the focus here is really on the projects more so than the technique. Most of the projects in the book are for home decor, but there’s also a purse pattern included.
Crochet Projects Included in This Book:
Here you can see more information about the contents of Overlay Crochet by Kristi Simpson, published by Leisure Arts.
Patterns for making the following 10 crochet projects are all included in Overlay Crochet:
Overlay Crochet Blanket Pattern
This gorgeous granny square blanket is extra interesting, thanks to the use of the overlay crochet technique to layer yarn colors overtop of each other. The finished blanket measures 26″ x 42″. It requires 4 colors of medium-weight yarn plus a size J / 6 mm crochet hook. Get the pattern for crocheting this afghan in Overlay Crochet by Kristi Simpson, published by Leisure Arts.
Overlay Crochet Basket Pattern
You’ll find the pattern for crocheting this lovely and useful basket in the Overlay Crochet book by Kristi Simpson, published by Leisure Arts
Overlay Crochet Crossbody Bag Pattern
Make yourself a fabulous crossbody bag just like this one using a pattern you’ll find in Overlay Crochet by Kristi Simpson, published by Leisure Arts
Overlay Crochet Mandala Pattern
Doilies are perpetually popular crochet projects, but lately I’ve noticed that people are making a more colorful and complex sort of doily, known as a mandala. If you want to crochet a mandala, this colorful example is an excellent choice to consider. You’ll find the pattern in Kristi Simpson’s new book called Overlay Crochet, published by Leisure Arts.
Overlay Crochet Pouf Pattern
Can’t you just imagine yourself lounging in your favorite chair, with your feet propped up on this cozy and stylish pouf? You could make one (or more!) of these stylish projects for your own home. You’ll find the pouf pattern in Overlay Crochet by Kristi Simpson, published by Leisure Arts.
Overlay Crochet Doily Rug Pattern
If you’re in need of a new rug for any room in your home, you couldn’t ask for a prettier rug than this one. Get the pattern for crocheting this colorful doily rug in Kristi Simpson’s brand new book called Overlay Crochet, published by Leisure Arts.
Overlay Crochet Hand Towel Pattern
Imagine how impressed your friends and family will be when they see a set of these lovely hand towels hanging in your powder room. You could make towels just like these using a pattern from Overlay Crochet by Kristi Simpson, published by Leisure Arts. If you plan to entertain during the holidays this year, consider whipping up a set of these lovely towels before the holiday rush, so you can have them ready for people to use next time you invite invite people over to your place.
If you want to make them specifically for Christmas, you could use a dark green yarn in place of the gray yarn, and red yarn in place of the yellow yarn — and voila, you have a Christmas colorway. ” width=”480″ height=”682″ class=”size-full wp-image-5241″ /> Imagine how impressed your friends and family will be when they see a set of these lovely hand towels hanging in your powder room. You could make towels just like these using a pattern from Overlay Crochet by Kristi Simpson, published by Leisure Arts. If you plan to entertain during the holidays this year, consider whipping up a set of these lovely towels before the holiday rush, so you can have them ready for people to use next time you invite invite people over to your place. If you want to make them specifically for Christmas, you could use a dark green yarn in place of the gray yarn, and red yarn in place of the yellow yarn — and voila, you have a Christmas colorway.” width=”480″ height=”682″ class=”size-full wp-image-3159″ /> Imagine how impressed your friends and family will be when they see a set of these lovely hand towels hanging in your powder room. You could make towels just like these using a pattern from Overlay Crochet by Kristi Simpson, published by Leisure Arts. If you plan to entertain during the holidays this year, consider whipping up a set of these lovely towels before the holiday rush, so you can have them ready for people to use next time you invite invite people over to your place.
If you want to make them specifically for Christmas, you could use a dark green yarn in place of the gray yarn, and red yarn in place of the yellow yarn — and voila, you have a Christmas colorway.
Overlay Crochet Placemat and Coaster Set
Protect your table from spills and drips with these richly textured coasters and placemats. You’ll find the patterns for making this lovely set in Kristi Simpson’s new book called Overlay Crochet, published by Leisure Arts.
The Best Things About This Book
If you enjoy learning, or exploring, different crochet techniques, I think you’ll be thrilled to have the opportunity to work from this book. As far as I know, there aren’t that many books available on the topic of overlay crochet yet — so this book really fills a void in the marketplace.
The overlay crochet technique is absolutely fascinating, and the patterns in this book will introduce you to a wonderful variety of cool things you can do with the technique.
The crochet projects presented in this book are simply exquisite. If you want to crochet home decor items that are truly appealing and pretty, this is definitely a pattern collection worth considering. In particular, that pillow is stunning, don’t you think? And that granny square blanket is extraordinary too. Really, I think all these projects are appealing ones. There isn’t a single dud in the bunch.
These projects take full advantage of all the elements that make crochet, crochet. One of the main differentiators between crochet and other crafts is that crochet projects are inherently textured and dimensional. These projects allow you to really dig in and explore how layered and multi-dimensional crochet can get — and the results are truly spectacular.
The color choices presented in this book are all on-trend and gorgeous. You can easily re-color them if you want to, but you really don’t need to.
The styling in the book is helpful and evocative, without being distracting. I think most crafters will be able to look at these pictures and easily decide whether each project is one they’d want to make, or not — without the styling interfering with the decision.
I think the projects all look like they’d be worth the time investment and the yarn investment.
If you ever have a need to crochet gifts for others, it would be worth considering these projects as possibilities for the projects you’d want to make. If you ever need to make housewarming gifts, those hand towels and placemats would be fantastic candidates to consider. That blanket isn’t specifically presented as being a baby blanket, but it looks to me like that could be its best use. I think it would make an excellent baby shower gift. As it’s shown in the book, this particular blanket would be gorgeous in a little girl’s room. With a quick color change, it could be suitable for decorating a little boy’s room, too. It could also make an excellent wedding gift, although I’d be likely to make it bigger than the size suggested in the pattern (26″ wide by 42″ long) and possibly make it in a different fiber if I were going to make it as a wedding gift.
Other Observations About This Book
This book DOES NOT include international symbol crochet charts.
Skill level ratings are included for each of these patterns. It looks to me like the rating system differs slightly from the skill level rating system implemented by the Craft Yarn Council. The patterns included in this collection range from “basic” to “easy” to “intermediate”.
The book doesn’t go into all that much detail about what the overlay crochet technique actually is, or what differentiates it from other crochet techniques. It also doesn’t give you any information at all about the history of the technique.
The book includes a helpful section of general instructions in the back. This section focuses primarily on presenting instructions for the specific techniques and terms you’ll need to use and understand when making these projects — post stitches, free loops, changing colors, etc. It is not intended to be a comprehensive guide to crochet. If you haven’t crocheted in awhile, and you need to brush up on the most basic stitches and techniques, you won’t find them all covered here. In that case, there are two resources I recommend checking out:
- Click here to find our page of crochet instructions for beginners; and,
- Click here to find our recommendations for the best crochet books for beginners.
Conclusion
This is a beautiful book featuring truly impressive projects. I’d recommend it to crochet enthusiasts who are looking for appealing and gift-worthy new projects to work on. This book contains some truly outstanding design work that you absolutely do not want to miss out on.
As a technique book, I think Overlay Crochet is perhaps a bit disappointing, as it doesn’t actually go into depth in describing or educating readers about the specifics of the overlay crochet technique. This is a case where you’ll learn by doing more so than you will by reading.
If your goal is to read and learn more specifically about the technique, its development and its history, I recommend getting a copy of Crochet Master Class in addition to, or instead of, this book. But Crochet Master Class only includes one overlay crochet project (it is a spectacular one!) So if you’re looking for actual projects using the overlay crochet technique, this book of Kristi’s offers you more options. As a project book, I think Overlay Crochet is wildly successful. The projects are unique, lovely and worth the time and effort to make.
I think intermediate-level crocheters will get the best value from this book — but I’d encourage crocheters of any experience level to consider picking up a copy, because I think this technique is well worth investing the effort to learn.
Where to Buy This Book:
More Crochet Techniques
I’ve been crocheting since I was a small child. One of the things that has kept me interested in the art form for all these years: The fact that so many different crochet techniques exist. If you like learning about different crochet techniques, too, I invite you to consider the following resources:
- Lovely Decor in Filet Crochet is the best resource I know of for learning the filet crochet technique. This book includes the clearest explanation I’ve yet found for how to read a filet crochet pattern. The book also includes some truly innovative filet crochet patterns for you to practice on.
- Learn to Crochet Mosaic Hats is an excellent book for learning the mosaic crochet technique plus getting your hands on some stylish projects to make using the technique.
- Corner to Corner Lap Throws for the Family is a good book for learning and practicing the corner-to-corner crochet technique.
More Crochet Pattern Books by Kristi Simpson
Kristi is a prolific author. In addition to Overlay Crochet, I’ve reviewed a couple of the other crochet books she has written:
Check ’em out!
Learn More About Crochet:
- Click here to find our picks for the best crochet books.
- Click Here to Learn How to Crochet; This Link Takes You to a Total Beginner’s Guide to Crochet.
- Click here to find crochet stitch tutorials and instructions.
- Click here to learn more crochet techniques.
- Click HERE to Find Fabulous Yarn for Crochet and Knitting
- Click here to learn about crochet hooks.
- Click here to find my favorite crochet project bag.
Learn About Other Crafts: Knitting, Sewing, Quilting, Paper Crafts and More
- Click here to get updated on the latest craft supplies.
- Click here to learn about knitting.
- Click here to find our beginner’s guide to knitting needles.
- Click here to find outstanding craft project ideas.
Posted By: Amy Solovay
Page last updated on 12-22-2022. Thanks for visiting!