I’m so excited to be part of Marly Bird’s blog tour for her latest pattern booklet, which will help you explore planned color pooling in crochet. If you’ve ever wondered how to control those pools of color your variegated yarn makes when you’re crocheting, you may have found your book. Oh, and did I mention the giveaway? Yeah, there’s one of those, too, so read on for details.
This post contains affiliate links. I may receive compensation (at no added cost to you) if you make a purchase using these links. A free review copy of Yarn Pooling Made Easy was provided to me by Leisure Arts. Although I accept free products for review, I do not accept additional compensation, nor do I guarantee a positive review. My reviews are based entirely on my honest opinions.
Book Review
Many crocheters (and knitters) already know Marly Bird as a designer, the National Spokesperson for Red Heart Yarns, and/or as the host of the Yarn Thing Podcast. She’s also a teacher on Craftsy and Creativebug, and, of course, an author.
Marly’s latest is Yarn Pooling Made Easy, a crochet pattern booklet focused on creating argyle patterns using planned color pooling with variegated yarns. The booklet opens with a brief introduction and a link to Marly’s blog section on planned pooling. (She also has a YouTube playlist with all of her planned pooling videos.) It continues on to providing some planned pooling tips and a biography of Marly.
The booklet then moves right into the patterns. There are 10 patterns in total, including 4 scarves/cowls, 3 women’s accessories, 2 baby/child wearables, and a car seat blanket. All of the patterns are rated as easy and use medium weight yarns from Red Heart. Each pattern includes the finished size, a shopping (materials) list, gauge information (including tips for creating a gauge swatch), a stitch guide, and detailed instructions using U.S. pattern abbreviations. Each pattern includes at least one large photograph (on a model or in use), but most include several pictures.
The booklet ends with a General Instructions section that includes yarn and hook size information, a comparison of U.S. to U.K./international abbreviations, a glossary of abbreviations and symbols, information about gauge, instructions for joining with single crochet, and written and illustrated instructions for the magic ring and reverse single crochet. The book ends with Yarn Information that provides details on the yarn used in each project.
Yarn Pooling Made Easy is a paperback pattern booklet that lays flat so you can read and crochet at the same time. Like all pattern booklets, you will enjoy the book more if you want to make the included patterns. The patterns aren’t posted to Ravelry yet, but you can see them in a series of videos on Marly’s YouTube channel. My favorite patterns are the Wristers, Cowl, & Hat Set…
…and the Poncho with Raglan Yoke.
If you’re interested in planned color pooling and you like the patterns you see on Marly’s YouTube channel, check out Yarn Pooling Made Easy!
Giveaway
Now that you’ve read my review, are you ready to get your hands on a copy of Yarn Pooling Made Easy? The nice folks at Leisure Arts have set aside a copy for one reader.
This giveaway is open to readers worldwide, except where prohibited by law. Enter by 11:59 p.m. Eastern on Monday, September 25, 2017. One winner will be chosen at random from the entries submitted via the Rafflecopter widget. The winner will receive Yarn Pooling Made Easy by Marly Bird, courtesy of Leisure Arts. Winners will U.S. mailing addresses will receive a print copy. International winners will receive an electronic book. Good luck!
Visit the Other Stops on the Blog Tour!
Be sure to check out the previous stops on the blog tour. Many are also offering giveaways for the book so you can increase your chances of winning. Also, don’t forget to stop by Marly’s YouTube channel, where she will be hosting a giveaway throughout the blog tour where you can win the Red Heart yarn to make different projects from the booklet.
- September 5: Calleigh’s Clips and Crochet Creations
- September 6: ACCROchet
- September 7: The Stitchin’ Mommy
- September 8: Crochet Memories
- September 11: Pattern Paradise
- September 12: 5 Little Monsters
- September 13: YARNutopia
- September 14: Same DiNamics Crochet
- September 15: Nicki’s Homemade Crafts
- September 18: Looping with Love
- September 19: Underground Crafter (you are here!)