Favorite Irish Crochet Designs

Create airy and delicate lace designs for table, bed, and wardrobe using the time-honored technique of Irish crochet. This handsome handicraft, known for its raised floral motifs and intricate background patterns, probably originated in the convents of Ireland, where diligent nuns prepared beautiful ornaments for use in church services. Today, this stunning form of lace-making has been adapted and simplified for dozens of day-to-day uses: decorating curtains, tablecloths, pillows, bedspreads, lingerie, collars, children's clothing, doilies, and more. Rita Weiss, a noted needlework designer and bestselling author, has collected the finest, easily workable examples of Irish crochet from rare American thread company booklets of more than 50 years ago. Step-by-step instructions, stitch and hook charts, metric conversion charts, and 40 clear illustrations allow you to make magnificent accessories in these lovely patterns: My Wild Irish Rose, Popcorn, Rose of Sharon, Cinderella, More Than a Touch of Blarney, Beauty Rose, "Smilin' Through," Tournament of Roses, Wedding Ring, Dublin Beauty, Irish Springtime, and others. No skills beyond a familiarity with ordinary crochet technique are needed to create these beautiful patterns. In addition, expert tips on blocking and finishing make it certain that your final product will be nothing short of a work of art. With this versatile, inexpensive guide, the beauty of Irish crochet — once thought too difficult to achieve by any but the most experienced needleworkers — is now within reach of even beginning crocheters.