Fiber and Wire Jewelry Books:
I wrote Fiber Wire Beads and Jewelry many years ago and unfortunately, one of the things the publisher overlooked was advertising this book as having not only thirty some fiberwire beads, but thirty jewelry projects as well. Hard to believe that happened. So, they just advertised it as having projects for thirty fiber wire beads that then made jewelry. Not so. In fact, there are many, many other fiber wire techniques in this book like crocheting with fiber and wire that went without any notice.
Having said all that, there's a lot to be gotten from this book on using fiber and wire together that goes well beyond making beads. There are still some very low priced copies of Fiber Wire Beads and Jewelry left at Amazon if you're so inclined.
Having said all that, there's a lot to be gotten from this book on using fiber and wire together that goes well beyond making beads. There are still some very low priced copies of Fiber Wire Beads and Jewelry left at Amazon if you're so inclined.
Elements of Style: Knit, Crochet Jewelry With Wire, Fiber, Felt and Beads by Rosemary Hill
Each of the projects in this book starts out with its' own very detailed how-to steps with ample illustrations to complete each one. There's also a general techniques section in the back of the book if you need additional help.
There's a short introduction by Hill which then quickly leads the reader into the Wire section. Here there are six projects in all wire both knit, free form, beads and finishes with a lovely threesome of crocheted and knitted earrings with beads incorporated into them. Simple projects building up your skills in this chapter.
In the Fiber section, there are six projects as well the most stunning of which is the Falling Leaves scarf necklace. You'll also find projects on earrings, silk bracelets and necklaces. Nicely done indeed..
The Felt chapter is where Hill's talents soar. Five projects here with earrings, cuffs and necklaces. Check out the Ball and Chain ensemble. It's a rare talent to see a jewelry designer make wire jewelry and fiber work together so well and Hill's got it.
An added bonus to this book's how-to steps is Hill provides interesting tips on the pages in between her projects that can be useful and inspiring. She uses pre-made findings to finish her pieces, however, which is the only fault I could find with this book.
It's a real pleasure to see a book with wire jewelry that combines it so pleasingly with fiber mediums. Elements of Style: Knit, Crochet Jewelry with Wire, Fiber, Felt and Beads is a hit and well worth a gander if you're looking to expand you jewelry designer skill set.
More info or to purchase: Elements of Style
There's a short introduction by Hill which then quickly leads the reader into the Wire section. Here there are six projects in all wire both knit, free form, beads and finishes with a lovely threesome of crocheted and knitted earrings with beads incorporated into them. Simple projects building up your skills in this chapter.
In the Fiber section, there are six projects as well the most stunning of which is the Falling Leaves scarf necklace. You'll also find projects on earrings, silk bracelets and necklaces. Nicely done indeed..
The Felt chapter is where Hill's talents soar. Five projects here with earrings, cuffs and necklaces. Check out the Ball and Chain ensemble. It's a rare talent to see a jewelry designer make wire jewelry and fiber work together so well and Hill's got it.
An added bonus to this book's how-to steps is Hill provides interesting tips on the pages in between her projects that can be useful and inspiring. She uses pre-made findings to finish her pieces, however, which is the only fault I could find with this book.
It's a real pleasure to see a book with wire jewelry that combines it so pleasingly with fiber mediums. Elements of Style: Knit, Crochet Jewelry with Wire, Fiber, Felt and Beads is a hit and well worth a gander if you're looking to expand you jewelry designer skill set.
More info or to purchase: Elements of Style
Jewelry With A Hook: Crocheted Fiber Necklaces, Bracelets and More by Terry Taylor
I bought this book at one of the fire sales when our local Borders bookstore was closing and was initially intrigued. I love fibers with all their gorgeous colors and have often incorporated them into some of my work.
Jewelry With A Hook: Crocheted Fiber Necklaces, Bracelets and More by Terry Taylor has forty crochet and felt projects in this book. Following the brief introduction about the book, we move into "Bedeck The Neck" which has a full twenty crochet jewelry projects in it. There's the Garden Tapestry Choker, Bountiful Beads Collar, Gold and Ruby Choker, Disc-O Necklace, Irish Crochet Collar and Soft and Simple Choker. Soft and Simple Choker is quite lovely, integrating beads and wire in lovely Fall colors. Disco necklace works well also: A long pendant with multi-colored disc crocheted beads. Bountiful Beads Collar using felted beads is also interesting.
Next we have the Silver Pendant Wrap, Daisy Chain, Icicles Necklace, Soft and Pink Collar and the Sculptural Necklace. Silver Pendant Wrap is quite lovely and delicate and shown in an alternate design using red. Daisy Chain is shown integrating chain with crochet and is really quite well done. It just works and is a fun piece of jewelry. The Icicles Necklace also works, although not quite as well, but the more you look, the more you like it.
All that's followed by the Modular Crochet Pendants, Four Pendant Cords, the Know Stitch Necklace and the Delicate Silver choker. The Modular Crochet Pendants hold some promise for several other designs as well. Four Pendant Cords allow you to attach to a major centerpiece stone or such. The Knot Stitch Necklace works very well in incorporating beads and fiber crochet into a lovely necklace with a stunning alternate design to work with. The Delicate Silver Choker is my favorite neck choker in the entire book: delicate and beautifully worked.
This leads us to the Sunflowers Collar, Leafy Garden Necklace, Lavender Lariat, Rowanberry Pendant and finally, the Curlicue Necklace. The Leafy Garden Necklace uses some interesting crochet for this crocheted jewelry although it would likely work better crocheted in wire. Rowanberry Pendant is interesting but the Curlicue necklace is my favorite in this bunch, very cute.
On to the next section of this book called, Adorn the Hand and Wrist, Cuffs, Bangles and Rings where we've got: Fiesta Bangles, Beaded Tapestry Cuff, Space Age Bracelet, Chunky Bangles, Floral Rings and the Trellis Cuff. The best projects here, the ones that work and you'd be proud to wear are: Fiesta Bangles, Beaded Tapestry Cuff and the Trellis Cuff. Of the following four projects: Amigurumi Set, Night Sky Bracelet, Gothic Rose Wristlet and Victorian Button Rings, favorites are Amigurumi Set, Night Sky Bracelet (kinda retro and fun).
Next is the Lobes and Lapels section: favorites: Silver Spirals and you shouldn't miss the necklace with the Hyperbolic Beads, Samba Earrings, Morning Tide Brooch because they are just the best.
The end of Jewelry With A Hook offers Crochet Basics with tools and materials, Basic Crochet Stitches, Special Techniques and Stitches and Basic Shaping Techniques all of which is quite nicely written and illustrated. There's also a section on Reading a Pattern and Substituting Fibers to completely change you most favorite crocheted jewelry designs that yo find in the book. The Finishing Touches Section includes: fastening off, weaving in the ends, blocking, steam blocking and spray blocking. You'll also get the scale of crochet hook sizes and finally, blurbs about the multitude of jewelry designers who have contributed their designs to this book. I counted a total of sixteen different designers as contributors to this book.
Jewelry With A Hook: Crocheted Fiber Necklaces, Bracelets and More by Terry Taylor has forty crochet and felt projects in this book. Following the brief introduction about the book, we move into "Bedeck The Neck" which has a full twenty crochet jewelry projects in it. There's the Garden Tapestry Choker, Bountiful Beads Collar, Gold and Ruby Choker, Disc-O Necklace, Irish Crochet Collar and Soft and Simple Choker. Soft and Simple Choker is quite lovely, integrating beads and wire in lovely Fall colors. Disco necklace works well also: A long pendant with multi-colored disc crocheted beads. Bountiful Beads Collar using felted beads is also interesting.
Next we have the Silver Pendant Wrap, Daisy Chain, Icicles Necklace, Soft and Pink Collar and the Sculptural Necklace. Silver Pendant Wrap is quite lovely and delicate and shown in an alternate design using red. Daisy Chain is shown integrating chain with crochet and is really quite well done. It just works and is a fun piece of jewelry. The Icicles Necklace also works, although not quite as well, but the more you look, the more you like it.
All that's followed by the Modular Crochet Pendants, Four Pendant Cords, the Know Stitch Necklace and the Delicate Silver choker. The Modular Crochet Pendants hold some promise for several other designs as well. Four Pendant Cords allow you to attach to a major centerpiece stone or such. The Knot Stitch Necklace works very well in incorporating beads and fiber crochet into a lovely necklace with a stunning alternate design to work with. The Delicate Silver Choker is my favorite neck choker in the entire book: delicate and beautifully worked.
This leads us to the Sunflowers Collar, Leafy Garden Necklace, Lavender Lariat, Rowanberry Pendant and finally, the Curlicue Necklace. The Leafy Garden Necklace uses some interesting crochet for this crocheted jewelry although it would likely work better crocheted in wire. Rowanberry Pendant is interesting but the Curlicue necklace is my favorite in this bunch, very cute.
On to the next section of this book called, Adorn the Hand and Wrist, Cuffs, Bangles and Rings where we've got: Fiesta Bangles, Beaded Tapestry Cuff, Space Age Bracelet, Chunky Bangles, Floral Rings and the Trellis Cuff. The best projects here, the ones that work and you'd be proud to wear are: Fiesta Bangles, Beaded Tapestry Cuff and the Trellis Cuff. Of the following four projects: Amigurumi Set, Night Sky Bracelet, Gothic Rose Wristlet and Victorian Button Rings, favorites are Amigurumi Set, Night Sky Bracelet (kinda retro and fun).
Next is the Lobes and Lapels section: favorites: Silver Spirals and you shouldn't miss the necklace with the Hyperbolic Beads, Samba Earrings, Morning Tide Brooch because they are just the best.
The end of Jewelry With A Hook offers Crochet Basics with tools and materials, Basic Crochet Stitches, Special Techniques and Stitches and Basic Shaping Techniques all of which is quite nicely written and illustrated. There's also a section on Reading a Pattern and Substituting Fibers to completely change you most favorite crocheted jewelry designs that yo find in the book. The Finishing Touches Section includes: fastening off, weaving in the ends, blocking, steam blocking and spray blocking. You'll also get the scale of crochet hook sizes and finally, blurbs about the multitude of jewelry designers who have contributed their designs to this book. I counted a total of sixteen different designers as contributors to this book.