BY NICKY EPSTEIN
When my longtime friend, Cari Clement, asked if I would consider writing the foreword to her book, Embellished Crochet, I said, “Of course!” Whether it’s embellishing on, over, or beyond edges, embellishing for me is what makes a garment truly special, a signature the creator gives to her garment that makes it uniquely hers. While many crocheters can use the same basic stitch pattern to make a garment, adding a touch of embellishing can change a garment’s look dramatically and beautifully. It’s the addition of just a few beads, some embroidery touches, a tassel, beaded fringe—simple and easy techniques—that make the garment special.
The projects in this book are just right—not too much embellishing, not too few added accents. They range from the super-easy to the more challenging, encouraging you to learn as you create. What’s so wonderful about them is their simplicity of silhouette—allowing the embellishing to make them stand-out pieces. These designs also inspire you to incorporate the techniques learned from making them into other projects down the road.
I am honored to have been asked to write this foreword, and I feel the designers featured in Embellished Crochet should really be complimented for their amazing creativity, attention to detail, and willingness to dive into the expanding world of embellishing, headfirst.