Crochet Inspirations

I love crochet, but I am not very good at it.  I also like looking through crochet books and recently found a hidden gem:  

AUSTENtatious Crochet by Melisssa Horozweski; Running Press, 2011

 

At first I thought it was a bit tongue-in-cheek, but as I read through the book, I loved the concept.  The book is a mix of crochet patterns and a tribute to all things Austen and the Regency era.  There are also awesome pattern names like the "Dreaming of Mr. Knightley Pajama Set" and the "Confessions Chemise".    I also got the impression that the author genuinely wants the reader to understand and get better at crochet.  This is in contrast to some books that are almost condescending at times.  Each of the patterns has a reference video on her website http://www.stitchscene.com/.  

So, what has this inspired? Well, I have never really had a successful crochet project.  Everything I have made thus far has been a bit misshapen. Reading this book has really reinforced the importance of gauge.  I feel like this is one of the key skills to master, before I can actually turn out some decent projects.  In the coming weeks, I will learn more gauge and pay more attention to this as I try out some simple crochet patterns.