I read fashion magazines for many reasons, but mostly for what I may glean about fashion trends and how those trends may, or may not, influence what I aspire to do with needle and thread. I read fashion magazines because at their most basic they are still about designer’s and artist’s ideas, and how those ideas are used to manipulate and embellish cloth to create something interesting to wear.

This spring it looks like anything crocheted is the darling of the moment and that includes garments trimmed with crocheted lace, crocheted dresses and tops, and even shoes and bags adorned with or made of crochet. The look is romantic, but not in the least Victorian.

Those of us who already know how to crochet have a head start on the handmade-lace fashion trend. According to a Craft and Hobby Association study, crocheting is the second most popular craft in the United States. Forty-one million American women know how to crochet.

That fact has prompted Interweave Press to publish more frequently its special interest magazine, Interweave Crochet. Instead of once a year, it will hit the newsstands twice each year. The current issue features articles on scrumbling, a freeform kind of crochet, and hairpin lace done on a special frame to create lengths of fringey-looking stuff that is then crocheted together to create an airy kind of lace fabric.

If you don’t crochet and don’t want to learn, don’t despair. Raid your grandmother’s linen closet or buy a few vintage crocheted doilies and pillowslip edgings to patchwork together to make a lacy coverup to toss on over a tank top. I have seen similar pieces advertised in the fashion magazines for $250.

To make a camisole top from vintage crochet pieces, you will need two pieces large enough to serve as a front and a back, or sew several pieces together until you have pieces large enough to fit around you. If the bottom edges are uneven, let that become an element of your design. Buy lengths of matching ribbon to serve as straps. Cut the ribbon to the needed length, stitch in place by hand or machine, and there it is.

Or you could applique a pretty doily to a T-shirt or sew crocheted edging around its sleeve or bottom hem.

Vintage crochet trims also jazz up plain ready-to-wear skirts or pants. Or fashion a flirty flower out of short pieces of crocheted trims to pin to a favorite jacket. And don’t forget that vintage crochet pieces look great hand-sewn to ready-made toss pillows in plain colors.

Make sure that the vintage crochet pieces you use are sturdy enough to stand up to wear and washing. Such garments should be hand-washed with care.

I don’t know how much longer crochet will be the sweetheart of the fashion world, but I do know this – crochet never goes out of style around my house. I trim pillowslips with crocheted lace and protect tabletops with small crocheted doilies. I made valances trimmed with vintage crochet for the kitchen windows. I once made a quilt made up of squares appliqued with vintage doilies. Several years ago, I made a rag doll and part of her costume was a rectangular crocheted doily, slightly ragged, that became her shawl.

Finely done and intricate crocheted pieces, be it a doily or lengths of edgings grouped together, look great framed and hung on the wall.

Snippets

The Hampden Historical Society will hold a Quilt Program 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 20, at the Kinsley House, 83 Main Road South. Quilted wall hangings stitched by Sally Field will be on display, and quilted clothing by other artists will be shown.

The cost of admission is $5. Refreshments will be served. For more information, call 945-9321 or 862-2027.

Call Ardeana Hamlin at 990-8153, or e-mail ahamlin@bangordailynews.net.