It's the black dress I love. Maybe even enough to dust off my crochet hook. I crocheted a shawl when I was in high school (and you were in diapers, oops, no, you were still a twinkle in your Mom's eye) and I still have the hook somewhere.....

Tell Drew you want to learn to crochet - I bet he'll be at your door before you even hang up the phone. And then he can teach you to crochet, after he helps you rearrange the furniture, and then you can make the "Laurie"! Which is beautiful, by the way.

Gangsta! I love these patterns! They are gorgeous!

You can knit, so you can crochet....It's not the same the other way around though....I'm terrible at reading crochet patterns, but I'm getting there!

I saw some of Drew's crochet stuff in Hobby Lobby a few weeks ago. I was all "Hey! I read the blog of someone who knows him! And I've seen him on tv!" Which in my mind, makes me practically a celebrity in my own right. I am dying to learn to crochet, but so far....haven't.

How adorable is that sweater! I'd love to win the book for my MIL and secretly have the pages marked so she can make me some things =)

what is the october book?

Now you have to learn to crochet, just to make the Laurie sweater!

I love the opera jacket and the black dress (and Laurie of course!) And the party dress is crazy fun. Not that I could wear it - made for figures other than mine.

I am gangsta! Some guy told me so on the subway one day. I wasall "really? ALL of my dreams have come true!"

Do you think that ruined my "gangsta" image?

I likes the book. The crochet one. It is awesome.

Go Drew!

Helga -- I'm thinking A Movable Feast by Ernest Hemingway. Sounds like a good October book. But I still have a few days to decide ;) It's that or Gatsby, but Gatsby feels like a spring book.

I thought we could alternate each month and do a classic, then a contemporary, and so on. What do you think? I'd love everyone's input.

Gangsta Crochet - That's what I'm talking about!! I can't crochet, but I scored 68 crochet hooks at a yard sale for $5.00. It seemed like a sign so I bought them. I anticipate having free time sometime in the next 20 years!

Those garments are enough to make me THINK about learning to crochet. Stunning.

Laurie - have you read "The Help?" Just finished, couldn't put it down. Seems like a Southern gal would find it . . . interesting. :)

Wow! That is some gangsta crochet! Keepin' it real, yo!
I love how modern his patterns are. You could wear this stuff and nobody would think your Granny made it!!

Wow, that crocheted stuff is awesome! Wow, wow, wow, what a cool book.
I learned how to crochet first, and I'm still working on the reverse engineering of learning how to knit. I think crocheting is way way easier. I have never seen a crochet pattern book that didn't contain 90% old fashioned-ish butt ugly granny square crap. Maybe someone else has? Suggestions? It might make me pick up my hooks again! Crochet dude is bringing gangsta back!

ok - Just looked at the crochet dude's blog and its where all the cool crochet stuff can be found. I didn't know it existed. Thanks Laurie

The crocheted garments are fantastic. I am such a beginner that I will need to camp out at my teachers knee to learn to do these things but that is OK. They are wonderful

I also think crochet is way easier than knitting. But then again I taught myself how to do both. The two needles and then yarn blew my mind for a while. What do you do with all that?!? Drew's stuff is awesome! I love that black dress.

I could go for a box of yarn. I could also go for my furniture rearranged.

I so want a copy of Drew's book. The box of yarn would be great, also. I've been online friends with Drew through Yahoo Groups crochetlist for years, & I'm so happy for him that he's finding so much success. And one of the other great things about him is that so many of his early designs have been given to the charity group Heart Made Blessings. I'd better stop before he gets a big head. lol

Love the red coat! And several other things, although I would make everything with long sleeves, because, you know, New England. Does one have to have actually read the book to win? Because I, um, haven't, and I don't know if I'll get to it, although I could probably fake it if I had to.

I heart both knitting and crochet. Also Bob.

I love your sense of humor! Gagsta crochet, yeah boi!!! Ha ha ha! I learned how to crochet when I was little from my mom, but I got really good watching videos online. I can make almost anything (almost!) :^)

My crochet hooks have been gathering dust since I learned to knit, but it may be time to break them out again. These patterns rock.

I should be giggling, but one of the thumbnails in the flickr set shows the 3x3 of the patterns, and all I could think of was the crocheted Brady Bunch.

(and the jacket is indeed fabulous even if I would never manage to get it done.)

gangsta! Congratulations to Drew - the book and all the projects in it look lovely. I hope you sell a billion copies! :)

Laurie, if you are looking for votes between Hemingway and Fitzgerald, I would choose Hemingway. Hemingway makes me feel like skiing down a mountain, eating a rich and wonderful meal, drinking a bucketful of rustic wine and writing a novel.

Fitzgerald makes me feel like casting a jaded eye on all about me and waiting, languidly, for someone to offer me a martini. (It's been a very long wait, during which I could have done all that other Hemingway-type stuff!)

I, too, love the little black dress. And I know how to crochet. My question is this: If I crochet said dress and wear it, will I look like Grace Kelly?

Gangsta! Funny you bring up crochet... So I'm knitting a pair of baby boy mocs on like a sz 2 needle (it's killing me) so I searched the web and found a crochet pattern of baby mocs by Genevive on Etsy that are SO CUTE!!! and noted "easy" so I dove right in, bought the pattern, yarn and needle and settled in Friday night. I chained 8, then single chain. Thats all I could understand. Looks like I need a Drew book!!!!

Yup. Love the red coat! Also like the lacy winged coverup thingy. The man is brilliant!

Please tell me you have seen this! http://www.designformankind.com/2010/09/a-knitted-asparagus/

Wow! I desperately need that book, to dust off my crochet hook and find a gazillion free hours because those are some stunning pieces!!

I always have a problem with chocheted dresses and skirts. I would always think they're kinda see through, though that works soooo well for jacket type things. I guess with a slip anything is wearable in public, and one can wear it with a smirk of "yes, as a matter of fact, I did make this!!" The purple sweater at the end of the post is something worth making and wearing.

I love crochet. And knitting. And reading. And gardening. And sewing. Do you see where I'm going with this? I would love to have that book!

Gangsta! Gangsta! GANGsta!!! Nice crochet patterns too.

I taught myself to crochet but I can't figure the knitting! The book is awesome.

I just love Drew's crochet patterns---they are beautiful!!!

oh, drew. c'mon up to portland, whenev. serious.

This might come out the wrong way but I never knew crochet could be so beautiful. Well done Drew!

Wow! I'm a knitter who has always turned up her nose at crocheted garments. I have obviously not been exposed to the right ones. Please forgive me my unfounded prejudice!

First time I've seen crochet patterns I really like. My crochet friend and I worked a swap last year - I'd teach her to knit socks on 2 circs and she'd teach me to crochet. I'm a pretty decent knitter but I felt like all thumbs. We both are at the same point where we left off that first session. This book might make me try again.

I started off as a crocheter who converted to knitting. These patterns might just make me dust off my hooks!

Oh crochet dude, fly across the deep blue sea and re-arrange my home for me!
Or maybe even just winning Drew's book would be good :-)

My daughter just headed to college and I've rediscovered free time. I took one look at all those beautiful patterns, and then realized that you said 'crochet' and I said to myself, "I can DO that!" Thank you for pointing us in the direction of Drew's book. I need that! Dear daughter may be gone to school, but I know she'll love wearing all these patterns at school as yule gifts. Thanks! Oh, and the red coat is first!
Ro

I have never really wanted to learn how crochet until this very moment! Although the red coat is indeed fabulous, just imagine if you slipped it off to reveal the Quintessential Black Dress! Oo la la!

Thanks for all the great comments everyone! And thank YOU Laurie for such a wonderful stop along The Book's blog tour.

PS: careful what you wish for - I could be in LA by tomorrow. ;)

Most Excellent! How cool to have such a beautiful sweater named for you? It's gorgeous!

Thank you Drew for Making Crochet cool :)

Drew's designs are SO cool - that red coat has my name on it, for sure. Laurie, you must get him to teach you crochet. It's easier than knitting for me and much faster.

It is most beautiful this is such a sweetest name.
Stretching Exercises

Your comment about panties totally just made me snort out loud, which would be fine if I weren't currently standing at the retail counter in the shop. A shop currently full of people quietly (nay, silently) browsing the yarns. Now I feel quite awkward. Thanks for being so hilarious!

I am so loving all the designs of the book. I initially fell in love with the Black Dress, now I want to crochet them all...lol. I had ordered the book from Chapters and it seems have vanished on the way to here, so I am heading out to get another. Would love to win a contest though :)

YOU ARE A MUSE LAURIE!!! How wonderful is that - you must be pretty special!
I have never crotcheted anything more than an ever widening lap blanket(so easy to increase in crotchet even if you don't know how you are doing it) but I still love it. I am a knitter, but Drew's book looks amazing so I will def. get this one just to look at and someday aspire to become bi-craftual.
F.y.i. I live in n.hollywood. If you are ever interested in doing a knit a long please let me know, I will supply some fabulous wine and kitty treats!
Cheers,
Lisa

Gangsta!!! Finally, a book of beautiful crochet patterns that don't look so "crochet". Don't get me wrong,I love crochet,I've done it all my life and it's always looked the same until now. Love this book.
And, just ask Drew, bet he'll give you private lessons. Crochet is easier and faster than knit, in my opinion.

Yowza! LOVE that red coat. and the black dress too. Makes me so so so glad I can crochet. i've tried to knit, but it's so slow and awkward. to me, crochet is much faster and eaiser. you should learn!

What a great review! I love it that you and Drew are friends; in some of my local yarn shops, it's as if there is a war going on between knitting and crocheting and it isn't cool to hang out with people who are on the opposite side of the fence. Why can't we all just get along? I don't crochet, either, but I love these designs so much that I think I'm going to have to learn how. As always, thank you for sharing your wit and wisdom.

My crochet hooks come out quite often ... when I get really po'd at myself for making dumb mistakes over and over and over and over again ... as I have done on my present knitting project. It's not even a complicated lace pattern but have managed to screw it up too many times ... therefore chuck it in the bag neatly ... where are my hooks - gotta find them hooks!

My crochet hooks come out quite often ... when I get really po'd at myself for making dumb mistakes over and over and over and over again ... as I have done on my present knitting project. It's not even a complicated lace pattern but have managed to screw it up too many times ... therefore chuck it in the bag neatly ... where are my hooks - gotta find them hooks!

WANT THE RED COAT SOOO MUCH!!!

I really want to learn how to crochet. My sister-in-law has offered to teach me, and I'm going to take her up on that offer! Maybe someday I'll be good enough to try some of Drew's patterns!

I love the "Laurie" sweater! gangsta

OMG. The red coat! I MUST HAVE that red coat.

@Lisa G. in N, Hollywood

Bi-craftual! I am SO borrowing that! What a fun description of those of us who are multi-craftians.

Ro

Drew would hate it at my house. The only things not nailed down are a couch and two floor lamps. My house is perfect. I wonder if that makes designers crazy?

OMG! I love to crochet. It's a secret guilty pleasure of mine!

I forgot something important in my previous post....gangsta!

The red coat is gorgeous!

Love that "laurie" sweater. I wish I could crochet enough to make it. :)

I've given crochet a whirl a time or two and always come back to knitting. I think I was traumatized by granny squares way back when. However, assuming I can keep my single and double crochets straight, I'd be tempted to try crocheting some of these garments. They're stunning! Gangsta!

time to pick up the crochet hook!