Top-Down Crochet Sweaters with Dora Ohrenstein was our October Opener of the Yarn Thing podcast with Marly Bird.
Dora Ohrenstein says she began crocheting ‘as a crazy hippie teenager’ for a few months
while living on a houseboat. She learned from a book and took her garments and sold them through a boutique in Amsterdam. She studied and pursued a career in music, then later on when she was not performing so much anymore, she began to create some sweaters. In 2004, she attended the CGOA conference and met Jean Leinhauser who admired her garments and became Dora’s mentor.
It took a while to become established, Dora says, trying to keep up with her day job, teaching and with social media, trying to design and continuing to learn, yet with all of that, she has written her sixth book.
Dora method of designing is to design with her own body. She begins with a swatch and doing the math to figure out the number of stitches and things, based on her target dimensions and the flow of a stitch pattern she wants to create with. Making a drapey fabric and exposing to others has been a favorite thing for Dora to share.
Marly and Dora compared notes about the discovery many crocheters make about creating that drapey fabric. A lot of what both ladies have experienced as crochet designers has been an adventure of using knitting designs as a map but having to convert the math for crochet. Many feel that crochet has to be 
tightly made to be ‘neat’ looking, but unfortunately it creates a stiff uncomfortable garment. Encouraging others to look at a more loosely created garment is creating an excitement with their students, which is attracting knitters to crochet as well.
Dora says her ‘New York life’ has influenced her design toward the pretty, fashionable garments. Having been on stage, and loving fashion, she still had the concern that she could make a career in the yarn industry. Her new book Top-Down Crochet Sweaters, Fabulous Patterns with Perfect Fit shares her love of pretty garments that need to be seen! She wanted her ideas to go beyond the basics, explore flattering shaping with unusual stitch patterns and yet be different from what others are creating. The book has 14 patterns that range from simpler to slightly complicated designs, each shown on a smaller and a larger sized model, using lighter weight yarns so that there is drape and can be worn from season-to-season.
Dora Ohrenstein can be followed through her website, www.CrochetInsider.com and she also has a designer page in Ravelry, and a Pinterest page. There is a Ravelry Group that is doing a Crochet A-Long (CAL) of the ideas from this book, CLICK HERE. Dora’s book can be purchased with Marly’s affiliate code at Amazon.
If you missed getting to hear this visit live, you can listen to the visit as an archived episode where it aired originally https://www.blogtalkradio.com/yarnthing/2016/10/04/top-down-crochet-sweaters-with-dora-ohrenstein or you can listen with your favorite podcast catcher like iTunes or Stitcher Radio. Watch for Marly’s behind-the-scenes video from her Facebook page.
I could learn a lot about fit from Dora! I enjoyed listening to her wisdom!
I actually took an online class on fit with Dora. She’s fabulous! I would love her book.
Absolutely loved hearing Dora’s detailed description of how she creates the best fit for different sizes in her designs. Also learned something new– the benefits of looser crocheting and will try to apply this to my crochet pieces.
Can’t wait to check out her book. I loved her thoughts on why lightweight yarns are better than worsted weight in terms of wearability, drape of the fabric and the fit of the finished garment when making sweaters.
I would so like to make a sweater that would fit me…
Not only is beautiful yarn important but the fit is very important. Looking forward to seeing her book.
I am a big fan of Dora’s books because she not only designs great patterns, but so generously shares information and techniques that enable her readers to create designs with better fit and drape, thus helping us to elevate our craft to another level. Thank you Dora! And thank you Marly and Social Medusa!
I definitely could learn about fit from Dora. Thanks again for another great podcast.
It is the fit of a garment that determines if it wearable. So much to learn and consider. Using a looser crochet tension what a concept! Would love to have this book and learn from it. As always a great show….love your podcasts!
How have I not found Dora before?! I love skinny yarn and agree with everything you both said about how crocheters as a whole seem to have an aversion to it. In part because it is hard to find in a store but also because it takes longer to make an item. Yes, I have to throw a small bulky yarn project in the middle of a huge one because I just NEED a finish object. LOL. But the small yarn projects are so much prettier, especially in clothing, if you can find them. I scored a hank of Lorna’s Laces Lace weight yarn about a year ago on clearance and its been teasing me ever since but I haven’t found the right pattern. Look out Galatea Lace Top because my body shape is a tube so it will fit me perfectly!
Fit is such a fitting word. Dora’s great, has given me some new perspectives on crocheting. Lover her spirit.
Hi Marly, I realy enjoyed this podcast with Dora Ohrenstein. I picked up so many tips but what I was most interested in hearing was talk of how the drape was so important .Also that you mentioned of big box stores Not catering to DK yarns & leighter weights except for a few baby colors,oh not on this plus size.Thanks for the sock wgt tip. Btw gorgeous looking sweaters in “Top-Down Crochet Sweaters with Dora Ohrenstein”. I pulled it up on Amazon too & took a sneak peak. I’ll even use the Keyword. T
hat cover photo sweater has a beautiful “stitch”.
I have had the pleasure of taking a class from Dora. She is a wonderful teacher. A perfect fit for me.
Loved hearing how the same garment can fit a range of sizes if you pick the right yarn and hook.
I have a fit when my handmade sweaters don’t fit me properly. There were a lot of great tips in the podcast!
I can’t wait to crochet a sweater that will fit perfectly with Dora’s new book!
I would love to learn how to make a great crocheted sweater that will fit correctly. I’m sure Dora’s new book will make that possible.
I love Dora’s ideas, and she always has good information. I agree that thinner yarns do fit better on crocheted sweaters. In my earlier years I have crocheted a few bomb proof heavier weight sweaters. I’m sure Dora’s top down sweaters will be perfect
I’d love to try crocheting a sweater and have it actually fit when I was done.
I’ve been enjoying Dora’s patterns since I started finding them in Crochet Today! Can’t wait to try the book and make sweaters that fit!
I love being able to crochet my own garments because I can get the exact fit I want. I have really long arms and the sleeves on most sweaters are way to short. When I make my own I just add extra stitches so it is long enough.
WHAT A GREAT PODCAST! I’M “FIT” TO BE TIED! I definitely would love to read all that Dora has written. I hope it won’t be difficult to find her older books in print. In anycase at least we have this new book at our disposal! Thanks Dora & thank you Marly and Tammy for introducing us yet again to such a fab designer!
I often get put off making garments for myself because of fit issues. Looking forward to getting Dora’s book to help me with this.
I love Dora’s books. They’re always packed with information. She’s the queen of sweaters that fit and have good drape.
I have a couple of Dora’s sweater books and get so much info from them on fit and style. Can’t wait to get the new one. Loved this chat with Dora, she is always so interesting.
Thank you for having Dora on the show. I enjoyed hearing about her new book. I think that it is great that she uses the finer yarns for her designs. I would rather have a sweater that fits and drapes well and takes some time to make than something that doesn’t. I have her other sweater book and she a great teacher!
I would love to be able to move to making garmets that fit. There are only so many hats and scarfs that i need.
I enjoyed listening to Dora and look forward to trying her patterns and make some sweaters that fit me!
I have not made crochet sweaters and Dora’s instruction may be what I need to try to make some sweaters that fit. Dora is lovely and enjoyed the podcast.
I think Dora’s book would be really helpful for me to get sweaters that fit. I hope I get my hands on a copy soon.