Wacky, whimsical, clever, offbeat: these projects are guaranteed to make you smile. Maybe it will be the oddball idea, perhaps the unique appearance, or possibly the out-of-the-ordinary material. Every one’s the brainchild of a first-class designer, and will have crocheters of all levels completely hooked. Who could resist the kitsch of Sunnyside Up Potholders and the fun techno-geek tote bag embellished with emoticons? Or, rather than working with ordinary yarn or thread, try using nylon mason’s twine (for leg warmers), marabou boas, and even plastic bags. And don’t worry: as wild and way-out as the projects are, they all use traditional, familiar techniques and there’s a handy reference guide of basic crochet stitches at the back.