Learn to Crochet

By: Inc. Leisure Arts

Eye-catching beginner projects include a coaster, a spa cloth, scarf with pom-poms, cowl, ripple throw and hand mitts. Included projects use US size 4 medium through size 6 super bulky weight yarns and size H, K and N/P crochet hooks. Features instructions for right-hand and left-hand, and color coded diagrams. Free online technique videos are available as a bonus tool. Beginner skill level.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1464714304
• ISBN13: 9781464714306
• Release Date: March 2014
• Publisher: Leisure Arts
• Length: 48 Pages
• Weight: 0.22 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.2" x 5.3" x 8.2"

Customer Reviews

Clear concise learn-to-crochet with access to videos

This is is more a stapled booklet than a book, about 8.5 inches by 5.5 inches, but it packs a lot of information, and very clear illustrations in its 48 pages. It includes 'tips' that are definitions (what a yarn over, is for ex., complete with illustration) and good practice suggestions (how to make the yarn move smoothly through your fingers, for ex.). It starts with the absolute basics of making a slip knot, complete with separate color illustrations for left- and for right-handed people and covers single crochet, half double crochet and double crochet. It offers important information on how to read a pattern; abbreviations; symbols and provides crochet terminology for United States readers and for International readers. Finishing a project is also covered. It describes what gauge is, but the patterns included in the booklet are not dependent on gauge, so it is not offered for them. The patterns include: a coaster; a spa cloth (can also be a dishcloth;) a scarf with pom-pom ends (pom-pom instructions included); a cowl; a ripple throw; and fingerless hand mitts. The yarns used for the patterns are listed (and are still available for purchase as of the date of this review) but any yarn of the type suggested can be used. A note about the illustrations. The illustrations are line drawings with very minimal color to bring your attention to what is being covered: for example, just the turning chain is in color, to highlight where it is and what it looks like. There are also arrows where appropriate to indicate direction of movement, when turning, for example. This is an old school way of illustrating, but I find it superior to both photographs and to video in that my eye is not distracted by anything irrelevant and instead it can focus exactly on what I need or want to know. When trying to learn crochet in the past I watched several videos but found it difficult to see the stitches as separate (but joined, obviously) entities. The light casting shadows; the color of the yarn; the fuzziness of the yarn--all were distracting. There is none of that in these illustrations and color is only used to focus attention. If you still need to see actualities, and when actual movement is important, you can access the videos. For each pattern, the videos useful for each item to be made are listed at the beginning of the pattern. The booklet also includes a color photograph of each finished item. Left-handed illustrations are on the left side of the page throughout. A highly recommended first crochet book.