A Treasury of Crochet Patterns

Good book. Simple illustrations and lots of information.

The book is very dated, in black and white which makes it difficult to distinguish the pictures. There are no pattern names only numbers. There are better books out there.

This book is not as "fancy" as many other newer crochet stitch libraries out there, however, after checking it out of my public library, I decided I had to have it. It is truly a treasury - containing nearly 400 different patterns and stitches. After a brief introduction and a tutorial on the basic stitches (single, double, treble crochet, etc.), the book is divided into sections such as: single crochet patterns, double crochet, cluster patterns, raised patterns, lace, shell patterns, motifs, etc. Each pattern is numbered within its class, included a roughly 2"x3" black and white photo of the pattern when complete, and simple instructions on how to do the pattern. I was a beginner to crochet when I got this book and after learning the basic pattern terminology and abbreviations (which are explained), I felt able to do any of the stitches in the book. This is still my go-to book when I want to discover a new kind of stitch or pattern. There is really no need for color photos, as the black and white ones show the patterns just as well, and perhaps even better, with no color to distract. Seasoned crocheters and beginners both should enjoy having this book in their crochet library. An example from the book is as follows: No. 3 in Cluster Patterns: Chain an even number. Row 1: Yo and insert hook in 3rd ch from hook, * (yo, draw up long loop) 4 times in same ch, yo and thru 8 loops, yo and thru 2 loops (cluster), ch 1, skip 1 ch, yo, insert hook in next ch; rep from *, ending in ch 1, 1 dc in last ch. Ch 2, turn. Row 2: Work a cluster and ch 1 under first and each ch-1, ending with 1 dc in top of turning ch. Ch 2, turn. Repeat row 2 for pattern.

I found this gem among my mother's crafting books quite a few years ago, and have fallen in love with it. Crocheting is one of my passions. Out of all the books out there, this is the one I reference the most. The possibilities are endless on what you can make with these basic stitch patterns (baby blankets, wash clothes, etc). If you're a beginner or an expert crocheter, you'll enjoy making your own creations from this book. The only down-side is that the pictures aren't the greatest quality. They're black and white, and at times a bit on the fuzzy side. If you have good eyes, this shouldn't be much of a problem.