Crocheted Lace: Techniques, Patterns, and Projects

When I bought this book, I compared it to Donna Kooler's Encyclopedia of Crochet. Both books contained many motif patterns, but the Crocheted Lace book went into a great deal more detail about the various ways you can connect the motifs. There's also a nice touch in the Crocheted Lace book about how to crochet your own buttons, which the encyclopedia does not have. Both books contain filet crochet, and from the Crocheted Lace book, I have completed so far twelve feet of gold castle tablecloth edging. I think the finished tablecloth will enhance the appearance of my china set table. Crocheted Lace also has several Irish crochet napkin ring patterns. Lastly, for those of you who may bead or embroider with a tambour hook, Crocheted Lace has a short section on using the tambour hook in Irish crochet. In the end, I bought both books, but Crocheted Lace has the edge if you want to do Irish crochet, while Donna Kooler's book is more contemporary as it contains wire jewelry crochet as well. It just depends on what you want, but I had fun with both books.

Subject of this book is thread crochet using the finer hooks and cottons. Index to the patterns and stitch patterns is included. Instructions use American terminology.Good photos in color of mostly white threads. Chapters include basics, filet crochet, motifs, joining motifs, Irish crochet, crochet imitating other types of lace, edgings, adaptation and finishing. No international symbols or charts using them which is a definite drawback limiting the book to readers of English only. Starts off with some interesting ideas about the history of crochet, but gives no references to other books on the subject such as Paludan. Turner is an authority and this book is recommended for the projects and ideas. Not a first purchase though.