Crocheted Sweaters Print on Demand Edition

I own this book as does my best friend. The instructions are clear and seem to be accurate, based on the several sweaters we've made so far. The designs are pretty and you can easily see how you could use these patterns as a base your own changes.

This book is great not only for experienced crocheter but also for the beginner who has basic skills and wants to make a stylish but simple sweater. The designs are simple and basic (but attractive), so if you're looking for something very challenging you might be disappointed. I am a crocheter with mid-level experience and I plan to make most of the designs in the book. Nice color photos. Recommended for your home stitching library.

I do think that the instructions were a little lacking but overall the book is filled with great sweaters and great ideas for just about everyone.

This book could be used by a beginner who has only done straight scarves, to do their first sweater. Pages 95 to 117 are a pretty comprehensive "how to crochet, how to choose a pattern, how to choose a yarn" set of instructions. There are sweaters in here using only the simplest of stitches, and very thorough instructions for sweaters that use more complex stitches. While several people have mentioned that they found some of the yarns obscure, I have had no problems finding these yarns in specialty shops and especially on eBay; you may not find them at big chain crafts stores (we don't need to mention names) but then, if you are going to make sweaters you'll want to wear for a lifetime, you don't want to use mass market acrylic yarn, so the hunt for specialty yarns is worth it. The section of the book on how to choose a yarn will help you find equivalents if you don't find the exact brand. There are many interchangeable medium-weight cotton and rayon yarns. And for those whose only place to buy yarn is a chain store, check out, say, the "Bright Ideas" pattern, made with Lion Brand Microspun microfiber yarn. For many of the obscure DK/sport weight yarns, you could substitute Berroco Cotton Twist with no problem! If all else fails, bring the book with you when you shop for yarn, and use the guide on pages 124-125: hold a sample of a yarn you've found against the picture of the yarn called for, to see if it's the same width and fuzziness. The only other trick to substituting yarns is the stretchiness factor; if a pattern calls for a very stretchy yarn, you can't substitute cotton or rayon. But most of these patterns call for chenille, fake-fur and eyelash, and cotton or rayon blends to begin with. (Can you tell I really like this feature of the book? I'm a cotton nut!!) Many of the sweaters are made with cotton or rayon yarns and have short-sleeved versions, so that they are suitable even for people who live in warm-weather climates. If you're in Florida or Texas or a similar climate, you'll appreciate this! As I write this, it's 99 degrees in the middle of September, and I haven't made a long-sleeved sweater or used wool yarn in YEARS! I am continually disappointed by new books of sweater patterns that seem to assume everyone lives above the 38th parallel; this book is one of the few that has just as many sweaters for those of us down around the 31st parallel. Even many of the long-sleeved sweaters are made with cotton blends rather than wool blends. One especially valuable feature of this book is the "Foundations" sections at the end of several patterns - these are mini-lessons, tips and tricks. There are a few that taught me something new, even though I have been crocheting for ::mumble:: (forty years) ::mumble:: Beginners could flip through and read all the Foundations bits before starting on something.

I am always looking for patterns that are a little more modern and wearable for my nieces. This book is great for the crocheter venturing out to new things. It offers styles that are not available in other pattern books and garments with bold and vibrant yarns.The yarn content is also given just in case you need to substitute.I also enjoy the hints at the back of the book. The editor has taken the time to give out personal how-to's and some are eye opening even for the more seasoned crocheters.I'll keep this book.