Crocheting School: A Complete Course

I did a bit of crocheting as a pre-teen, but I never had a formal lesson, and my woebegone efforts sure demonstrated the lack. After a distance of 30 years, I decided to learn a bit more about the subject, and perhaps learn how it ought to be done. (Though I was surprised at how much I'd remembered!) I looked around for a reference that would help me learn the basics. It's quite a challenge to find one, because you're trying to learn a three-dimensional craft, with movement, from a static two-dimensional page. So I was thrilled to come across Crocheting School: A Complete Course. Note that, unlike most crocheting books, this is not a book of patterns. You won't find the "usual suspects" of caps, scarves, and sweaters. What you get instead is 138 pages of instructions and photos on _how to do it_. Every part of it is superbly done. The book does not skimp on photos: there are six clear photos to show how a single crochet stitch is done, and honest, I could learn how to do it from this set of pictures. At no point does it *tell* you how to do something without *showing* you. Plus, the photos are sharp and in-focus -- something that shouldn't need to be said, but is a common failing in craft books -- and even better, the author used color intelligently to make the visual contrast stand out, such as in "variations for working filet crochet corners" using blue and orange yarn. Nor is this book for beginners only. I'll have plenty to keep me busy with the basics, and learning to make squares, circles, and to increase and decrease (all of which are covered, obviously). However, Crocheting School covers a lot more, from hairpin lace to broomstick lace to crocheting with beads to three-dimensional stitches (such as popcorn and horizontal pineapple). Great reference. If you crochet, you ought to get this book.

it covers all the basics and then tons of stitches so you can go off and create on your own or just trim a project. Definately the one to get if you are starting out as they give great explainations and pictures to learn from. This is one of the two I always recommend to crocheters as a fundamental to have.... the other is the crochet stitch bible.

What a wonderful book! Whether you're a new crocheter or one with a lot of experience, this book is FABULOUS!!! Not only does it contain instructions -- clear, concise instructions -- on how to do just about every stitch and motif imaginable, but there are PICTURES every step of the way! That's right, COLOR pictures!! If you're like me and occasionally find even the clearest of written instructions to be cryptic and need a picture for clarification, then this book is perfect!

I have crocheted for over 30 years and there is some steps that I have never heard of--working with beading, jacquard, and more. The best part is that has close-up pictures of every step.