Hooked on Crochet: 20 Sassy Projects

I just started crocheting this year, and puchased a number of books. This one turned out to be the best beginner book of all of them. There are some patterns that I'm not ready to make, but the ones I did make were very easy to understand, and turned out quite well. I recently read something on the author, Candi Jensen, and she said that she had written it for the beginner. It shows! Fun, fresh and varried, her patterns are fun to do, easy to modify and make your own, and make a gift-quality product with little or no experience. I highly recommend it.

When I first got this book, I thought ho-hum just another one for the new crocheter. But on further looks I find several projects this jaded crocheter wants to make such as that skirt. I also like the granny square scarf (one can't have too many of those), and the little bikini comes with a schematic which most bikini patterns don't bother with (such as in Leapman's cool crochet). I do think the eyeglass case needs a lining as otherwise the frame is going to get caught in the stitches. In short of the 20 projects quite a few are on my to-make list so it is highly recommended.

I bought several books in my quest to learn how to crochet and this was by far the best. The instructions are clear and the projects are fun.

HOOKED ON CROCHET includes many nifty projects, including a beautiful striped scarf and a granny square scarf both of which I have made or am in the process of making. I made the striped scarf in shades of purple, mauve, and lavender for my 12-year old granddaughter and she loved it. Now I'm making another one for me. Another scarf featured in this book is constructed of a single color (lime cotton) with detail provided by the contrasting pattern created by alternating rows of single, half-double and double crochet stitches. The book also includes the ususal impractical items like a crocheted skirt (even if you line them they sag) and a teeney-weeney bikini (the bottom will also sag and may come off in the pool if you aren't careful). Jensen's book includes a nice discussion on hooks and yarn types the crocheter will find useful, as well as some basic stitch instructions and a brief digression in an appendix on 'instructions for lefties'.

I like the book immediately after browsing through Hip to Crochet & this one. "Hip" is also good but has more patterns on garments which I think look bulky but they have a very nice circular shawl pattern. Like this book better as the step by step drawings are clear and patterns interesting, esp the sweet top in the book. But the last 2 projects are not that interesting, it imitates macrame - cover for a lamp, edgings for hammock. But I hope the author will come out with more books & patterns.