Total Crochet for the Home

I purchased this book with the intention of teaching myself how to crochet, and I must say that it was amazing. The descriptions are clear, and the photography is very helpful. I would reccomend this book to any beginner who wants to learn how to crochet, or learn some new basic projects. The designs in this book are very cute and modern, not stuff your grandmother made forty years ago.

I purchased this book somewhat hesitantly, since you can't search inside and no one had reviewed it. I took the risk because I have been crocheting for 12 years and wanted to expand my library from the afghans, sweaters, and scarfs that I feel most pattern books focus on. This book completely exceeded my expectations. I think any crocheter would find several pieces that he/she would like to make. Although the cover looks particularly feminine, many of the patterns were done in rich, earthy colors and the pattern range will suit any decor, whether it is feminine, modern, or vintage. The real strength of this book is the photography. All pages are glossy and in full color. Each finished pattern is photographed at least twice, with a full view and a close-up. At the end are twenty pages of photo instructions, with particularly good examples of finishing and joining methods. Style tips are included throughout with suggestions for personalizing the pattern. Although I wouldn't necessarily recommend this as a how-to book for beginners (there are no left-handed examples), any new crocheter will find the references very valuable. The patterns are rated Beginner, Easy, and Intermediate - having looked over them, I could safely say that any skill level will find something enjoyable here. This is a must-have for any crocheter's library, and with the glossy format and trendy patterns, it would make an excellent gift for someone, too!