Customer Reviews

220 More Crochet Stitches: Volume 7 (The Harmony Guides)

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Get this together with "300 Crochet Stitches..." if you can. But lest you think you need to have "300 Crochet Stitches..." first before enjoying "220 More Crochet Stitches...", let me say that the latter is a beauty in itself. Comes complete with instructions, diagrams, and chain multiples necessary to accomplish the piece. The chapters in this full-color, instruction-laden book are:

Introduction - gives basic crochet instructions (how to hold the hook, making crochet fabric, changing colors, etc.)

All-Over Patterns (76 patterns) - 76 lovely stitches that you'll be proud to display

Filet Charts (26 patterns) - all fine-looking crochet pieces!

Motifs (35 patterns) - all beautiful medallions plus instructions on how to join

Irish Style Crochet (26 patterns) - shows beautiful, lacy works

Edgings and trimmings (35 patterns) - easy to make, but produces lovely effects in the end

Afghan (Tunisian) Crochet (31 patterns) - shows unusual stitches

Do the math and you'll have more than 220 stitches there!

I bought this hoping for some new and interesting all-over patterns. What I found was a book that was really focused on openwork and motifs. If you prefer that sort of thing, this book has a lot of designs, but a lot of them are in the Readers Digest Ultimate Sourcebook (also published by Harmony, but in a softcover and more expensive!!). They've even used the exact same pictures. And, for the price, you're better off getting the Ultimate Sourcebook.

Now, that said, this has possible THE best illustrations of basic stitches that I've ever seen. You can clearly see where the hook should go, including how many threads are over where you insert (for instance, when I was learning, I never could figure out if I was supposed to put the hook under the top two loops or just the top one). I wish they used such detailed visuals in every other crochet book!!! Also, they include very easy to read diagrams, which I just love. I wish every crochet stitch book had diagrams as well, because it just makes it so much easier to figure out what you are doing wrong. :) Anyway, I might get the 300 Crochet stitches book to see if that one has any more of the basic stitches, because while all of these seem to be in the Ultimate Sourcebook, the Sourcebook doesn't contain any diagrams. Makes me wonder if there are diagrams in the Harmony softcover version of the book. Hmmm. The binding on this book sucks, as it is simple glue (more like a large magazine than a book. Likely to fall apart if you use it often. One other issue, they don't tell you if patterns are beginner, intermediate, or expert, which would be nice to glance at and figure out.

Bottom line, unless you want a book dedicated almost exclusively to complicated openwork patterns, skip this book. Definitely not for a beginner or intermediate worker.

I purchased this book, sight unseen, based on the glowing reviews given here. I'm very disappointed and would send the book back if the hassle of doing so wasn't greater than the cost of the book.
I have the very first Harmony book of crochet stitches, which is decades old... the one put out before they started numbering them and telling you how many stitches they contain. I thought this book was a sequel to that original one, but it is not.
It appears that they simply tore apart the original book and made it into two seperate books. This one, vol. 7, contains very few stitches that are not in the original. For instance, in the first section "All over Patterns" there are only 18 stitches that are solid fabrics suitable for clothing (versus openwork, filet, edges or motif patterns) and only two of those are new to this book. If you're new to crochet and want open work stitches this book would be great. But if you've been around awhile or want stitches that make solid fabrics suitable for clothing or warm afghans, skip this book.

This is a reprint of The Harmony Guide to 100's More Crochet Stitches. Volumes 1-5 are all about knitting; volumes 6 & 7 are the crochet instructions. This has to be one of the most useful crochet books I have ever encountered. Volumes 6 & 7 together show you how to do basic stitches, laces, clusters, filet, shells, bobbles, loops, edgings & trimmings, some Irish crochet, various "motif" patterns, and Tunisian (Afghan) crochet stitches. The photos and diagrams are all in full color and the explanations are the best I have ever seen. Truly, they are worth every penny! If you can only get 2 books on crochet, get these.

As with the 300 Crochet Stitches, this book is wonderful! Just when you think there can't be another stitch, here comes 220 more! You'll find it helpful in every aspect of crocheting, especially if you like designing your own things. I'm an afghan nut, and between these two books, no two afghans are ever going to be the same again!

I bought this book to go along with the 300 Crochet Stitches (Vol. 6), and I was just as impressed by this book! Easy to understand instructions and excellent photos to go with the stitch patterns.

This book has very nice patterns, some of them are found everywhere, some of them are rare. The patterns are easy to follow, I haven`t seen any mistakes yet. It`s a good reference book to look up the patterns, and also a good experimentation book to challenge yourself with the tough patterns once in a while. Highly recomended!(All these apply to V6).

This book is excellent!! As a pattern designer, I use this book to give me ideas for texture and even designs. I think I open it almost every day!!

I love the clear close-up photos of the finished product, which help me decide if I want to try making it. A great book for those trying to design their own shawls, scarves or sweaters and just need a good idea to get started.

I like having the diagrams under each pattern. I follow those much better than the written instructions. Most of the patterns don't repeat simply on every row. They tend to take several rows to repeat. Beginners should gain a little more experience before attempting.

I wish I had ordered this sooner!. I have been crocheting for 30+ years and never have I found a better reference for stitch techniques. I had contemplated buying these for the past few years and wish I had done so much sooner. A valuable book for your crochet library.