Crocheting For Dummies [Paperback]

Karen Manthey (Author), Susan Brittain (Author), Julie Holetz (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 2010

An updated classic covering the latest techniques and trends in crocheting

Are you hooked on the art of crochet? Looking for a fun new hobby that you can take with you virtually anywhere? Crocheting For Dummies, 2nd Edition gives you easy-to-understand instructions on how to choose the right tools, create basic stitches, and finish off your work to make beautiful pieces of art. From learning to create consistency with gauge swatch to decoding crochet patterns, symbols, and diagrams, this easy-to-follow guide is all you need to start creating beautiful designs in no time!

This revised edition contains completely new content, including fresh new patterns, stitches, and techniques reflecting crocheting styles from around the world. Plus, it's packed with new and refreshed photos and line art throughout, along with step-by-step instructions that will easily guide you from your first stitch to your first sweater.

• A new section covering common crocheting mistakes and how to correct them
• Crocheting with eco-awareness: using organic yarns, as well as free trade and sustainably sourced fibers
• The best resources for purchasing supplies, as well as choosing and buying patterns

Whether you're a first-time crocheter or looking to expand your skills, Crocheting For Dummies, 2nd Edition gives you the skills, techniques, and confidence to crochet like a pro.

Editorial Reviews

Review

‘The ultimate fool-proof guide, it will have you crocheting masterpieces in no-time.' (Let's Get Crafting, June 2010).

From the Back Cover

An updated classic covering the latest techniques and trends in crocheting

Are you hooked on the art of crochet? Looking for a fun new hobby that you can take with you virtually anywhere? Packed with new content and reflecting crocheting styles from around the world, Crocheting For Dummies, 2nd Edition, gives you easy-to-understand instructions on how to choose the right tools, create basic stitches, and finish off your work to make beautiful pieces of art.

• Crochet 101 — get the lowdown on crocheting and expert advice on choosing the right crocheting materials

• A stitch in time — follow step-by-step instructions on creating your first basic stitches, crocheting rounds, and changing colors

• Gauge your expertise — transform your projects with advanced stitches and techniques, such as Tunisian crochet and filet crochet

• Put it all together — learn to join pieces of crocheted fabric to create everything from a simple camisole to a pullover sweater

Open the book and find:

• The tools and materials you need to get started

• How to create consistency in your work with gauge

• Tips on decoding crochet abbreviations, symbols, and diagrams

• Fundamental stitches and basic techniques like increasing and decreasing

• Advanced stitches and techniques like lace crochet and making motifs

• Advice on working with buttons, borders, and pockets

• Instructions for adding final embellishments

Learn to:

• Create beautiful designs in no time

• Work with new patterns, stitches, and techniques

• Choose the right tools

• Finish your work like a pro

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: For Dummies; 2 edition (March 1, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0470536454
• ISBN-13: 978-0470536452
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (52 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #12,509 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

71 of 71 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A great book for beginners, January 17, 2005

By 

MyTomKitten (Mililani, Hawai'i) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Crocheting For Dummies (Paperback)

I bought this book to help me to become a better crocheter. I already knew the basic stitches, but I wanted to learn the "right" way to crochet, as well as learn some new stitches and techniques. This book was great for that. I even did a few of the projects, and they turned out pretty nice.

Just a few problems with the patterns, however... First of all, the recommended yarns for some of the projects are EXPENSIVE. Why would I want to spend $160 to make my first sweater, for example? And, I had difficulty choosing an alternate (less expensive) yarn, not only because the weight in the pattern is uncommon (Heavy worsted? Never heard of it! Couldn't find it!), but the guage that they give in the pattern is weird. Most yarns give the guage on a 4"X4" grid, but the pattern gives the guage for 3"X5". I had to calculate RATIOS in order to choose an appropriate yarn! The one other problem I had was that not all of the stitches that are used in the patterns are actually described in the book. For example, the text and diagrams show you how to decrease when using single and double crochet stitches, but then the pattern calls for decreasing with half-double crochet stitches... I was pretty much on my own for that!

But, despite the problems in the patterns, this book definitely helped me to become a much better crocheter. I am much more confident reading patterns and trying out new stitches now. I would definitely recommend this book.

53 of 54 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Terrific Book for Learning the Art of Crochet, August 9, 2004

By 

Bendy - See all my reviews

This review is from: Crocheting For Dummies (Paperback)

Crocheting for Dummies by Karen Manthey & Susan Brittain is a wonderfully thorough and very informative book for anyone wanting to learn to crochet and or wanting to freshen up their skills.

The book reads like a storybook in paragraph form. Everything is explained in great detail from choosing yarns and hooks, to how to work a large array of crochet stitches, to how to read a pattern, right down to how to care for ones crocheted items.

The stitch drawings are clear and expertly done making learning new stitches so much easier.

The book has both a contents page and an index for easy referral. I especially liked the fact that an index was included. So many crochet books do not include this. The index makes it very easy to find information on a particular topic quickly.

The recommendations for people just learning to crochet are fantastic. This book wasn't out when I learned to crochet and I learned the hard way about many of the pit falls this book helps one to avoid. For instance they recommend one start out with a size H-8 crochet hook and a light colored worsted weight yarn. I learned with a B-1 hook and a fingering weight yarn. After 2 whole days of crocheting it was 36" long and 1.5" tall. I was trying to make a baby blanket for my doll (which never got made).

The book contains humor, not just in the cartoons but in the instructions as well which makes for very entertaining reading while one learns a new craft. I always appreciate having a teacher with a sense of humor!

A good sampling of designs is included so that one can try out their skills. These include sweaters, an afghan, doilies, hot pads, pillow, scarves, floral motifs, and bandanas.

I am a crochet designer and I read the book cover to cover like a storybook while on vacation this past week. I thoroughly enjoyed it and learned a few things as well. I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in the art of crochet.

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome book for the entry level crocheter., June 30, 2005

By 

Kimothy Anne (Clarksville, TN USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Crocheting For Dummies (Paperback)

I bought this book after learning from a friend how to do a foundation chain. This book gets up close and personal with the stitches, and even the "how to" illustrations are shown for both right handed and left handed crocheters.

There are sections pertaining to pattern reading. There are also several "easy" patterns in the book so that the newbie can try out their newly acquired hooking skills. The padwan crocheter can make things like placemats, scarves and even a couple of sweaters. :)

For those who are a bit more advanced or who are looking for variety, the book also covers some more advanced stitches and stitching techniques.

I get quite a bit of use from my book and I can see it being one of my main crochet references for years to come.