Customer Reviews

Crocheting For Dummies

5 star:		(34)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

I knew a few basics of crocheting before I bought this book, but needed help to go further. This book was that help I needed! It shows every stitch and step in great detail with diagrams to help. Whereas, it seems like most other "how to crochet" books give very little detail. They seem to assume that people should already know the basics when a newbie does not. This book thankfully does not assume that, and goes into even the minor details. It also goes into some of the more advanced techniques, including tunisian crochet. I really recommend this book for all crocheters. Everyone could probably learn something new from it.
It does have some projects in it, although I have not tried any of them. Therefore, I can't really comment on the projects. They seem pretty good from looking, but I don't think most buyers would get this book as a pattern book. It is more of an instructional book.

At first when my lovely wife handed me this book and said "read this, I can't bear another crocheting session with you until you improve," I was a little hurt and self-conscious. However, after perusing this work I realized I really was a dummy when it came to crocheting! There was so much more to it than I ever imagined, and now we are crocheting together as frequently as our schedules and energy permit. I am getting older and my fingers aren't as nimble as they once were, but she seems pleased with my progress in mastering the art of crocheting, and that encourages me to keep finding ways to better myself in this skill. Every couple needs a hobby, and this book will open your eyes to our favorite hobby. What do you say honey, a few more hours of crocheting this evening?

Excellent book. Anyone wanting to learn to crochet will truly enjoy this book. It has every stitch you would want to learn and it does the description in a way that you can't help but learn it. Good luck to anyone that is just starting to crochet or even those that have been crocheting and want to learn a new stitch. This is a must for your stitching library.

I eagerly awaited this book by "dummies" hoping it would help me learn faster and with more understanding than some of the other books I had looked at.

When it finally came out I was unfortunately disappointed. The entire book reads in a very unorganized way. They start explaining one thing and then go off on a tangent about something else. The stitch illustrations are not real clear for the beginner who is looking for close-up photos/pictures showing exactly where the hook should go.

I have many "how to crochet" books(lets) and didn't feel the need to buy this book as it really didn't offer anything new that I already had and also seemed to just be a compilation of most of the other books out there, and a poorly organized compilation at that.

You would do better to purchase a less expensive booklet to learn the basics.

I have been crocheting for almost a year, but I never felt I learned how to do it right, and after reading this book I found out I wasn't! But, I was able to figure out what I was doing wrong, and was able to fix it! They give straightforward instructions and illustrations to help! I will definatley recomend this to friends.

This is the best beginner book on the subject of crochet that I own. Stitch-n-Bitch is great, but doesn't go into as much detail on some aspects. The explanations in CFD are clear, with good visual aids, and the projects are realistic for beginners. (I learned to crochet as a child in the 70s but am now returning to it and actually finishing some items now that it's back in style). You can't go wrong with this book--I refer to it again and again.

The title of this book suggests it will teach people totally foreign to crochet how to do it...all that's required is a desire to learn, a few crochet hooks, some yarn, and this book. Well, I had five of those five things - and I *still* don't get it.

I understand the fundamentals - and I appreciate the author explaining the different aspects of crocheting...what the different parts of the yarn label means, the differences in crochet hooks, etc - but I still don't get it. My confusion started with the really awful way the author assumes everyone knows how to make a slip knot with a crochet hook in it. The instructions will seem clear at the beginning of a stitch - but they quickly fall apart. I'm not sure if the author forgets her readers know nothing about crochet or what...but I did NOT understand.

The drawings help to clear up some of the confusion - but there is still a lot lacking in the written department. I am brand-spankin'-new to crochet - and maybe that's the problem. Maybe one should have a basic understanding of the stitches before delving into this book. (I don't knit, I don't crochet - I can sew a straight line...that's it.) I hate to rate this book with less than an enthusiastic five stars, because I really anticipated liking it. I looked forward to receiving it and learning how to crochet. I even daydreamed about the blankets, altered art embellishments, and other cute things I could make with this book - but that's not going to happen. I'm going to put this book on my shelf for another time - maybe one day I'll be brainy enough to follow the directions!