Encyclopedia of 300 Crochet Patterns, Stitches and Designs [Paperback]

Gayle Wood (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 25, 2004

The elegant art of crochet is making a comeback and this book contains everything you need to know to create beautiful handmade items that are destined to become heirlooms.

Product Details

• Paperback: 170 pages
• Publisher: FC&A Publishing (May 25, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1932470123
• ISBN-13: 978-1932470123
• Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 7.9 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #595,362 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Updated edition, July 23, 2004

By 

M. Poller (Israel) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Encyclopedia of 300 Crochet Patterns, Stitches and Designs (Paperback)

This book is a newer edition of the same publisher's book (same title) by Doris M. Smith, c1988. It has exactly the same stitches as before but book is much larger, schematics are much larger and easier to read, print is larger, and each chapter has a few projects (not in my earlier edition).Terms use American terminology. Stitches do not have descriptive titles only titled by number of multiples of stitches. No index. Illus in black and white, no colors. But for the price, certainly a useful addition to the crocheter's library of stitch collections.

26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Amateur Effort, July 28, 2006

By 

Jean Leinhauser "Rapid Reader" (San Diego, CA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Encyclopedia of 300 Crochet Patterns, Stitches and Designs (Paperback)

There are several very good crochet stitch guides on the market. This is not one of them. I should have realized when I read the introduction and saw some blatant errors. It states that "These days machines crochet items as small as doilies and as large as sweaters and afghans." Wong. If you look up "crochet machine" on Google you will find a huge industrial machine that makes drapery trim. It does not, nor does any other machine, crochet doilies, sweaters or afghans.

Then it talks about the diagrams which it says are based on International Crochet
symbols "...the old European code used widely today" that were found in France.
Actually, the symbols we use today are of Japanese origin, and the earliest recorded
sighting of them is about 1915.

Finally, it says that crochet was called Nun's Work in the Middle Ages. But nothing
about crochet has ever been discovered as early as the Middle Ages.

Doesn't give much reason to trust the rest of the book.

Each stitch is presented with hand-drawn symbols (pretty well done), a fuzzy black and white photo of the stitch, usually worked pretty poorly, and written instructions.
Nothing new here. No color in the book except on the covers.

And as one previously revidwer pointed out, the covers feature a rectangular motif for a teddy bear block that may enduce someone to buy it. Too bad! The pattern for it is not in the book!

Save your money.

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Well..., January 12, 2006

By 

Jennifer "A Pampering Chef" (Old Hickory, TN) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Encyclopedia of 300 Crochet Patterns, Stitches and Designs (Paperback)

I was looking for books with patterns on Amazon. This book popped up. I liked the cover and the title. I did read some reviews and noticed that a few people were not happy with it. I took the chance though. Kicking myself now. The basic stich section is acceptable. The book does show detail on stitches, but so many of them are fuzzy. The pictures are black and white and they didn't turn out well at all. I am not happy with it. I guess it can sit on the shelf and look pretty with the cover that caught my attention in the first place.