Customer Reviews

How to Crochet: The Definitive Crochet Course, Complete With Step-By-Step Techniques, Stitch Libraries, and Projects for Your Home and Family

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

As a pretty experienced crocheter, I never would have picked up this book - I was looking for a gift for my mother. Looking through it, the fantastic photography and unique techniques caught my eye and I bought it for myself.
Her approach being radically different from the way I learned, I find it difficult to follow along sometimes, but only the first time through a pattern. Pauline is from the UK but uses US terms - however, I think there are subtle differences in terminology and syntax that remain. I can only guess as to whether her approach would be a benefit or a disadvantage to a true beginning crocheter. Certainly, she has pared down a complicated art beautifully - for example, she begins not with the single crochet square but with a net bag made of just chains and slip stitches. She proceeds through lessons on color, texture, tunisian and filet crochet - all the basics and even broomstick lace, cables, etc. It might be confusing, though, to start with this book and then go to a traditional American pattern. On the other hand, this book may be just the thing to 'leap' over details and terminology and gain the ability to envision the intention of the designer and the basic form of a piece.
One thing's for sure, this book is chock-full of tips, inspiration, and perfectly brilliant patterns and is worth every penny for more experienced crocheters. Q&A sections like 'why is my afghan stitch too short?' for example make this book invaluable - it may not have as many stitches as a stitch dictionary (though I'd guess the number was up around 100) - but it gives you the kind of insight that will help you sail through new challenges.

I would not recommend this book for beginners as the instructions are not the clearest. I crocheted as a child (my mother taught me)and decided to pick it up again recently. The photographs are rather pleasant, but again the instructions are not structured well. Especially in the "stitch library", I had to follow my instincts and do the work, then re-read the instructions and finally realized what she meant. A good book, but I can't see an average beginner who had never crocheted before starting off well with this book.

I am a total beginner and I made the mittens listed in the book. I learned how to add another color and how to put the mittens together. I found the abbreviations a little confusing and the substitutions weren't totally accurate (counterpane stitch substition for slip stitch wasn't clear when adding or dropping stitches). Also, I could have used more detailed instructions on how to put the mittens together. I liked that there were contemporary patterns (tank top, tote bag, hat) instead of patterns that remind me of my grandmother. This is worth buying for the cool patterns, even though the instructions may drive you batty.

I disagree with the reviewers who say this isn't good for beginners. It has very clear instructions. It isn't exhaustive but it is good to teach you how to read patterns and do buttons, braids, tunisian, broomstick lace, flowers, filet, etc. Teaches the puff stitch and the cluster stitch nicely! Lots of various stitches and some good patterns. Tells you the weight of yarn used in the pattern so you can easily substitute from your stash. Patterns: large shopping bag, padded coat hangers, book covers, rug, pillow cover, mittens (child & adult), camisole, child & adult Aran sweater, blanket, a round & a square pillow, throw, small & large bags, hairband, slippers, shade/window edging and a stole.

As a complete beginner, I have finally taught myself how to CORRECTLY sc, but only after looking at a couple of other books and a few websites. I understand that there is a lot of variation in crochet, but Pauline Turner gives several misleading (or just plain incorrect?) instructions. First, for sc, she says to insert the hook in the third chain from the hook for the foundation - everywhere else I've looked says to insert it in the SECOND chain from the hook. Also, she says that for sc, the turning chain counts as a stitch, but every other source (plus common sense) says that the turning chain in sc does NOT count as a stitch.

Also, even if her instructions were accurate, they, along with some of the diagrams, are confusing, and the organization of the book is not great (instead of having all of the stitches in one place, she puts a few at the end of each chapter).

So, if you have some crochet skills, this book might be ok (I think I MIGHT be able to use it a little more effectively now, although I haven't tried). Otherwise, prepare to be very frustrated!

This book has some crochet information you won't find any where else. It is a great book for intermediate and experienced crocheters, but there are tons of better ones for beginning crocheters. The projects and photographs are enticing but don't buy it unless you already understand all the crochet terms, stitches and symbols.

I have made 3 different projects in this book and have yet to be able to even get halfway through any of them without running into this book's biggest problem. The instructions (...)! They are worse than any I have ever come across. The author put at least one stitch in ever project that isn't explained in the book and at least one stitch that isn't explained until later in the book. Also, the pictures in the book look okay until you try to use them to make sure you have the stitch right (the one that you just had to improvise) and then the pictures are so blurry its impossible to tell what the final product is supposed to look like. The few good things about this book are that it does have cute projects (in theory...grr) and it goes over tuscan crochet and broomstick lace. Really, it be worth it to buy seperate books on those subjects than waste your money on this one.

I am an experienced crocheter, but I always like to find books that give time-saving hints and better ways to "build a mousetrap". This book has lots of interesting patterns, stitches, and hints.
I use it frequently as a reference.

This book is up there with Sylvia Cosh's books. It is one of the best introductory books I've seen on crochet. It is full of colorful, inspirational photographs and interesting projects.
One of my favorite projects is a cotton rug. The book itllustrates interesting stitches that turn crochet from "ordinary" to superb and different, like the stitches used with
the cotton rugs.

I'm an experienced crocheter, but I would reccamend this book to a beginner because of the way they start the book off; with simple intructions and projects, progressing to more difficult projects. I would use it as a book to teach young, 7 and older children how to crochet. I also would want it for myself because there is something it it for everyone, even the seasoned crocheter.

Also, the athor presents crochet as a worthy craft, deserving to be admired as a craft of fabric making *by itself* without any other form of fabric making. Crochet is unique and has it's own qualities, and this book demonstrates that well!

Rhonda Thomas

I have just received the above book, and am delighted with it. It is the first time I have bought on the internet. I found this book in our area library and liked it so much, I kept on taking it out! Buying it locally proved to be impossible - so decided it was such a good reference book to my very new skills as a crochet-person, purchase was a necessity. I have always admired this craft and after a demonstration of crochet at our machine knitting club - have become quite enthusiastic! The book was in excellent condition when it arrived here in far away N.Z. in about 12 days. So thanks to all concerned - I love it!