Harmony Guides: Basic Crochet Stitches

This is one of those books that does look good on a coffee table...unfortunately that is just vanity when it comes to practicality and I did let it influence me too much when reading other reviews to make my purchase decision.Having said that, and luckily for me, this book does deliver and gives basic written instructions, graphic detail as a further learning method and what I, personally, do find invaluable in these texts; a good colour photograph illustrating the fabric created by each stitch listed.It commences with a short piece on Inspiration for which I cannot comment except that again, the photos are interesting. This is followed by a chapter on Tools and Equipment which has a real size silhouette of each hook size...extremely handy for all those "pretty" hooks I've bought over the years and then noticed how I was rubbing the size off the handle as I used it...was that one the 3 or a 3.25mm again?Next is the "ho-hum," Basic Instructions which seem to take up space in every book, booklet and set of patterns on crochet I have ever got my hands on...it's time people, time to make a reference to your favourite instructional guide if any reader needs to actually learn the craft from basics and save some of our trees! Not to mention the good nature of so many crocheters who store page after page of such instructions throughout their libraries.Then there is a small section on explaining some of the basic techniques we, any one of us, can overlook depending on what we prefer to make...like colour changes, or even decreasing and increasing if we are drawn to afghan creating... I like this section as it attempts to give the reader a wider perspective of what the aim is in creating fabric this way, and so is a thinker's section. I learnt the craft as a child and must admit to believing at times that if I only followed my favourite teacher's instructions then magically, my work would look just like hers. My horror at making a big hole in an afghan because I didn't understand the wider perspective was a lesson well learnt so this section, if it's helpful, should be invaluable.The stitch collection itself is good enough for me to say that again but I have no clue how to find a stitch I know the name of. It doesn't appear to be listed in alphabetical order but it does begin with the basic "single" crochet [as you Americans seem determined to call the stitch] and yet I wouldn't say it necessarily goes on in degree of difficulty either...it is rather random and so I have found myself listing page numbers and stitches on the contents page for ease of referral. The colour combinations are good here too and offer a "jumping off" point for inspiration with same.So this book is definitely worth the effort if, like me, you do see some wonderful new things coming out in crochet but still not everything you would like to make. So learning to design my own patterns has become almost a necessity. Plus when making basics like a hook case, I get sick of crocheting single crochet over and over for functionality minus any style, creativity or individuality, so this is my "go to" book for a little change in the pattern, a learning experience with a new stitch and the end product can look really fabulous rather than just functionary, or a copy of someone else's taste.I haven't read this as a novel, from cover to cover but it is one of the most picked up and flicked through of my crochet books. So leave it on the coffee table, people will know how clever and creative you are, and you'll be more inclined to pick it up on the rare occasions you have nothing you want to continue with on your hooks.

More than one light, it has three stages of light on each side

This is a great book to learn different stitches especially for beginners when they’re learning to crochet I recommend this book highly

The easy format, excellent photographs, and clear directions make this an encyclopedia that delivers results. It is rare for me to be able to decipher handcraft directions without considerable anxiety and misdirected energy, but this book was smooth sailing for even a difficult customer like me! I will treasure this book!

I had seen this book in a library so I was familiar with it. Author is a well-known craft writer. Color photos are clear. Topics are pretty extensive. It should be revised to cover newer yarns and special techniques.

Nice book, very pretty but way over my capabilities. Looks like they are all for very advanced skills. Does not show you how to do it, just tells you, I did not know what most of it meant.

I like this book. It has so many different types of stitching. I was looking for a variety and I will be busy for a while

I love this book! I saw it in the store and knew I had to go home and look for it online. It has a wide variety of kinds of stitches, and the foreward with comments on techniques is a good read, especially for those that are fairly new to crochet. My experience was about 8 months when I got this book, and while I struggled to read an actual "diagram" of a pattern, I perservered! The styles have piqued my imagination, and I think they would do the same for you. This same editor and book has another one that is worth checking out: "Harmony Guides: Crochet Stitch Motifs." I'd also recommend that as well. They are good to have in your library! While most of the patterns can be found on other online sites, these are well-written and, as I have found in some cases, more professional looking.

This clever book contains great pictures and instructions for some lovely stitches. And it helpfully gives the number of starting chain required if you're casting on, or the number of stitches the pattern needs if you're incorporating it into something already on the hook. Which helps with the maths!!! Another great book from Erika Knight.

Great to have for inspiration and instructions

good for beginners and experienced crafters alike. You should consider this as a present for someone on your shopping list.

An excellent guide although it is surprisingly in US terms which you have to remember when using it!

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