Crochet (Idiot's Guides) Kindle Edition

This is my favorite book on crocheting! I wanted to start up again after many years of not doing it at all and was clueless where to begin. I was able to create this ruana out of buffalo wool yarn, and it was surprisingly easy. This is the easiest book to follow with the clearest instructions and really helpful pictures to follow along with. Highly recommend!

Important instructional written content is difficult read and to follow along line after line because the color of the letters are a watered down grey on a NON BRIGHT white pages. The font size is smaller than the size of headings used to name the sections or any special paragraph materials. If the entire content of the book had black colored ink; the size of the font would not be as noticeable. If they ever reprint I would love a copy that was more user friendly. Oh, I have no trouble with my eyes. I just don't have the patience to deal with how this was done.The content of the book is great but I see myself not usibng this book unless I am able to copy

I am left handed. This book tells us to hold the book up to a mirror and when reading instructions to change right to left and left to right. Really?

I am a knitter~, a knitter who had been working very hard at designing my own garments, knitting fair isle, lace and had set before myself,,( and reached!) all sort of challenges in 12 yrs of knitting~ Why do I include this in my review?? It is because I am a self taught knitter~, one that had to read books to teach myself~ There are not a lot of yarn shops in this area, the closest being about 40 miles away, so I am pretty much on my own here. One day I had a book on the counter which was a gift from a friend on the crocheted art of amigurumi., and my 4 yr old grand daughter here,~ I was going to give this to the library or another friend,,(,because I don't know how to crochet.) I do know some basics, I know the crab stitch ( most knitters do) and the SC ( again same reason) I told my grand daughter that Nana ( me) doesn't know how to crochet, so I couldn't make her the darling tiny animals and tea set she wanted from that book~. I wished I could but I didn't know how~. She came up to me w/ that book opened and said,,,,,,"look Nana, it TELLS you how to do this right in here" This melted my heart. I was determined to learn how to do this. I began to search crochet teaching books and not being new to the teach it to yourself process, I wanted to order the best book I could,,,,,, go thru it and learn,,, and I mean,REALLY learn. I spent a small fortune on books thru the years learning to knit in all manners, all styles and still have much to learn but I wanted to avoid crochet book overload, Just wanted to get the best book available on the subject and begin to crochet so I could eventually make her little turtle or tea set. I tend to avoid the whole " dummy" name in books, bc I am NOT a dummy,, and do not like to even be referenced as one,,,,even in a teaching book. I went to Barnes and Nobel and sat for hours, reading, taking notes, looking at pictures and came home and read reviews. It came down to 2 learning books,,,,,,and this book was THE top book on the list for teaching myself the lovely art of crochet. What was the difference between this one and the other beginner book?? It was the layout. and the way the whole practice pattern selections worked~ this book could take me step by step from , the chain stitch to creating quite a lovely shawl~ going at a rate that was nice and easy..., learning how to crochet those lovely lovely shells I had seen so often, or how to crochet in the round or the humble granny square ~ This was done in such a way that one could realistically go thru this book chapter by chapter, and then practice a square or a round on what was just taught. THe granny square caught my eye also b/c of the possibilities. There are SO many beginning crochet books that are not organized in thought and process which would have the new crochet person confused,and frustrated, ( been there,,done that before in knitting) This book ought to win Beginner Crochet Book Award of The Year ( if there was one!) for the thought, the layout and all that went into writing this book! I can * think* crochet a whole lot more clearly now, the pictures are fabulous which was never a real strong point w/ the dummy book system,,,,but not so in this case! There are plenty of color pictures to guide the novice into making this craft a reality for them. I am super excited about crochet now! While I may always be a knitter first, I find myself thinking,,,,isn't the so and so pattern for the crochet linen stitch scarf on Ravelry easy??And doesn't it produce a really nice fabric using leftover sock yarn? I am at a point where I am looking for projects to use up some of my stash,and crochet seems to be helpful to me in that area in a good way.While hanging around on Ravelry I see a pattern for a full size granny square throw, and it interests me bc it looks SO retro and colorful,,,,,,I think to myself what a GREAT way to use up leftover colorful stash yarns! ( so now,I am way beyond,just thinking amigururumi at this point ,) , but the point is,,,,I know how to make that granny square! I plan to have this book spiral bound so I can lay it flat and write my own notes as I progress. That is the only complaint I have,,,,,I wish this could be spiral bound, but they do not do this often in teaching books or recipe books either. I hope to crochet that cute lace shawl that is a pattern in this boo someday soonk~ I would be willing to bet that from now on,,,,,when I look at yarn , I will wonder,,,,,, Would it be better to be knit into a particular fabric?? ,,OR,,,,a crocheted fabric? I can see lots of things before me,,,,,pillows, shawls, scarves knit lengthwise in the linen stitch and so forth. Love love love this book and can say w/ all certainty that my 4 yr old grand daughter will have her crocheted turtle and tea set and I will have learned a new skill.

I do like this book. But, as an E-Book, don't waste your money. There is no way to bookmark a page, you cannot use the contents to get to a certain chapter.I truly wasted money on this purchase because of the above, it is very frustrating not to be able to use this as a quick reference.A good book in paper but not on devices.

I'm a total beginner and I have several books. This is by far the best. It is the mist comprehensive, has great pictures, and the mist detailed instructions. This is the only book that has helped me with specific mistakes I kept repeating.

I can’t believe I FINALLY learned to crochet—from this book! I tried once about 15 years ago, but gave up after a few days. After nearly a year of quarantine/remote working, I decided to try again, and I gave it one whole snowed-in weekend...and this time, I learned! You have to be persistent and know that you will be frustrated at times by the seemingly simplest things. Sometimes it helped reading forward to later chapters, because I would then notice a detail I was missing. I made the washcloths pictured, and then an Afghan (my own design, made with Wool Ease Thick and Quick yarn, all in just the simple half double crochet stitch).I think bulkier yarn was easier for me to really grasp the concepts with—I initially used worsted weight yarn as recommended, but really, with bulky (smooth) yarn, I could just see the concepts more easily. The Thick and Quick is so big and durable, I could easily take out and redo mistakes to practice the various stitches. Much easier to SEE the mistakes to begin with, too. There were a couple times (just once or twice) towards the end when I watched a YouTube video to confirm I was doing something right or wrong—but it turned out I was already doing it right, so the book taught me. I would recommend this book for beginners, just be patient, maybe try a thinker, solid (light) color yarn to help see the yarn more easily...and to have your project turn out faster! I can’t believe it’s only been 2 weeks and I’ve already made an Afghan, two cowl scarves, and some washcloths. Now I’m starting to learn some of the more complicated concepts, like crocheting in the round. Great book, worth it.

This is a great book and has a lot of information and tips with many photos. It also has some great patterns for a beginner. I however do not recommend the Kindle version. You can't enlarge the text, you can't bookmark pages, and it won't rotate to be able to use landscape view. The print on my device is quite small and difficult to read.

Decided to teach myself to crochet. Already had purchased a leatherwork book from the same series (also recommended) so knew roughly what to expect.Great books, clear instructions and explanations. Lots of pictures, diagrams and different stitches to learn. Big section at back with patterns to practice.

I’m gradually learning from this book - I knew the stitches from being taught as a child, but it’s learning to read the pattern!

I definitely need this as I am adept at granny squares but want to broaden my horizon. Easy to read but not yet tried any of the patterns.

Great book. Useful for a beginner. Would recommend this.

I am very impressed with this crochet book. I have just received it (very much sooner than I expected, which is also impressive.) I have only flipped through it but I know that I am going to find it very useful, even though I have been crocheting for many years. There is always something new to be learned in this beautifully relaxing craft.Thank you.