Crocheting for Dummies

Rating:
Summary: Review of this book in absolute terms
Review: After my spectacular experience with "Knitting for Dummies", I bought this book, "Crocheting for Dummies", without any hesitation and without any shopping around, thinking it would be exactly the same format. Therefore, I can only write a review in absolute terms, without much comparison to other beginner crocheting books. Here's what I thought:

1. Just like the "Knitting" counterpart, this book has meticulous instructions and great diagrams. Surprisingly, it's not the instructional books with the glossy pages and photographs that are the best for learning crocheting. This book is mainly black-and-white and has drawings rather than photos. Nonetheless, "Crocheting for Dummies" has excellent instructions on what to do with your hook and yarn in an easy-to-follow format.

2. The information is presented in a somewhat awkward order. Rather than getting down to business, this book starts out with a chapter devoted to different crochet hooks and yarns. Then it goes into gauge, a concept COMPLETELY alien until you've actually crocheted some stitches. Only in chapter 4 you're finally told how to hold the hook and the yarn and make some stitches. Unfortunately, this is the order most knitting/crocheting books are arranged (except "Knitting for Dummies"). It would obviously make more sense to explain gauge AFTER learning how to crochet.

3. Unfortunately, this book teaches crochet in the context of projects. To me it seems that a new crocheter should first make some swatches with cheap yarn, thus practicing fancy stitches, getting good at reading charts, and learning how to crochet evenly. Only after getting moderately good, should the new crocheter undertake a project which requires the purchase of expensive yarn. But in this book the two steps are combined. Rather than present many practice patterns to swatch, the book suggests real projects, with real (expensive) yarn, to learn crocheting techniques. However, if you're impatient and want to make something real while learning, then you might like this book.

4. On the plus side, this book is comprehensive. It covers everything from basic stitches to crocheting with color, finishing items, picking up stitches for collars, afghan and filet crocheting, etc. It is also full of helpful tips for even a more experienced crocheter, such as nifty ways to join yarn and weave in ends while crocheting. The beginning of the book has a chart of international crochet symbols and abbreviations, which is very handy.

The projects presented here are ... okay. There are some very basic coasters and placemats, a potholder, a table runner, flowers to use as package decorations, scarves, bandanas, a hat, a vest, two sweaters, two pillow covers, and an Afghan throw. Remember, to lean/practice some/most of the techniques, you'll actually have to make these projects or parts of them!

Overall, I applaud this book on the clarity of instructions - the diagrams are really very clear. "Crocheting for Dummies" isn't as pretty as some of the other books, but trust me, pretty gets frustrating very quick if the instructions aren't clear. It doesn't have a spine that allows it to lie flat, but once again, if it lays flat but is full on nonsense, you don't want it anyway. This book, at least partially, teaches crocheting in the context of projects, which I do not like, but it must appeal to some people because this is the typical way to present information.

Rating:
Summary: Terrific Book for Learning the Art of Crochet
Review: 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.

Rating:
Summary: Great Crochet Book!
Review: Easy to understand, easy to read, easy to follow, great diagrams, great advice. Get it!

Rating:
Summary: A great book for beginners
Review: 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.