How to Crochet

Rating:
Summary: For Beginners?
Review: 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.

Rating:
Summary: The Best Crocheting Book!
Review: I am a beginner crocheter and I love this book, I like hip, contemporary knitting and crochet patterns and this definitely adds to my inspirations! Now I can do those patterns in my "Rebecca" and "Katia" magazines!!

Rating:
Summary: Helpful, but still confusing to total beginners
Review: 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.

Rating:
Summary: Helpful, but still confusing to total beginners
Review: 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.

Rating:
Summary: Very Informative
Review: 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.

Rating:
Summary: A very useful book for the novice.
Review: 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!

Rating:
Summary: How To Crochet by Pauline Turner
Review: I have this book and several others by Ms Turner. I found her book to be a great addition to my crochet library. Pauline Turner is a gifted teacher. Her international correspondence course "Crochet in Design" is the best in theory and practical design. Pauline uses great crochet artists to work and design some of the projects in her book. These projects compliment the workshops and give the crocheter a chance to futher practice the stitches or other information given within each chapter. Please give this book a try, I think you will like it.

Rating:
Summary: confusing for the total beginner
Review: 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.

Rating:
Summary: confusing for the total beginner
Review: 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

Rating:
Summary: How to crochet
Review: 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