Simple Crochet

Rating:
Summary: Nice coffee table book, but...
Review: ...it does not always provide pictures to clarify the sometimes confusing directions. I have been crocheting for about a month, and based on the reviews, this seemed to be an ideal book for me. It is true that the pictures are beautiful, and the illustrations of the basic stitches are very helpful (assuming you are right-handed). However, most of the variations are NOT illustrated.

It does have some very interesting projects, and provides some idea fodder that I certainly never imagined.

So, if you have some experience crocheting, or if you have a mentor who can help clarify instructions, this is a worthwhile addition to your craft library.

Rating:
Summary: Beatiful designs, with a few functional issues.
Review: As an art director, I appreciate (and was drawn to) the cover, which accurately represents an entire book of beautiful, simple projects. The author obviously has an eye for color and cleverly showcases her finished pieces using an appealing palette of neutrals, offset by brighter pinks, oranges and greens. It's lovely eye candy and an inspiration for those seeking help breaking out of the 1970s color box.

There are also many patterns that use not just yarn, but raffia, material, leather, etc., something I hadn't considered before and have used as inspiration.

I was a little disappointed, though, that the aesthetic photos of finished projects aren't supplemented with a more functional picture that shows the piece in its entirety, especially the four throws.

There are 10 pages devoted to learning all the stitches used in the book. While the accompanying photos are helpful and clear, I don't think it's comprehensive enough for the complete beginner, especially the instructions for crocheting in rounds. I've found much better instruction in Leisure Arts' 10-20-30 Minutes To Learn To Crochet ($8.95).

One reviewer had mentioned she was looking for more beautiful projects like the ones featured in Simple Crochet. Candi Jensen has a few books that also help to bring crochet into the 21st century...check out Candy Blankies and Hip to Crochet.

Rating:
Summary: great for those looking for modern ideas
Review: I am a beginner to intermediate crocheter. I LOVE this book. It is so incredibly hard to find modern patterns. I am sorry, I am just not interested in sweaters, scarves and ugly afgans. I want MORE! I love the use of other materials (i.e. leather, kitchen twine, rafia)...other than yarn. I also love that this book has patterns for placemats, baskets and a modern afgan. This is great! Now I can finally crochet something for myself and my home, rather than giving away everything that I have made.

If anyone has any great MODERN books or magazines to recommend, please send email to [e-mail]. I look at the book store all the time, but most of it is traditional. I am also willing to cross-over to knitting and will be purchasing Erika's knitting for the home book.

Rating:
Summary: Not your grandmother's crochet book!
Review: I am a self taught beginner. I only know one stitch - the single crochet. This book allowed to me make wonderful things with this one stitch. The projects were quick and were kept exciting by using various materials other than plain old yarn. The directions were very easy to follow. It's the only book I'm using now. Fabulous ideas! I not only was not interested in making blankets - but I didn't want to have to learn a bunch of new stitches and didn't want to follow complex directions. This book is the only and best beginning crochet book out there! HIGHLY HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT!!

Rating:
Summary: Great for Modern Pattern Ideas Only
Review: I bought Simple Crochet today, inspired by it's lovely "Modern Afghan" pattern that I saw finished and displayed on a website. The basic design of the book is very trendy, very pleasing to the eye and I wouldn't be embarassed to have this lying on my coffee table. The photographs of project patterns are beautiful. The instructions are very easy to follow, in my opinion and the photographs showing how to do simple stitches are extremely clear. It also has helpful information on yarn types (weights and colors), gauges, and crochet hooks.

Overall, I think this is a lovely book. However, Simple Crochet is just that: simple. It only shows a small handful how-to-do stitch sections, so if you are looking for something more comprehensive, choose another book.

Rating:
Summary: Simple Crochet
Review: I gave this book a rating of four stars becuase I "simply wanted more". It is a book of great inspiration and leads the reader to imaginative ideas and projects of their own to create. It is a breath of fresh air to the sometimes dull world of crochet that catapults ones's inividuallity into the new millenium. This book brings life to an old craft that is easy and creative to both young and old. I highly recommend "Simple Crochet" as an avenue for growth and stimulation in the field of textiles and home decor.

Rating:
Summary: Simple Crochet
Review: I gave this book a rating of four stars becuase I "simply wanted more". It is a book of great inspiration and leads the reader to imaginative ideas and projects of their own to create. It is a breath of fresh air to the sometimes dull world of crochet that catapults ones's inividuallity into the new millenium. This book brings life to an old craft that is easy and creative to both young and old. I highly recommend "Simple Crochet" as an avenue for growth and stimulation in the field of textiles and home decor.

Rating:
Summary: Still have questions
Review: I still have questions after looking at the book. I am doing something dreadfully wrong and can't figure it out from the little pictures. I think the stuff in the book is beautiful, but I doubt I'll ever get there. I have tried and tried, and had other people look at the book; but I still seem to be randomly increasing and decreasing and have no idea how I am doing it. Frustrating! Needless to say, I am putting the book away for now. Maybe some other time...

Rating:
Summary: beautiful projects
Review: I've been knitting for a while now and I picked up this book on a whim to expand my repetoire. The projects in it are really beautiful. I had previously steered clear of crochet because I thought all crochet was ugly. I was wrong! This book is modern and beautiful. The patterns all use Rowan yarns which are expensive so be prepard to do so some sleuthing to figure out yarn substitutions. As a complete beginner I did find that I needed some supplemental how-to instructions for stuff that just wasn't clicking in my brain when reading the book instructions. A little internet searching cleared that right up and now I've already picked out about 4 projects I want to try.

Rating:
Summary: Great book, but...
Review: The book is well written, using unique materials, imaginative ideas, and the patterns seem well written to me. I've seen other people make simply beautiful things with these patterns.

That said, my biggest problem with this book, is I really feel the photographs don't do the patterns justice. They're all great pictures, but they all look like they should be side photos, and not a main picture. They don't usually show the whole work, and tend to be too close to the work to give you a full view of what it would look like finished. I saw a finished work from the book online in another crocheter's journal, and I said to myself that I didn't remember seeing that in the book at ALL. I looked back, and realized it was one of the close up pictured items. Not a good way to sell a book.