Crochet Rugs and Throws

Rating:
Summary: Crochet Rugs and Throws...unimaginative, boring
Review: I found this book unimaginative and an overall disappointment. There were basically only a couple of designs in the book, and every design seemed to be a re-hash of the others. Unlike most good knitting books (where one can spend a lot of time perusing and enjoying the ideas and patterns), I flipped through this book in less than five minutes and had no interest in looking at it again.

Rating:
Summary: Beautiful, unique designs!
Review: The cover of this book was what spurred me to purchase it. As a long time crocheter, the combination of the stitches is what appealed to me. The author is from Australia and the book uses the English terms for crochet. This isn't a problem; many on line sites have comparative charts; www.crochet.com is one site which has this. The book also has a stitch guide to refer to. The textural interest of the different designs, the justaposition of stitches, even the colors used are different than the usual fare. You are encouraged to fiddle with the patterns to make them uniquely your own! There are bedspreads, small lapghans and even 2 beautiful filet crochet pieces worked in worsted weight wool. The results are stunning. Take another look at the cover picture though; that one pattern is worth the price of the book! The short introduction to the patterns and how she developed them is interesting to read, as is the forward (a short biography); Janet Hobbs is a many time over award winner in crochet technique and design. She has spent most of her life in the Australian bush, where patterns and yarn were in short supply. This is a beautiful book with 10 unique designs; it deserves far more hoopla than it has received. Do yourself a favor, order it now!

Rating:
Summary: Useful and not too difficult....
Review: When it comes to crocheting or knitting, not everyone is at the same stage of development. I learned to crochet many years ago and have recently been reviving my skills. Where formerly I made lace edging and doilies using cotton thread, I am now engaged in working with wool using larger yarns and needles. CROCHET RUGS & THROWS by Janet Hobbs, provides the reader with projects for fair to middling crochet workers, who like me want to use 4-8 ply strands of wool.

While this book is touted as a design book (which has been pooh-poohed by another reviewer), it is not exactly filled with amazing and complex new designs. Although she does include a pram cover constructed using white squares that rely on pattern more than color, the major design element Hobbs uses is color. She is somewhat overly reliant on the `bobble' stitch. The bobble is the "bump" in the throw on the cover of the book jacket and it is used almost every item in this book. I did not know how to make a bobble, and did not find Hobbs' instructions helpful. If you can make basic crochet stitches and have not made a bobble, I suggest you refer to Donna Kooler's ENCYCLOPEDIA OF CROCHET STITCHES. (A bobble is not a popcorn stitch.)