Your Favorite Crochet Book(s)

[PenguinsAnPonies]

Hi all. I don't really own any crochet books and I was looking to invest in some good books! What books do you recommend? What are your favorite? The coolest? Etc..
Thanks!~Heidi

[rebeccav]

i think it really just depends on taste :blah

what are your interests? fashion? kids? women? home?

i have tons of books... give me a clue and i'll muddle through some of mine :ducky

:sheepjump

[threeolivemartini]

my advice is go to a book store so you can look thru them and decide if they are worht the money for the patterns inside.. because if i cant look thru it what good is it .. its like the Hip To Crochet...i know someof you like it .. and went crazy over it but it didnt impress me much..

so its a matter of what you like and what you want to make a suppose .. i think a good one to look into is the Encyclopedia of crochet.. granted the patterns arent cutting edge.. but there is alot of information and stiches in there..

[Donna]

Yep, I was just about to mention Donna Kooler's Encyclopedia of Crochet (http://www.overstock.com/cgi-bin/d2.cgi?PAGE=PROFRAME&PROD_ID=132409), too. Great reference book. It has a little of everything: history, tutorials, patterns, and stitch patterns.

[TShell]

i was just going to ask that today. I got a barnes & Noble gift cert for my birthday, so i was looking into crochet and knit books.
I saw a couple people recommend "Ready Set Crochet" (despite the cheesy title, sorry i can't remember who liked it)
I have enough afghan patterns so i think i'm mainly looking for accessories and clothing. Id like to make people scarves but i'm tired of the basic stiches. I may actually knit the scarves. hmmmm

[Chiscrochetcrazy]

I saw a book its called scarves I've seen it at michaels it's a really pretty book and the scarves are up to date.

[natalie058]

Hi all. This is the first time I've posted so i hope i'm doing this right, if not sorry! :)) Anyways, i wanted to suggest The Crochet Stitch Bible by Betty Barnden. It's got pix, diagrams, and instructions for over 200 stitches. I just picked it up at Border's last week - it might be too simple for some, but it's got everything from the most basic stitches to tunisian, filet, and lacewrok stitches. I can't put it down. Hope this helps.

[threeolivemartini]

i actually saw that on my journey last week.. and was tempted to get it.. but there were other things i wanted.. so I am waiting for christmas.. the thing i liked most about it .. it was spiral bound.. and not so large you couldnt drop it in your bag

[Yarnentangled]

I 've recently purchased 4 crochet books

"Simple Crochet" by Erica Knight. Lovely, simple designs for the home. Ms. Knight's angle is simple stitches but using unique yarns such as twine and leather and she also uses a lot of cotton for her projects. What attracted me to this book is the simplicity of the projects and the possibilities for the average crocheter to add creative touches to the item. The projects are great for beginners but the tutorial is kinda lame. I get the feeling that she has been crocheting and knitting for so long she forgot how to spell it out for the absolute beginner.

I also picked up a copy of "How To Crochet". I am not as impressed with this book as I thought I would be. Lucky for me I didn't pay retail ($29.95). The writing is dry and the color combinations on some things are dated. The instructions are pretty good and there is a nice stitch library too. I am prolly going to use this one as a reference.

"Hooked On Crochet" is my favorite so far. I enjoy the authors friendly writing style. When I read a crochet book I want my "teacher" to be enthusiastic and cheer me on with inviting projects and a you-can-do-it attitude. This book has it. Not only that but the projects are hip and modern. I can't wait to make something from it.

My last book hasn't arrived yet. "Hip To Crochet". Though I've thumbed through it several times I haven't read it in depth. Something to look forward to if it ever gets here.:read

[Suebee42]

More votes for the Encyclopedia and Simple Crochet. :D

Oddly, though the tutorials in Simple Crochet are a little lacking, my students seem to do best with the method of making a slip knot as presented in that book. I know about 364798216592346579237645832 different ways, and that seems to be the easiest for them.

I was looking at a few in Borders one day, and I like the looks of Ready Set Crochet and Hooked on Crochet.. but like TShell, Hip to Crochet... meh. ;)

But, since I teach crochet a few different places, I am always looking at the books not only for the projects in them, but also for how they present the material and how informative they would be for beginners. :) Oh, and as a graphic designer, I'm also always looking at how they LOOK... and Simple Crochet wins that race, hands down... gorgeous graphic design -- but that's just the design geek in me. :D 8o

[natalie058]

Ah, yes. I just bought the Encyclopedia of Crochet, :read after debating about it for awhile I finally decided I couldn't be without, and bought it. :)h It took me awhile to begin any type of crochet library and now i'm just going at it! :D!

[lillian1969]

crochet for today
150 weekend projects

[mrs who]

I have been reading the Encyclopedia of Crochet and Ready, Set, Crochet via inter-library loan and both of them went to the top of my "to buy" list. They're really excellent and I loved that the Encyclopedia had equal directions for lefties -- with photos! I'm not a lefty - my DH is - but it's nice to have that option. Ready, Set, Crochet has terrific pictures, very nice patterns, and good, basic instruction. I think it's my new favorite learn-to-crochet book.

I also checked-out Hip to Crochet and Crochet Basics, both of which were "ok" but aren't going on my to-buy list.

[princsstrish]

I love my "Crocheter's Companion" It's small enough to carry with me in my tote bag so have on hand at all times.

If you are interested in afghans "Blue Ribbon Afghans" is a great one!!!

I have the "hip to crochet" book and while it has some nice patterns in it, I'll never make any of them - I guess I'm not "hip" enough :)

[Deb]

When I was first starting out... and didn't do much more than afghans and scarves (who am I kidding.. that's still pretty much all i do!) I found the 63 Square book to be a life saver!

I love how it gives you the multiples of the pattern, so that you can create a larger piece with the same over-all effect. I've used it time and time again. heck.. it's falling apart at the seams!

So if you are short on cash, and don't want to spend ALL of your money on a big ticket item... this little booklet gives you a LOT of bang for your buck.

:)h just my humble opinion. :ha

[Julie]

I ordered the Encyclopedia of Crochet and The Crocheter's Stitch Bible today. :)) Or rather, Mom doesn't know it but she ordered them for me. :bounce

[JPorter718]

Oh Julie, you're gonna love the Crochet Stitch Bible... it's one of my absolute favorites! :))