The hardest part of starting a new hobby is the very first step. Maybe you’ve been perusing Etsy and Pinterest and took notice of all the crochet goods — how cool would it be to know how to make those yourself? Luckily, there are dozens of books out there to get you started on your crocheting journey.
Modern Crochet: Patterns and Designs for the Minimalist Maker by Debrosse is a recently released crochet guidebook for beginners and experts alike. It has an extensive guide to stitching with helpful tips and a large selection of patterns for you to put your art to the test.
Crochet is a needlework technique that uses a hook and yarn to create a plethora of goods including but not limited to accessories, clothing and home decor. Crochet is frequently confused with knitting since both skills use yarn for their projects. However, you can easily tell the difference between a crocheter and knitter by observing the tools they use — crocheting uses a hook while knitting uses two needles. If you want to try out both hobbies, consider investing in a knitting kit along with your crochet one.
If you’ve never held a crochet needle before, you may want to consider a different book than an adept crocheter who’s looking to learn a few new stitches. Some books cater to many skill levels, but beginners should choose a book that introduces basic techniques, such as the chain stitch.
A beginner book should also cover the tools of crochet: the hook and yarn. Both your yarn and hook can come in different sizes, shapes and materials.
Before losing yourself in a needlework textbook, consider your skill level and familiarize yourself with terms so that the learning process isn’t so arduous. You should have a grasp of simple vocabulary, including:
You should also know a few common abbreviations that may be in your book:
A quality book should have both a vocabulary list and an abbreviation guide. Each stitch should be clearly distinguished from the others, and the author should explain how it’s done, what it looks like and how difficult it is to perform.
Learning to crochet takes careful and precise movement with your hook and yarn. The book should provide thorough explanations of each stitch and be accompanied by images for visual aid.
Many crochet book authors also have online blogs and sites dedicated to the needlework technique. Their sites may have streamable how-to videos for you to watch when the text and images don’t suffice.
The biggest perk of a crochet book is its included patterns. These patterns are given a difficulty rating, along with detailed instructions and pictures for you to follow.
Most paperback crochet books cost $18-$25. Kindle versions are half the price or cheaper.
A. Both left and right-handed people can crochet. Traditional instructions are usually written for right-handed people, but newer patterns usually have a left-handed version as well.
A. Crocheting is easier than knitting in several ways — you only need one tool, you don’t need to move stitches between needles, and simple mistakes are less likely to ruin your entire project.
Modern Crochet: Patterns and Designs for the Minimalist Maker
What you need to know: This is a comprehensive guide with step-by-step instructions and patterns.
What you’ll love: This book has 16 original patterns, more than 150 helpful images, an abbreviation legend and detailed instruction for over 15 stitches and techniques. This book comes with an online resource library with more than 25 video tutorials.
What you should consider: The font is small and may be difficult to read if you have poor eyesight.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Crochet For Beginners: A Complete Step by Step Guide
What you need to know: This guide to crochet includes illustrations, tips and patterns.
What you’ll love: This book includes 27 tricks and hacks and 25 patterns with complete instructions and images. There’s an entire section for left-handed crocheters.
What you should consider: The e-book does not have links in the instructions.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Complete Crochet Course: The Ultimate Reference Guide
What you need to know: This is a guide that explains what tools, materials and techniques go into crocheting.
What you’ll love: This book covers the foundations of crochet, explaining how to choose a hook and yarn, do specialty stitches and add details. There are ten patterns included.
What you should consider: Some reviewers described the book as “nonlinear” and difficult to follow.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
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Gwen Swanson writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
