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Crafty Lady Sandi: Beaded Icicles: Hi! Crafters! Yes, it states Icicles it is not just one but several grouped together. This is for adult project; because, needle no...

Review: "Crochet: The Complete Step-By-Step Guide" by DK Editors

Billed as a resource book for crocheters at all levels, Crochet: The Complete Step-By-Step Guide features the basics and over 80 patterns at all skill levels. Visually stunning thanks to the well done photographs, the book showcases quite a number of possibilities for gifts, home use, and more.

After a section on the basics of tools, various types of yarn, stitches, and more the book goes on to projects. Some are simple such as “Beaded Necklace” (pages 28-29) or “Cell Phone Covers” (pages 36-37) to the far more complex “Baby Blanket” (pages 148-149) and “Flower Pin Cushion” (pages 184-185) and others. Each of the more than eighty projects has detailed instructions, a recommended skill level, pictures of the finished project, and often a tip to make the item more useful or easier to make.

A two page glossary, an eight page index, and a one page acknowledgment/ author bio bring this over 300 page book to a close.

While a comprehensive and interesting book Crochet: The Complete Step-By-Step Guidet suffers from organization issues. Many of the projects seem to have little rhyme or reason as to why they are placed here or there and the table of contents is a bit scattered. The result is a good book that is made more difficult to use than it should be.

Crochet: The Complete Step-By-Step Guide

DK Editors

DK Publishing

http://dk.com/crafts

February 2014

ISBN# 978-1-4654-1591-2

Hardback

320 Pages

$40.00

Material supplied by the good folks of the Plano Texas Public Library System. The annual book sale is scheduled this year for August 8-10. More details are at the Friends of the Plano Public Library website.

Kevin R. Tipple ©2014

Review: "Crochet One-Skein Wonders: 101 Projects From Crocheters Around The World" Edited by Judith Durant and Edie Eckman

Featuring 101 Projects From Crocheters Around The World variety is very much at work here in this nearly 300 page book. The projects are divided up into seven categories reflecting the weight of the skein. The explanation of those weights can be found in the glossary as are explanations of the techniques needed, abbreviations used, and other helpful information.  Instead of being at the front of the book as usually happens that informative stuff is at the back so that Crochet One-Skein Wonders begins immediately with the projects.

Eight projects are found in the opening section titled “Thread.” It can be something to be used around the house such as the “Blooming Blossom Coaster Set” on pages 8-10 or something to be worn such as the very pretty “Butterfly Necklace” on pages 19-21 among others.  In each case the name of the creator is listed along with the supplies needed, the directions, and at least one picture of the finished project. This same format is used throughout the book.

The “Lace Weight” section follows and features four patterns. Beginning on page 27 there are patterns for three scarves and one for a cowl featured here.

“Super-Fine Weight” comes next with 20 more designs. A number of them involve cowls and scarves, but other items such as “Flower Power Purse” (pages 57-58) and the “Shell Stitch Fingerless Gloves” (pages 65-67) are featured.

“Fine Weight” begins on page 90 and features 9 projects. More scarves and glove projects can be found here as well as the “Pebble Beach Headband” (pages 92-93) and the “Spring Garden Dress” (pages 99-101) and the cute “Eliot-the-Elephant Baby Bib” (pages 102-104) and others.

Starting on page 113 are the twelve projects that make up the “Light Weight” section. More scarves and headband projects can be found here along with others such as the “Sunflower Pillow” (pages 135-138) and “Napkin Rings” (pages 139-140) and the Green Water-Bottle Holder” (pages 141-142).

“Medium Weight” comes next with more than 30 projects.  Hats and a scarfs of various types are present here as well as ones for fun things like “Bernie the Bunny” (pages 226-230) and a Kindle Cover” on page 242.

10 Projects make up the “Bulky Weight” section of the book. A “Button-Flap Cape” (pages 245-246) and a “Handpainted Shoulder Bag” on pages 256-258 among others are included in this final project chapter.

Short bios of the designers/creators in the book, a glossary of techniques, yarn weight, symbols and abbreviations follows the final project chapter. A nine page index and an ad featuring four titles aimed at knitters and an accompanying ad for four other crochet books bring this well done book to a close.

Featuring project diversity and variety in skill levels, the 101 projects in Crochet One-Skein Wonders are sure to work for you as well as your family and friends. The projects selected by editors Judith Durant and Edie Eckman can be made for recipients of all age levels and would be treasured gifts.

Crochet One-Skein Wonders: 101 Projects From Crocheters Around The World

Edited by Judith Durant & Edie Eckman

Storey Publishing

http://www.storeypublishing.com

April 2013

ISBN# 978-1-61212-042-3

Paperback (also available in e-book format)

288 Pages

$18.95

Material was obtained at my local library for my use in a future review piece for my column in the Senior News newspaper.

Kevin R. Tipple ©2013