The Complete Photo Guide to Crochet

I borrowed the The Complete Photo Guide to Crochet: *All You Need to Know to Crochet from the library to preview. This is now on my list of books to buy.

I wish I had this book when I was learning, but it also covers techniques and patterns for stitches I still want to learn. My learning style leans towards photographs over drawings or written descriptions. I do better when I can see what the author is trying to describe. This book provides up close illustrations of basic and more advanced techniques for readers to pursue.

For those interested in learning to read diagrams, this book explains the diagrams and then includes the diagrams along with written directions for the patterns in the book.

I am going to see if our library has the knitting book to preview. I have blogged at great lengths about my knitting challenges. However, I have not purchased a photograph book yet. It might be useful to try out The Complete Photo Guide to Knitting: *All You Need to Know to Knit
along with Teach Yourself VISUALLY Knitting if I can find them at the library first.

Crochet Master Class

Crochet Master Class: Lessons and Projects from Today's Top Crochetersfinally became available through library loan. When possible I prefer to borrow before buying to have a chance to preview and decide if the book is worth the investment.

The book includes instructions in woven crochet, hairpin lace, tapestry, aran, entrelac, Tunisian, filet, double-ended, overlay, bead, budges, painted, free-form, Irish, and wire crochet. The book includes introductory directions for each of the methods and I found the directions to be clear and accompanied with useful pictures.

The book focuses mostly on clothing and one chapter focuses on fashion crocheting. As most of my readers know, I am not a clothing crocheter. I make mostly toys, doll's clothes, and home items. While I eventually want to learn some of these techniques for their uses in making afghans and other home items, these patterns do not focus on those projects.

There are several other books on my list of books to buy. I suspect that I would likely borrow this book when I wanted to explore these techniques further. If I made clothes, this book would be of more use to me.