Pattern Library: Crochet

by Amy Carroll

Create your own sweater, shawl, dress, afghan, etc., with these easy-to-follow instructions for beautiful, imaginative crochet patterns:
* Double Stitch, Cable Stitch and Basket Stitch
* Raised Puff Balls, Honeycomb Stitch and Scallop Stitch
* Petal Stitch, Stripes and Zigzags
* Flower Square, Spray of Leaves and Shamrock Relief Motifs
* Ladder, Diamond and Irish Net Stitches
* And many, many more!
Featuring 94 beautiful, full-color patterns

Genres: Crochet, Reference

96 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1981

Reviews

[MD · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a pretty good basic crochet reference. It explains things like ply; shows basic stitches; covers techniques such as seams, edges, joining new yarn, working in the round, and increases/decreases. In addition to the stitch patterns included in most crochet books, there are a few I hadn't seen before. It also includes colorwork patterns (but little help with technique on that). There are a lot of nice motifs. Some appear to be the same as those in the Harmony motif book (same names even), but many are different like the lovely Irish lace square on pg 60. It uses written instructions only - what it calls "charts" are just color grids.

I have only tried a couple of patterns so far. The "Simple net ground" (pg 39) seems to need an end row (a reverse of row 1) which is not provided. The Magnolia motif creates a pretty multilayer flower that doesn't require sewing separate pieces together. Edgings don't usually do much for me, but there are a couple of patterns here that make me want to think of projects to use them for - especially the Rose edging on pg 91 and the Elm edging on pg 92.

There are a few things that show the book's age, but they are mostly minor. The information about hooks and yarn, for example, don't include the super-large hooks & super-chunky yarns available now; what it calls a "Cable stitch"(pg 19) is not what you see in cable stitch patterns now; and it doesn't include some popular new stitches like the crocodile stitch.

The only real complaint I have about the book is it's format - it is long and narrow which means you can't get it to lay open on its own - you have to use a book clip or stand, or lay something heavy on it to make it stay open while you are trying to follow the instructions.

This review is for the 1981 edition, ISBN 0-345-29597-8, but posted under this edition because the Goodreads doesn't have the correct title (and other info?) for that edition. Cover is the same for both editions.

[Maggie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great little book. It has tons of different stitches and ideas of what to do with them.