Crochet Secrets From The Knotty Boss: Over 100 tips & tricks to improve your crochet

by Anna Leyzina

Boss your crochet with this guide to over 100 tips and tricks for better hooking from crochet expert, @theknottyboss.

This collection is packed with 100 tips and tricks for ways to improve your crochet skills. The author covers everything from changing colour to joining granny squares, what the best methods are for blocking and the perfect finishing techniques. Covering all the most popular crochet techniques, this skill building book will help you to raise your crochet game at once.

All of the techniques have step-by-step instructions and photography so you can follow along every step of the way and not miss a trick. Author, Anna Leyzina aka The Knotty Boss, has a huge number of followers who love her Tuesday Tips feature on her social media platforms. This collection combines her Tuesday Tips and more in one handy-sized reference book - which is perfect for keeping in your project bag.

Covering everything from how to select the right hook through to tips on how to pick the correct yarn and some clever stitch marker hacks, The Knotty Boss has got you covered. The second chapter looks at basic skills like avoiding visible slip knots at the start of your work, working into back bumps, joining the foundation chain without twisting and an easy method for the magic ring. Later chapters look at more advanced techniques such as keeping the magic ring on your finger while working the first round, invisible joins when working in different stitches and invisible increase and decrease methods.

Other hacks include tips for working in rows and rounds including how to smooth the side edges, how to prevent stitches from slanting and how to make the perfect circle rather than a hexagon. Amigurumi techniques are also included with hacks for invisible increase and decreases, adding eyes and other facial expressions and tips for lining and stuffing toys.

There is also a chapter on working with colour which looks at how to get seamless colour changes and perfect stripes, and a chapter on granny squares with tips for how to prevent your squares from slanting, and how to create invisible seams.

The final chapters look at cords and borders, tricky stitches and finishing off techniques making this the ultimate handy, pocket-sized reference guide for all your crochet needs.

Genres: Crochet, Nonfiction, Crafts, Reference, Education

156 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 9, 2024

Reviews

[Nicki Markus · Rating 4 out of 5]

Crochet Secrets from The Knotty Boss is a nice compendium of crochet tips. Many I have come across before, but a few were new to me, so I think there would be something of worth in this book for both beginners who want to kick off with best practices and more advanced crocheters looking to fix issues or generally improve their work. The book is nicely presented with a good balance of text and images, and the instructions are all clear and easy to follow. I am giving it 4 stars.

I received this book as a free eBook ARC via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

[Rlygirl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent tips and tricks! I will definitely be keeping this book in my collection to refer to over the years.

My favorite tricks are the chainless foundations, with detailed steps for SC, HDC, DC, TC! Easy to refer to and I won't have to seach YouTube every time I forget how to start those.

[SheLove2Read · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great addition to any serious crocheter's library.

[Bonnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Use this again. Full of wonderful helps!

[monweg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wydawać by się mogło, że szydełkowanie czy heklowanie zanika. Jednak widzę, że nie – chociażby po ilości wydawanych książek. I dobrze, bo to stara, jak świat dziedzina sztuki, w której z niczego (bo z kawałka nitki) powstają naprawdę piękne i zadziwiające rzeczy.
Tym razem w ręce wpadła mi książka Anny Leyziny znanej jako The Knotty Boss, której prace możemy oglądać albo podglądać na jej profilu instagramowym. Niedługa to książeczka, ale zawiera sporo przydatnego materiału przede wszystkim dla tych osób, które dopiero rozpoczynają swoją przygodę z szydełkiem. Jednak sądzę, że Ci z Was, którzy już jakieś pojęcie mają również znajdą coś dla siebie. Ja znalazłam. Dzięki różnym trikom Anny naprawdę można ułatwić sobie pracę a nawet ją przyspieszyć.
„Sekrety szydełkowania” to poradnik bardzo przejrzysty, z którego dowiemy się wszystkiego, na każdym etapie pracy, od zakupu pierwszych materiałów począwszy. Całość opatrzona została zdjęciami, które pokazują wraz z bardzo jasnymi instrukcjami każdy kolejny krok.
Dla mnie niespodzianką był rozdział o japońskiej sztuce tworzenia pluszowych lalek z przędzy czyli amigurumi. No cóż, nie próbowałam nigdy, ale będę musiała. Prowadzona krok po kroku przez Annę jestem niemal pewna, że się uda.
„Sekrety szydełkowania” okazały się dla mnie niemałym zaskoczeniem dlatego z pełnym przekonaniem serdecznie polecam, nie tylko osobom, które dopiero zaczynają swoją przygodę , ale także tym, którym wydaje się, że wiedzą już wszystko. Sądzę, że się możecie zdziwić i znaleźć niejedne przydatne rozwiązanie lub sposoby na ułatwienie w swoich pracach.

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm always looking for ways to improve my crochet skills and this book was perfect for me. Great illustrations and simple too follow instructions. Covering everything from how to select the right hook through to tips on how to pick the correct yarn and some clever stitch marker hacks, The Knotty Boss has got you covered. The second chapter looks at basic skills like avoiding visible slip knots at the start of your work, working into back bumps, joining the foundation chain without twisting and an easy method for the magic ring. Later chapters look at more advanced techniques such as keeping the magic ring on your finger while working the first round, invisible joins when working in different stitches and invisible increase and decrease methods. The author also has blogs and website to even more tips.

[Laurla2 · Rating 5 out of 5]

-4 or 5 stars. some stuff i've seen before, and some that i haven't and would like to try.

-things that interested me:
hand wind a center-pull yarn ball
didn't make enough chains?
foundation double crochet
working into the back bumps
smooth side edges, chainless single crochet, stacked stitches, standing stitches
perfectly flat circle, what it means if you have curling edges and rippling edges
refining the rounds, invisible seam with single crochet or stacked stitches
seamless color changes, perfect stripes, colorwork clean-up
secrets of amigurumi, closing the gaps, yarn under, assembly tips, embroidery wrapped stitches
effortless assembly, stitched joins invisible seam stitch, no-sew joins, zig-zag join
embellishing the edges, the perfect border, no cut fringe

[Bex Lu · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve been crocheting for 17 years, and always trying to learn and improve. This book is very very helpful. My only critique, is I’m not so good with picture details, the plus side will be, i can look up a video about the particular stitch or tip, with the name she has specified and oh boy will life be easier! I highly recommend this book for all Crochet levels. Pack it away with your crochet supplies so you always have it on the ready!

[D.L.Ball · Rating 5 out of 5]

Improving your crotchet.

This book is beautifully presented and the instructions are clear and easy to follow. It helps to solve many of the problems faced when crocheting and ways to improve the look of your finished projects. So good I bought it twice. I originally purchased the book on kindle but was so impressed I have now sent for a physical copy.

[Denise Mullins · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely organized primer for fledgling crocheters full of color photographs and short but sweet explanations. However, as the skills discussed became more complex, I found it difficult to understand some instructions rendered in 2-D (perhaps because I am a visual learner who requires 3-D presentation). Worth checking out for a motivated beginner.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

incredible crochet tips and tricks

This has so much valuable information. It’s like the math and science behind crochet and how we can use that understanding to shape our work. The illustrations the tables-the instructions are so clear and through. I really enjoyed reading this and can’t wait to try some of these methods out. 🪴⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🧶

[Merije · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good collection of crochet tips and tricks - I already knew most of them, but a few times I found myself pausing going: "Huh! Smart"
The yarn used for the example photos was no doubt pretty when viewed in full colour, but did not have enough contrast to be of any help in my black and white ebook.

[Audrey Arnold · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just started crocheting recently, and this book is filled with so much useful information and tips that have helped me feel more confident in knowing what I'm doing. I borrowed this from the library, but I'm definitely considering purchasing my own copy.

[Addie · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are some great crochet tips in this book. Some I already knew because Pinterest is a great resource, but many others were new and very helpful. I love the step by step pictures and simple explanations. It's a great book to have on hand, even for seasoned crocheters.

[Jenni · Rating 4 out of 5]

52 Book Club Reading Challenge #37: Palindrome on the cover

So many tips and tricks and beautiful illustrations that I had to purchase as a newbie.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

this is a good introduction to crochet stuff and has several tips i hope to remember to implement.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay for beginners but as a fairly experienced crocheter, there was nothing new here for me.

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some really good tips and tricks here and will definitely be using it as a resource

[Kimberly A. TenEyck · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book full of tips and tricks that make your crochet projects even better. So glad that I found it!

[Kim Veach · Rating 4 out of 5]

This well illustrated book taught me several new techniques. It's very useful for a beginning-to-somewhat-experienced crocheter.

[Brooke Reynolds · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have crocheted for years and still found this book helpful. It reinforced some tricks I learned along the way and gave me some new ones. I am ready for my next project.

[Jacqueline Nyathi · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are lots of excellent crochet primers, and this is one. Ever wonder how to make invisible increases and decreases? The best ways to fasten off? About different ways of seaming? The difference between starting with a magic circle, and a chain loop? How to prevent bumps on the sides of your fabric? This book covers all of this and more, with lovely photographs and very clear instructions. It’s the guide that everyone needs, from beginners (so they start off right) to experienced crocheters—because we’re always looking for ways to make our work better. An excellent addition to your tools, handy to always have nearby.

Many thanks to David & Charles and Edelweiss for DRC access.