Harmony Guides: Crochet Stitch Motifs

by Erika Knight (Editor)

Harmony Guide: Crochet Stitch Motifs is a jampacked collection brimming with 250 crochet motifs to inspire beginner and seasoned crocheters. Featuring motifs such as a simple lace triangle, a delicate popcorn trefoil, and an intricate French square, each motif features a fullcolor photograph in contemporary yarns and clear and concise instructions for creating each design. An Italian square makes a great base for a casual cushion while a diamond square works wonderfully as a foundation for an easygoing shoulder bag. Tap into your creativity and work a sampler of motifs to produce the ultimate afghan. The book also features a section on freeform techniques, showcasing designs that can be created by simply thinking outside the square. No matter your skill level, Harmony Guide: Crochet Stitch Motifs is sure to inspire crochet designers and enthusiasts for years to come. The Harmony Guides have been longstanding references for handcrafters for more than thirty years, offering clear, concise instructions and photographs for stitches. British designer Erika Knight, author of the Simple Knits series, lends her expertise in the series redesign, updating the Harmony Guides with new stitches and knowhow. Reviews: Mixed in with the old standbys are some truly lovely new motifs. Basic information... rounds out this latest and perhaps best, reprinting of a treasured friend .MonstersandCritics.com

Genres: Crochet, Crafts, Nonfiction, Knitting

271 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 2008

About the author

Keep it simple, chic and contemporary! So says Erika, textile designer and fashion design consultant, whose trademark has been the traditional with a twist. Coming into knitting via fine art training, she is highly regarded in her field and works for many international companies designing ready-to-wear ranges. Author of Comforts of Home (Martingale), her latest book is Simple Knits for Cherished Babies (Collins & Brown).

Reviews

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Harmony Guide Books are a happy addition to any crocheter's bookshelf.

[MD · Rating 4 out of 5]

I borrowed this book from the library and like it so much I have put it on my Christmas list. I was looking for some flowers I could crochet to embellish some gloves. In this book I found not only flowers and leaves, but also a wide variety of other designs and shapes from traditional granny squares to Irish-style motifs and more. I also found the instructions easy to follow.

2017 update: 8 years later and this is still my go-to book for motifs. The one thing I really dislike about it though is that it lacks organization and most of the motif names are not very descriptive of the motif at all. As a result, I need to page through the entire book when I am looking for a motif to use for a project.

[Jules · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a reference book for anyone looking for crochet embellishments, there are no instructions for blocks to make up an afghan. I think I have only tried the star so far and I found the instructions to be clearly written and charted. The best thing about the book though, is that the stitches in my edition are given in UK English and not US which thankfully means no confusion when it come to dc and tr etc. There is also a tutorial on crochet at the start of the book making it ideal for beginners or occasional crocheters.

[Jure · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone who learned to crochet the 'continental way' and struggles to read crochet patterns written out in abbreviated terms, this book was a fantastic resource. I only use charts and don't read the instructions, and the charts in this book are well-sized, clear and easy to follow.

[Dani0010 · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was so bad I returned it after looking through it thoroughly. My primary complaint was the charts are so small. Half the book was taken up with basic stitches and motifs.

[Efox · Rating 4 out of 5]

Huge array of patterns. I absolutely can't wait to try some of them.