Crochet stitch guides

My recent freeform project – inspired by my Year of Projects goal to work my way through Crochet Master Class: Lessons and Projects from Today’s Top Crocheters and the Crochet Liberation Front’s July freeform CAL – has reminded me how much I love my stitch guides.  I use them for inspiration for my own projects, to come up with techniques or projects to teach my crochet students, and for designing patterns.  I have quite a few in my collection (over twenty!) so I thought I’d share my thoughts on each one (listed alphabetically).  Since this is such a long post, I thought I’d reward you for reading it by offering a giveaway at the end! Read on for details…

63 Cable Stitches to Crochet (Leisure Arts #3961)
by Darla Sims

Summary: 63 different cable patterns which can be made into a sampler afghan, with directions for edging, assembly, and border.

What I like:

• The special stitches are described within the pattern so you don’t have to do a lot of flipping to the back of the booklet.
• The booklet lays flat, so you can easily read and crochet at the same time.
• The booklet is more affordable and lightweight than a book.
• There are more cable patterns included in this booklet than you would likely find in a thorough stitch guide.

What I don’t like (or what’s missing):

• The sampler is made in an off white color, so it is hard to see some of the stitch detail in the photographs.
• Since the booklet is really a sampler project, and not a stitch guide, you aren’t given stitch multiples but rather the number of chains to start with for a 7″ block.  (A little “reverse engineering” is required if you want to adapt the stitches for another project of a different width.)
• The pattern difficulty rating is only listed for the sampler project (intermediate), rather than for each stitch.
• There are no stitch symbols, only pattern abbreviations.

Type: Booklet

Overall rating (out of 5 stars): 4

63 Easy-to-Crochet Pattern Stitches (Leisure Arts #555)
by Darla Sims

Summary: 63 stitch patterns (6 of which are squares worked in the round) to make into a sampler afghan, with instructions for edging, assembly, and border.  (Side note: I’d describe this as an ”entry level” stitch guide designed for someone who isn’t quite ready to buy a stitch guide but who is tired of using the “same old” stitches.)

What I like:

• The special stitches are described within the pattern so you don’t have to do a lot of flipping to the back of the booklet.
• The booklet lays flat, so you can easily read and crochet at the same time.
• The booklet is more affordable and lightweight than a book.
• Stitch multiples are included so that you can easily adapt the stitches for a project of a different width.

What I don’t like (or what’s missing):

• Most of the stitches are pretty standard, so if you have any other stitch guides, there is likely to be a lot of overlap.
• There is no pattern difficulty rating listed.
• The font is fairly small.
• There are no stitch symbols, only pattern abbreviations.

Type: Booklet

Overall rating (out of 5 stars): 3 (if you already own a comprehensive stitch guide) or 4 (if this is your first stitch guide)

99 Crochet Post Stitches (Leisure Arts #4788)
by Darla Sims

Summary: Post stitches worked in 1, 2, or 3 color designs.

What I like:

• There is a large, well lit photograph of each stitch in vibrant, colored yarn.  (This booklet is fun to flip through!)
• A great range of stitch designs using post stitches.
• The special stitches are described within the pattern so you don’t have to do a lot of flipping to the back of the booklet.
• The booklet lays flat, so you can easily read and crochet at the same time.
• The booklet is more affordable and lightweight than a book.
• Stitch multiples are included so that you can easily adapt the stitches for a project of a different width.

What I don’t like (or what’s missing):

• Darla assumes you are always starting with a foundation chain, and it isn’t clear until reading through the pattern how many stitches are turning chains.
• There is no pattern difficulty rating listed.
• There are no stitch symbols, only pattern abbreviations.

Type: Booklet

Overall rating (out of 5 stars): 4.5

101 Double-Ended Hook Stitches: Crochet (Crochet on the Double)
from Annie’s Attic

Summary: A stitch guide featuring double-ended (also known as Crochet on the Double, Crochetnit, Croknit, or Cro-hooking) crochet stitches.

What I like:

• Color photographs show the front and the back of each stitch.
• Clear instructions (with photographs) on the basic double-ended crochet stitch are included for beginners.
• There aren’t many stitch guides available for double-ended crochet, so it’s mere existence is something I enjoy.

What I don’t like (or what’s missing):

• Many different designers are included, and there’s a lack of consistency in instructions (e.g., purl stitch is also called pearl stitch).
• The photographs are of variable quality.  Most are clear but there are quite a few which are fuzzy or very bright/low contrast.
• Although this is a booklet, it doesn’t lay totally flat, so you do have to crack the spine to crochet and read at the same time.
• There is no pattern difficulty listed.

Type: Booklet

Overall rating (out of 5 stars): 4

101 Easy Tunisian Stitches

by Carolyn Christmas and Dorris Brooks

Summary: A stitch guide featuring Tunisian (also known as afghan or tricot) crochet stitches.

What I like:

• The introduction includes photographs to guide Tunisian crochet beginners through the basic stitches and the different methods of hook placement.
• The booklet is organized into five sections (Puffs, Pebbles, & Popcorn; Shell Stitches; Openwork Patterns; Cable & Post Stitches; and Pattern Stitches), making it easier to find stitches.
• There is a large, well lit photograph of each stitch in vibrant, colored yarn.  (This booklet is fun to flip through!)
• The booklet is more affordable and lightweight than a book.
• Stitch multiples are included so that you can easily adapt the stitches for a project of a different width.
• There aren’t many English language stitch guides available for Tunisian crochet, so it’s mere existence is something I enjoy.

What I don’t like (or what’s missing):

• There is no pattern difficulty rating listed.
• There are no stitch symbols, only pattern abbreviations.

Type: Booklet or e-book (PDF)

Overall rating (out of 5 stars): 4.5

Harmony Guides: 101 Stitches to Crochet (The Harmony Guides)
Edited by Erika Knight

Summary: A stitch guide on cards.

What I like:

• Each card features a large photograph of the stitch or motif.
• Both pattern abbreviations and stitch symbols are used.
• The card format allows you to take a few stitches with you when you’re crocheting on the go, and also let’s you see the card while crocheting.
• A table of contents card lists all of the stitches and the card number (so if you can remember the name and keep your cards in order…).
• The special stitches are described within the pattern so you don’t need to look at other cards.

What I don’t like (or what’s missing):

• Most of the stitches are pretty standard, so if you have any other stitch guides, there is likely to be a lot of overlap.
• There is no pattern difficulty rating listed.

Type: Card box set

Overall rating (out of 5 stars): 3 (if you already own a comprehensive stitch guide) or 4 (if this is your first stitch guide)

108 Crochet Cluster Stitches (Leisure Arts #4747)
by Darla Sims

Summary: Cluster stitches worked in 1, 2, or 3 color designs.

What I like:

• There is a large photograph of each stitch.
• A great range of stitch designs using cluster stitches.
• The special stitches are described within the pattern so you don’t have to do a lot of flipping to the back of the booklet.
• The booklet lays flat, so you can easily read and crochet at the same time.
• The booklet is more affordable and lightweight than a book.
• Stitch multiples are included so that you can easily adapt the stitches for a project of a different width.

What I don’t like (or what’s missing):

• Darla assumes you are always starting with a foundation chain, and it isn’t clear until reading through the pattern how many stitches are turning chains.
• There is no pattern difficulty rating listed.
• There are no stitch symbols, only pattern abbreviations.
• It is difficult to see the detail on the stitches worked in the grey yarn.

Type: Booklet

Overall rating (out of 5 stars): 4.5

Adventurous Stitch (Japanese)

from Nihon Vogue

Summary: 32 elaborate crochet stitch patterns, most of which use Tunisian crochet.

What I like:

• There is a large, well lit photograph of each stitch in vibrant, colored yarn.  (This booklet is fun to flip through!)
• Each stitch is shown in 3 versions, using different colorways and often different weights of yarn.
• The stitches are quite unique and not likely to appear in other stitch guides you own.
• Each pattern is shown using very large crochet stitch symbols.
• The special stitches are shown with illustrations on the same page as the pattern so you don’t have to do a lot of flipping to the back of the booklet.
• The booklet lays flat, so you can easily read and crochet at the same time.
• The booklet is lightweight.

What I don’t like (or what’s missing):

• There is no “glossary” of stitch symbols, so you will need to know the basics before picking up this book.
• The text is all in Japanese, so if you have difficulty understanding an illustration for a special stitch, you are pretty much out of luck.
• Because the booklet is imported, it costs more than you would normally pay for a booklet with only 32 stitch patterns.
• There is no pattern difficulty rating listed.

Type: Booklet

Overall rating (out of 5 stars): 3 (if you are new to stitch guides, this one is probably too difficult to use for the price), 4.5 (for a stitch guide fiend, this should be required reading)

Around the Corner Crochet Borders: 150 Colorful, Creative Edging Designs with Charts and Instructions for Turning the Corner Perfectly Every Time
by Edie Eckman

Summary: 150 stitches, with instructions for turning corners on edgings.

What I like:

• There is a large, well lit photograph of each stitch in vibrant, colored yarn(s).  (This booklet is fun to flip through!)
• A great range of stitch designs for borders, many of which you are unlikely to have in other stitch guides.
• The special stitches are described within the pattern so you don’t have to do a lot of flipping to the back of the book.
• Each stitch includes both pattern abbreviations and stitch symbols.
• There is a glossary and guide to stitch symbols in the back.
• Many of the patterns incorporate different stitches, so that a multiple row border will not just repeat the same pattern each row.
• Many stitches can be adapted for using throughout the project, rather than solely as a border.

What I don’t like (or what’s missing):

• There is no pattern difficulty rating listed.
• The binding doesn’t lay flat, so it is difficult to crochet and read the pattern at the same time.

Type: Softcover book

Overall rating (out of 5 stars): 4.5

Crochet Patterns Book 300 (Japanese)

from Nihon Vogue

Summary: A stitch guide organized into different types of crochet stitches.

What I like:

• There is a large, well lit photograph of each stitch.  (This booklet is fun to flip through!)
• The stitches are organized into several sections.  I don’t read Japanese, but the sections are defined enough (e.g., cluster stitches) that you can easily find specific stitches.
• Each pattern is shown using very large stitch symbols.
• There is an illustrated guide to special stitch symbols in the back.
• Stitch multiples are included so that you can easily adapt the stitches for a project of a different width.
• There are many stitches you are unlikely to have in your other stitch guides, including several pineapples.

What I don’t like (or what’s missing):

• There is no pattern difficulty rating listed.
• The binding doesn’t lay flat, so it is difficult to crochet and read the pattern at the same time.
• The text is all in Japanese, so if you have difficulty understanding an illustration for a special stitch, you are pretty much out of luck.
• Because the booklet is imported, it can be costly to order and ship.
• About 20 patterns are in the back, rather than on the page with the photo, due to space constraints.  The patterns are numbered, but not in numerical order, so you have to flip around a bit to find these stitches.

Type: Booklet

Overall rating (out of 5 stars): 4

Crochet Techniques (Milner Craft Series)
by Renate Kirkpatrick

Summary: 5 stitch sampler rug projects, including “classic” stitches, hexagon motifs, Jacquard squares, Tunisian crochet stitches, and double-ended crochet stitches.

What I like:

• The book includes UK/Australian abbreviations with US terms in parenthesis, as well as stitch symbols, for each pattern.
• There are illustrated instructions for basic as well as special stitches throughout the book.
• There are joining suggestions for each project.
• There is a large, well lit photograph of each stitch, as well as full project photos of each rug.
• Stitch multiples are included so that you can easily adapt the stitches for a project of a different width.
• There aren’t many English language stitch guides available for Tunisian or double-ended crochet crochet, so it’s mere existence is something I enjoy.

What I don’t like (or what’s missing):

• The “classic” sampler is made in an off white color, so it is hard to see some of the stitch detail in the photographs.
• The pattern difficulty rating is only listed for each sampler project, rather than for each stitch, and is so vague (e.g., “average to advanced”) that it is almost meaningless.
• The binding doesn’t lay flat, so it is difficult to crochet and read the pattern at the same time.

Type: Softcover book

Overall rating (out of 5 stars): 4

Crochet the Complete Guide
by Jane Davis

Summary: A crochet reference guide including over 150 stitch patterns.

What I like:

• The stitches are organized into 19 sections (Basic Stitches & Stitch Combinations; Shell Stitches & Shell Stitch Combinations; Chevrons, Ripples, & Waves; Stretched Stitches; Post Stitches; Clusters, Bobbles, & Popcorns; Ruffles & Cords; Leaves & Flowers; Blocks; Color Changing Rows; Colorwork; Bead Crochet; Edgings and Insertions; Lace Backgrounds; Filet; Irish Crochet; Snowflakes; Tunisian Crochet; CroKnit), making it easier to find stitches.
• Stitch multiples are included so that you can easily adapt the stitches for a project of a different width.
• This guide includes many types of crochet not generally included in English language stitch guides (e.g., Tunisian crochet, double-ended crochet or CroKnit, bead crochet).
• There is a photograph of each stitch on the same page as the pattern.
• Each stitch includes both pattern abbreviations and stitch symbols.
• The book has a spiral binding, allowing it to lay flat so you can read and crochet at the same time.
• The book also includes other reference information and patterns.

What I don’t like (or what’s missing):

• Some of the stitches are made in an off white color, so it is hard to see stitch detail in the photographs.
• Many of the stitches are pretty standard, so if you have any other stitch guides, there is likely to be a lot of overlap.
• There is no pattern difficulty rating listed.

Type: Hardcover book with spiral binding

Overall rating (out of 5 stars): 3 (as a stitch guide), 4 (as an overall crochet reference book)

Crocheting for Pleasure
by Mildred Graves Ryan

Summary: A crochet reference guide with more than 50 stitch patterns plus sections on Tunisian crochet, hairpin lace, broomstick lace, Irish crochet, filet crochet, woven crochet, and medallions (motifs).  (Side note: This is a sentimental favorite for me, since I inherited it from my grandmother.  It is also the book that taught me how to do broomstick lace!)

What I like:

• This book has the clearest illustrations I have ever seen.  Each stitch is illustrated and there are also many “how-to” illustrations.
• Stitch multiples are included so that you can easily adapt the stitches for a project of a different width.
• This guide includes many types of crochet not generally included in English language stitch guides (e.g., Tunisian crochet, hairpin lace, and broomstick lace).
• The book includes a range of interesting information for crocheters at all levels on fit, materials, reading patterns, construction, and blocking.
• There is a section at the beginning for left-handers.

What I don’t like (or what’s missing):

• There are only 13 color pictures in the book (of projects).
• Most of the projects are stylistically very dated, since the book was published in 1983.
• There is no pattern difficulty rating.
• The binding doesn’t lay flat, so it is difficult to crochet and read the pattern at the same time.
• There are no stitch symbols, only pattern abbreviations.

Type: Hardcover book

Overall rating (out of 5 stars): 3 (as a stitch guide), 5 (as an awesome crochet book with great information, if you can handle the dated patterns!)

Donna Kooler’s Encyclopedia of Crochet (Leisure Arts #15906) (Donna Kooler’s Series)

by Donna Kooler

Summary: A crochet reference guide with over 150 stitch patterns.  (You can read my full review of the book here.)

What I like:

• The stitches are organized into 14 sections (Simple Combinations; Fans & Shells; Lace Patterns; Waves, Ripples, & Chevrons; Angled Patterns; Spiked & Crossed; Post Stitches; Bobbles, Popcorns, & Puffs; Tapestry, Jacquard, & Mosaic; Net, Mesh, & Trellis; Motifs; Filet Crochet; Edges, Edgings, & Insertions; and Tunisian Crochet), making it easier to find stitches.
• Stitch multiples are included so that you can easily adapt the stitches for a project of a different width.
• Variants are included for many stitch patterns.
• There is a large, color photo of each stitch.
• This guide includes many types of crochet not generally included in English language stitch guides (e.g., Tunisian crochet and Jacquard).
• Each stitch includes both pattern abbreviations and stitch symbols.
• The book also includes other reference information and patterns.
• There are illustrated instructions for left-handers at the beginning.

What I don’t like (or what’s missing):

• There is no pattern difficulty rating.
• The binding doesn’t lay flat, so it is difficult to crochet and read the pattern at the same time.

Type: Softcover book

Overall rating (out of 5 stars): 5

Encyclopedia of Tunisian Crochet

by Angela “ARNie” Grabowski

Summary: A Tunisian crochet reference guide with, according to the back cover, over 400 stitches.

What I like:

• There aren’t many English language stitch guides available for Tunisian crochet, so it’s mere existence is something I enjoy.
• The stitches are organized into 16 sections (Basic Foundations; Double & Treble Stitches; Front Crossed Stitches; Back Crossed Stitches; Open Work & Lace; Shells, Fans, & Stars; Three Dimensional [Relief] Stitches; Cables, Ropes, & Braids; ‘Honeycomb’ Combos; 2 Stitch Honeycomb Combos; Basket Weave Patterns; True Checkerboard Patterns; Vertical Stripe Patterns; Horizontal Stripe Patterns; Diagonal Stripe Patterns; Zig Zag Stripe Patterns; and High-Low Honeycomb Combos), making it easier to find stitches.
• The book is spiral bound, so you can read and crochet at the same time.
• There are many tips that would help a beginner to Tunisian crochet.
• Stitch multiples are included so that you can easily adapt the stitches for a project of a different width.

What I don’t like (or what’s missing):

• Most of the photos are grayscale and it is difficult to see stitch detail.
• While there are photos of over 400 stitches, most of them are more like “recipes” than patterns (e.g., there will be pictures of 10 vertical stripes variations, and then on another page you will be given instructions about how to make a vertical stripe).
• There is no discussion of finishing the final row of a Tunisian crochet project (sometimes called “binding off”).
• While the stitch pattern section is well organized, it can be difficult to find information in the rest of the book and some sections appear unedited.
• There is no pattern difficulty rating.
• There are no stitch symbols, only pattern abbreviations.

Type: Spiral-bound book

Overall rating (out of 5 stars): 3

Good Housekeeping The Illustrated Book of Needlecrafts (Good Housekeeping Step-By-Step)
Edited by Cecelia K. Toth

Summary: A needlecrafts reference guide with over 50 crochet stitch patterns.

What I like:

• Stitch multiples are included so that you can easily adapt the stitches for a project of a different width.
• There is a well lit photograph of each stitch in a colorful yarn on the same page as the pattern.
• The book also includes other reference information and patterns about crochet and seven other needlecrafts.
• The introduction includes photographs to guide crochet beginners through the basic stitches and the different methods of hook placement.

What I don’t like (or what’s missing):

• There is no pattern difficulty rating.
• The binding doesn’t lay flat, so it is difficult to crochet and read the pattern at the same time.
• There are no stitch symbols, only pattern abbreviations.
• The stitches included are pretty standard, so if you own many stitch guides, there will be a lot of overlap.

Type: Paperback book

Overall rating (out of 5 stars): 3 (as a stitch guide), 5 (as an awesome needlecrafts reference book)

“Harmony” Guide to 100′s More Crochet Stitches (Harmony guides) and 300 Crochet Stitches (The Harmony Guides, V. 6)

vs.

The Ultimate Sourcebook of Knitting and Crochet Stitches

I had to list these three together, since there is so much overlap!  All three are fairly comprehensive stitch guides, but you can find virtually everything contained in the two Harmony guides in the Ultimate Sourcebook, down to the exact same (poorly lit) photographs!

• The Harmony guides include both pattern abbreviations and stich symbols, while the Ultimate Sourcebook uses only pattern abbreviations.
• The Ultimate Sourcebook lists a pattern difficulty level for each stitch, as well as a rating of the drape produced.  This feature makes it my ultimate favorite stitch guide for teaching and designing, since it gives is an objective opinion about whether a certain stitch is, for example, intermediate or beginner.
• All three books include a photo of the stitch and the pattern instructions on the same page and have an illustrated introduction to basic stitches in the beginning.
• All three books divide the stitches into sections, so it is easy to find stitches.
• None of the books lays complete flat (for reading and crocheting), but The Ultimate Sourcebook comes closest since it is a hardcover book.
• If you had both Harmony guides, or The Ultimate Sourcebook, you would probably be in possession of every “standard” crochet stitch and motif out there.
• The Ultimate Sourcebook has the added benefit of including a knitting stitch guide.

Type: Harmony Guides are paperback booklets and the Ultimate Sourcebook is a hardcover book

Overall rating (out of 5 stars): 5 each for 300 Crochet Stitches and The Ultimate Sourcebook; 4 for 100′s More Crochet Stitches

Interlocking Crochet: 80 Original Stitch Patterns Plus Techniques and Projects
by Tanis Galik

Summary: A reference guide to interlocking crochet (also known as intermeshing or interlock filet crochet) with 80 stitch patterns.

What I like:

• I don’t know of any other stitch guide focused on interlocking crochet, so it’s mere existence is something I enjoy.
• Color photographs show the front and the back of each stitch.  The pictures use high contrast yarns so the designs are really clear.
• There are many really interesting geometric patterns.

What I don’t like (or what’s missing):

• There is an error in the basic instructions which can make the process quite confusing.  (Corrections for the book can be found on the author’s web site.)
• Most of the stitches are done in the same yarns, which can make looking through the book a bit dull.
• There is no pattern difficulty rating.
• The binding doesn’t lay flat, so it is difficult to crochet and read the pattern at the same time.
• There are no stitch symbols, only pattern abbreviations.
• The colors used in the finished project patterns didn’t much appeal to me.

Type: Paperback book

Overall rating (out of 5 stars): 4

Complete Guide to Needlework
(1979 edition)

Summary: A needlecrafts reference guide with over 70 crochet stitch patterns.  (Side note: You can tell this one is a classic because I inherited it twice – once from my grandmother and once through MC’s mother.)

What I like:

• Stitch multiples are included so that you can easily adapt the stitches for a project of a different width.
• There is a clear photograph of each stitch on the same page as the pattern.
• The book also includes other reference information and patterns about crochet and nine other needlecrafts.
• The introduction includes illustrations to guide crochet beginners through the basic stitches and the different methods of hook placement.
• The book more or less lays flat so you can read while crocheting.

What I don’t like (or what’s missing):

• There is no pattern difficulty rating.
• There are no stitch symbols, only pattern abbreviations.
• The stitches included are pretty standard, so if you own many stitch guides, there will be a lot of overlap.

Type: Hardcover book

Overall rating (out of 5 stars): 3 (as a stitch guide), 4.5 (as an awesome needlecrafts reference guide)

Textured Crochet More Than 70 Designs With Easy-to-follow Charts – 2007 publication.
by Helen Jordan

Summary: A stitch guide with more than 70 textured stitch patterns.

What I like:

• There is a well lit photograph of each stitch in colorful yarn.  (This booklet is fun to flip through!)
• A great range of stitch designs using textured stitches.  (This is the only stitch guide I have which has a whole section on “three-fold fabrics” to use “the unique three-loop top of the half double crochet…”)
• Each stitch includes both pattern abbreviations and stitch symbols.
• There is a stitch symbol key on each page with any special stitches used so you don’t have to do a lot of flipping to the back of the booklet.
• The book is spiral bound and lays flat, so you can easily read and crochet at the same time.
• Stitch multiples are included so that you can easily adapt the stitches for a project of a different width.
• The book is small and portable.

What I don’t like (or what’s missing):

• There is no pattern difficulty listed.
• The stitches are so fun that I wish there were more!

Type: Spiral-bound hardcover book

Overall rating (out of 5 stars): 5

Tricot Crochet The Complete Book
by Rebecca Jones

Summary: A quirky Tunisian crochet (also known as tricot or Afghan crochet) reference guide with over 50 stitches.

What I like:

• There aren’t many English language stitch guides available for Tunisian crochet, so it’s mere existence is something I enjoy.
• The stitches are organized into 5 sections (Plain Tricot Patterns; Textured Patterns; Lace Patterns; Trebles & Cables; and Patterns Using Two or More Colors), making it easier to find stitches.  There are also several methods for Tunisian in the round.
• The book is hardcover, and it lays flat so you can read and crochet at the same time.
• There are many tips that would help a beginner to Tunisian crochet.
• Stitch multiples are included so that you can easily adapt the stitches for a project of a different width.
• There are some great vintage yarn advertisements (late 1800s to early 1900s) in the “Coffee Break” section.
• What the book lacks in production values, it makes up in character.  There are many cute drawings in the “stick figure” style throughout.

What I don’t like (or what’s missing):

• Most of the photos are grayscale and it is difficult to see stitch detail.
• There is no pattern difficulty rating.
• There are no stitch symbols, only pattern abbreviations.

Type: Hardcover book

Overall rating (out of 5 stars): 4 (4.5 if you are a Tunisian crochet “junkie”)

Tunisian Crochet Patterns 100 (Japanese)

from Nihon Vogue

Summary: Tunisian crochet stitch guide.

What I like:

• There is a large, well lit photograph of each stitch.  (This booklet is fun to flip through!)
• The stitches are organized into several sections.  I don’t read Japanese, but the sections are defined enough (e.g., dimensional stitches) that you can easily find specific stitches.
• Each pattern is shown using large stitch symbols.
• There is an illustrated guide to special stitch symbols in the back.
• Stitch multiples are included so that you can easily adapt the stitches for a project of a different width.
• There are many stitches you are unlikely to have in your other stitch guides.

What I don’t like (or what’s missing):

• There is no pattern difficulty rating listed.
• The binding doesn’t lay flat, so it is difficult to crochet and read the pattern at the same time.
• The text is all in Japanese, so if you have difficulty understanding an illustration for a special stitch, you are pretty much out of luck.
• Because the booklet is imported, it can be costly to order and ship.

Type: Paperback book

Overall rating (out of 5 stars): 4.5

If you’d like more reviews on stitch guides from the pros, check out this article about stitch dictionaries from Crochet Insider.

The Giveaway

I’m giving away my almost new copy of 101 Stitches to Crochet (reviewed above).  I bought it on sale at Home Goods and since it was sealed in plastic, I didn’t realize that I have most of the stitches in my stitch guide collection already .  I have unwrapped the plastic and looked through each stitch, but it looks brand new otherwise.

To enter,

• Leave a comment on this post with your favorite crochet stitch guide (or if you don’t have any stitch guides, how you might use one) by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on Saturday, July 30.  Be sure to include your email address (which won’t be displayed) so I can contact you if you win.  (Please note that my comments are moderated, so if you are a new visitor, it will not appear immediately.)
• For a second chance to win, like the Underground Crafter Facebook page.  Then you can either post a comment on Facebook or here again so I will give you another entry.  (If you already like my Facebook page, you can still post a comment for another chance to win.)
• I will add another awesome stitch guide (two prizes) if I get up to 100 fans on Facebook, so please spread the word!
• I am willing to ship to the U.S., Mexico, or Canada, so please feel free to enter from any of these locations.  (Sorry folks, it is too heavy for long distance shipping.)

Good luck to everyone!

 

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