I’m continuing the Granny Square Month celebration with a crochet book review and a 5-book giveaway, so read on for details!
This post contains affiliate links. I may receive compensation (at no added cost to you) if you make a purchase using these links. A free review copy of the Beginner’s Guide to Crochet Motifs was provided to me by Leisure Arts. Although I accept free products for review, I do not accept additional compensation, nor do I guarantee a positive review. My reviews are based entirely on my honest opinions.
Book Review
The Beginner’s Guide to Crochet Motifs by Melissa Leapman is a technique and pattern book designed to give beginner crocheters (or crocheters who have only crocheted flat in rows) the confidence to master motif patterns. It opens with Meet the Designer, which introduces you to Melissa, a prolific crochet and knitting designer with over 1,000 patterns in print.
The book then moves on to an introduction where Melissa encourages the reader to “add this fun–and deceptively simple–crochet technique” to their bag of tricks. The Getting Started section explains that all the patterns in the book have the same “easy” difficulty level, so the reader is welcome to start with any pattern. The Supplies section reviews the essential tools every crocheter should have.
Next, the book moves into the patterns. There are six projects: Traditional Granny Square Afghan, Amish Hexagon Afghan, Blooming Squares Baby Afghan, Autumn Mums Shawl, Frilly Circles Scarf, and Posies Cowl. Each pattern includes a full-page photo, an introduction which explains the skills you will learn by making the pattern, a shopping (supply) list, and gauge. Some patterns also include special stitches. The instructions for each pattern include photo tutorials as well as a camera icon to indicate when video tutorials are available (here) on the Leisure Arts website.
In addition to the patterns, written in U.S. abbreviations, there are notes written in other colors embedded in the pattern text to guide beginners as they build confidence. Most patterns also include placement or assembly diagrams. And, in addition to the main photo and tutorial pictures, there are several other large pictures of each pattern. The accessories are shown on a model, so you can see how they would drape, along with styling suggestions.
The book closes with a key to pattern abbreviations, a yarn weight and crochet hook chart, information about gauge, and a list of the specific yarns used in each project.
The Beginner’s Guide to Crochet Motifs contains very straightforward projects in Lion Brand yarns, which are widely available throughout the U.S. or via the LeisureArts.com website. If you are a beginner, or are new to motifs, this book would be a great introduction. More experienced motif crocheters may find that the patterns are too easy to hold their attention for long.
Giveaway
As part of my celebration of Granny Square Month, the nice folks at Leisure Arts have agreed to give away a copy of the Beginner’s Guide to Crochet Motifs and four other granny square books.
This giveaway is open to readers worldwide, except where prohibited by law. Enter by 11:59 p.m. Eastern on Tuesday, July 4, 2017. Five winners will be chosen at random from the entries submitted via the Rafflecopter widget. Each winner will receive ONE of the following books, courtesy of Leisure Arts:
- 50 Fabulous Crochet Squares (reviewed here),
- 99 Granny Squares (reviewed here),
- Beginner’s Guide to Crochet Motifs (reviewed in this post),
- Granny Square Baby Afghans (reviewed here), OR
- Learn to Crochet Circles into Squares (reviewed here).
Winners will U.S. mailing addresses will receive a paperback copy. International winners will receive an electronic book. Good luck!
I’m looking forward to 99 Granny Squares the most.
I’m really looking forward to “Learn to turn circles into squares”
I would love the “Beginner’s Guide to Crochet Motifs”…but any of these Awesome books would be Super to Win!! Thank you for the chance!! 🙂
My very slight preference would be for 50 Fabulous Crochet Squares, I think – but as a “not often enough” crocheter, any of these books would suit me! This is a great collection to build, I thin.