I have received a sample copy of this book for review from Leisure Arts. I am not financially compensated for my blog post and am under no obligation to give a favorable review. Any conclusions and statements about the book are my own. If you do choose to purchase the book, I receive a small commission (at no extra cost to you), and you are helping support Goddess Crochet, allowing me to create more free crochet patterns. It’s a win-win!

Crochet Stitches and Easy Projects Beginner’s Guide – 19 Stitches

Do you want to design your own crochet patterns, but aren’t sure where to start? It can be intimidating, with all those great designers out there making fancy shawls or sweaters or whatever. Don’t worry about them, worry about you. If you crochet and want to go a step further by designing your own patterns, well by golly, do it! You don’t need much to get going, just your crochet hook, yarn, paper and pencil (complete with eraser), and some inspiration. Most (if not all) of us need a little help with the inspiration part from time to time. That’s where 19 Crochet Stitches and Easy Projects comes in. Just flipping through it can get ideas rolling in your head that maybe you didn’t even know were in there. If you are extremely new to crochet, this book has several pages in the back dedicated to showing the basic stitches needed to complete all stitch patterns in the book.

Crochet Stitches and Easy Projects is a small book that packs a punch. It measures 5-1/2″ by 8-1/2″, making it a great book to toss in your project bag for crocheting on the go. It has clear instructions for how to use the stitches provided to plan your own design, including everything you need to know about stitch multiples.The book clearly states on the cover that it’s for beginners, but I saw a handful of stitch patterns I have never seen before, and will be using it to create full crochet patterns in the future. I already made a nubby textured soap saver, courtesy of the “textured stitch”pattern from page 10. Find that crochet pattern here: Free crochet pattern – Textured Soap Saver. So don’t let the term beginner bother you, even if you are a seasoned crocheter you’re likely to find at least a few great crochet stitches that strike your fancy. If you’d like to get right down to crocheting, the book includes five patterns, ready to work up. Those are the Cozy Neck Wrap, Cushy Rug, Classic Sweater Jacket, Show Off Baby Blanket, and Airy Diamonds Afghan.

You can purchase the book in either traditional paperback, or download it as an e-book. Why the digital file is 50 cents more than the paperback book is anybody’s guess. But either version is about the cost of a fancy coffee, so you’re not breaking the bank to get your spark of inspiration.

Have you made a project from a crochet stitch in this book? I’d love to see! Send me an email, tweet, share it on Goddess Crochet’s facebook wall, or send me a message on Ravelry.