Crochet Your Way: A Learn to Crochet Afghan, over 40 Projects

by: Gloria Tracy, Susan Levin

Topics include: double single crochet, turn leaving rem sts, linked double crochet, diagonal spike, front post treble crochet, triple tucks, ending last rep, solid shells pattern, porch pattern, hdc row, post stitches, crab stitch, popcorn pattern, held tog, turning chain, double crochet stitches, following color sequence, comma pattern, granite pattern, next hdc, filet crochet, puffs pattern, trinity pattern, est pattern, single crochet stitches

Book Description:

Book Description -- There are an estimated 30 million crocheters in the U.S. alone, from novices to artists. Crochet Your Way has something for everyone. A comprehensive guide, it starts with the basics through a quick review of 20 different pattern stitches. Each stitch includes clear technique tips with accompanying illustrations. When the 20 squares are completed, they can be joined together to create an original afghan. By emphasizing the concepts behind the craft as well as the practical aspects, Crochet Your Way also helps the enthusiast learn to crochet any pattern available. For those who already know how to crochet, the book will give them the tools they need to move to the next skill level. Included are more than 35 creative projects, including hats, sweaters, and home accessories, all illustrated with 275 photos and step-by-step drawings.

Editorial Reviews -- From Library Journal -- The Seventies saw the publication of many excellent crochet books, such as Judith Copeland's Modular Crochet (1978), James Walters's Crochet Workshop (1979. o.p.), and Vibeke Lind's Practical Modern Crochet (1973. o.p.). Since then, outstanding crochet titles have been few and far between. Now Tracy and Levin bring crochet into the 21st century with Crochet Your Way, a happy combination of instruction and projects designed for crocheters of all levels. As they work through a 20-block sampler afghan that illustrate stitches and techniques covered in the book, beginners will appreciate instruction for both left- and right-handers, as well as the opportunity to learn both written crochet-pattern abbreviations and symbol crochet. For each block, there are row-by-row instructions, explanatory notes, links to projects showing techniques used, and instructions using international crochet symbols. The second half of the book includes designs for garments and home accessories displaying techniques and stitches taught in the sampler afghan. Garments feature a wide range of sizes and are quite attractive. Arguably the best crochet book on the market today, Crochet Your Way is enthusiastically recommended for public libraries and textile collections. Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Crochet Your Way -- Susan Levin -- Gloria Tracy -- Over 40 projects for home and family Crochet Your Way has it all. If you're a beginner, you will learn the basics of crochet by exploring 20 different pattern stitches and numerous variations. You can put these new-found skills into practice by completing 20 afghan blocks -- each teaching a different stitch -- and finishing them into an afghan. As each stitch and variation is learned, the technique, significance, and uses are discussed and illustrated with clear drawings. If you're a more experienced crocheter, you can follow either the international symbol format or the step-by-step text. The last section of the book features more than 40 wonderful projects. Each project features both international symbols and written instructions, so you can truly crochet your way! Crochet Your Way gives you: a learn-to-crochet afghan over 40 projects for home and family easy-to-understand text and symbols special instructions for left-handers

Reviews:

When people asked what our book was about, we reflected over words and descriptions that would summarize Crochet Your Way. It isn’t a stitch dictionary, although it does contains dozens of different stitches, techniques, and stitch patterns. It isn’t just a pattern book, although it does contain over 40 different projects that both novice and expert crocheters will enjoy. Crochet Your Way is an experiential book. It is a book that will be a resource for years to come in addition to providing you with hours of pleasure as you complete the projects and develop your crochet skills. Whether you are a novice or an experienced crocheter, the 20 crocheted blocks that make up the Learn-to-Crochet Afghan featured in Part Two will provide you with hours of enjoyable crocheting as you are guided through increasingly more intriguing stitches and techniques. For additional applications of what you learn in the Learn-to-Crochet Afghan blocks, the stitches and techniques are used in inspiring wearables and home decorating projects. Each block is cross-referenced to the project using those stitches or techniques, and the projects are cross- referenced back to the block that teaches the stitch or technique. If you’ve particularly enjoyed working one of the blocks, go to the referenced project to see how else the technique may be applied. You may even want to consider taking a project detour to make it! We went about writing Crochet Your Way as if we were teaching a class -- a one-on-one class with you as the student. Since Gloria is right-handed and Susan is left-handed, there was constant interaction as we made sure that each of us understood the other and that all the directions were clear, no matter which hand you use. Susan, especially concerned that beginners understand every step as they go, developed the “In Other Words…” guidelines. Since often times crochet directions make the assumption that the reader has experience, these guidelines explain the standard text directions in greater detail. The “In Other Words…” guidelines will be especially helpful for newer crocheters, but even experienced crocheters may want to refer to them when trying a new technique or a different approach to a familiar one. We placed the guidelines to the side of the text directions rather than in the midst of the text so that those crocheters already knowledgeable in the technique being discussed won’t be distracted by additional text. Gloria, an advocate of reading patterns from international symbols, campaigned to have them included. If working from international symbols is new to you, following the easy instructions on how to read them will open up the entire world of patterns to you. When you browse through the book you will also find numerous tips from other crocheters, alternative crochet stitches, and clever techniques such as how to work the chain and first row at the same time. The projects and fibers chosen are varied too. They include home decor, accessories, and wearables that range from a homey bath mat and lid cover made of easy-care acrylic to a chenille scarf and hat, a fabulous merino wool reversible jacket, and an elegant evening tunic. In two of the projects, we’ve shown you a model in a designer yarn and also one in a more economical version. If you decide to start with one of the projects and it calls for a stitch or technique that is new to you, go to the block referenced to see how it is worked. If you decide to make the block even though you don’t plan to make the whole afghan, you can turn individual blocks into pillow tops. If you are new to crochet, you’ll probably want to complete the blocks in the order they are presented. Anyone who completes all 20 blocks will not only be fluent in the “Language of Crochet” but will also be able to display and enjoy their efforts when they assemble the blocks into an afghan. Crochet Your Way is truly a crochet book for anyone of any experience level. If you are already a crocheter, we hope you will be inspired to try approaches, stitches, techniques, and projects that are new to you. If you are a novice or an aspiring crocheter, get ready for fun! Go ahead—right-handed or left-handed, novice or expert—grab your hook, and get started crocheting your way!