How to Crochet

September 15, 2014

The latest in Storey's budget-friendly "Basics" series is a beginners' guide to crochet that provides a thoughtful overview of crochet basics. Delaney's approach is different from the beginning--rather than teaching novices how to make the base chain that serves as the foundational row for most crochet projects, she advocates using open-mesh tulle as the foundation, thus allowing beginners to start making crochet stitches immediately. This serves as a confidence builder and offers instant gratification--rather than seeing a fumbly, lumpy chain, novices can see an actual row of stitches taking shape as they work. Once single crochet is mastered (Delaney advocates taking 30 minutes per day for a week to practice), chains are introduced, followed by the other basic stitches. Line drawings illustrate most steps, and the written directions are clear and straightforward. VERDICT Beginning crocheters looking for a no-frills guide will find exactly what they're looking for here.

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