Skip to main content

Book Review: Crochet Stitch Dictionary by Sarah Hazell

Monday, November 18, 2013
Crochet Stitch Dictionary
By Sarah Hazell


Every crocheter, whether experienced or just learning, needs a good stitch dictionary in their  crochet library. This latest offering by Interweave, Crochet Stitch Dictionary, is a smart choice.
The visual references that are both colorful and clear result from author Sarah Hazell’s many years of experience as a teacher and designer. The step-by-step photos and charts help crocheters learn how to perfect each stitch. Offering 200 stitches with written, charted and photographed instructions, Crochet Stitch Dictionary is broken down into ten color-coded sections.

The thorough beginning section is sure to make a great crocheter out of anyone wanting to learn for the first time. The illustrations could not be clearer and Sarah offers the basics on hook sizes, reading charts, and how to crochet both flat and in the round. Included in the final section are techniques such as joining motifs, weaving in ends and blocking, all so important for great results!

In between, the 200 essential stitches are organized to allow the crocheter to easily find the stitch they seek at-a-glance by using the table of contents designed in “candy-box” sampler-style. Luxurious color on every page makes it is so easy to find and learn stitches using the color-coding. Stitches covered in the ten sections include Basic Stitches; Fans & Shells; Spikes; Mesh, Filet & Trellis; Crossed & Interlocking Stitches; and Decorative Stitches.


Crochet Stitch Dictionary is a resource intended to inspire as well as to extend crocheters’ skills. Even though you may already have a stitch dictionary, you can’t go wrong adding this book to your collection! Available from Interweave, Crochet Stitch Dictionary: 200 EssentialStitches with Step-by-Step Photos, includes 192 pages for the retail price of $16.98. 

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Craft vs. Fine Art: How is Crochet Blurring the Lines

I was awakening to the world of crochet in 1972,a time of immense artistic expression through fiber arts; and crochet was not the “ugly stepchild” at the time. In fact, Ferne Cone Gellar who I admire as a successful fiber artist said in “Knitting: The Stepchild of the Fiber Arts?” ( Fibercraft Newsletter 1978), “Has knitting been slighted among the areas of the fiber arts? The very word ‘knitting’ evokes images of the little old lady in tennis shoes. Over the years, I’ve learned to ignore all those jokes.” Cone Gellar went on to publish Crazy Crocheting in 1981 and encouraged her readers to create more than bedspreads, providing ideas such as “things to play with or to display on a shelf or hang on a wall.” A photo of single crochet from bread wrappers served as inspiration.  In 1972 in her book, Creating Art from Fibers & Fabrics , Dona Meilach wrote: “Why are fibers and fabrics becoming increasingly appealing to artists? Most artists agree

Wartime Crochet With Attitude, Part I

Wednesday, October 30, 2013 Karen Ballard and I have a mutual love of free form crochet. We met for the first time in a class taught by Prudence Mapstone of Australia at the Chain Link Crochet Conference 2011. I admire Karen's vast knowledge of needle work history and am grateful for her willingness to share with us as my guest blogger this week. Karen wearing a World War II-era knitting hat with stubby needles on top Karen's Heritage Heart,  with flowers symbolic of her heritage, is currently on tour with Prudence Mapstone's traveling "Hearts & Flowers Exhibition" in Australia and New Zealand   World War 1 Attitudes About Crochet by Karen Ballard In 2008, I coined that term, "Workbasket Campaigns" to describe the organized efforts during World War I (WWI) and World War II (WWII) coordinated through the American Red Cross {ARC} and the Navy League to create needle crafted items.  These items were mostly knitted but also sewn, qu

Crochet and Society: How Crochet has Contributed

Wednesday, September 4, 2013 Because I am passionate about crochet and because it plays such an important role in my life. I am constantly “thinking crochet.” I want to bring awareness about crochet to everyone in the world. They don’t necessarily need to achieve the level of passion that I have for the craft, but my dream is that our society in general would come to recognize crochet as a valuable art and craft.  I also want to see the entire genre of crochet planted firmly on a continuum with all the other needle arts as a valuable pastime and art, and for the day to come when society stops confusing it with knitting! I have often joked that I am “covering my world in crochet” and that’s because I think crochet can beautify nature as well as contribute to many aspects of my community. I have been covering rocks for years and I turn them into sculptures or decorative o bjects. Claire Zeisler:  Fragments & Dashes , Threads magazine, Oct/Nov 1985 My first cover