Hey everyone! Today’s book review is on Complete Crochet Course by Shannon & Jason Mullett-Bowlsby. I thought this would be a great beginner-friendly book for those just learning how to crochet. This book features over 190 stitches, 125 tutorials, and 98 techniques to help get you started. Like the cover says, it’s the ultimate reference guide.
Upon first glance, Complete Crochet Course is broken down into different sections. This makes it easier to understand what each section is about and can refer back to other sections as necessary. The first section, of course, is all about different crochet hooks and tools you need to get started. The authors even explain what to look for when choosing the right crochet hook for you.
This is great because there are so many different crochet hooks on the market today that it might be hard to choose one. Some may work more for others, but it ultimately comes down to what’s most comfortable to you. I personally prefer using Clover Amour hooks. You can check out my review here.
A lot of beginners (and even experienced crocheters) struggle with reading patterns. This book does an EXCELLENT job in breaking down each section of a pattern to help you understand what each individual part means. Everything is clearly written out, pictures included, to help you read abbreviations and learning what repeats and asterisks mean.
When learning how to complete different stitches, you have step-by-step written instructions that include the stitch name in US and UK terminology, the abbreviation of the stitch, as well as the crochet symbol of that stitch. Also included are step-by-step pictures and instructions to make a practice swatch of that stitch. What more can a beginner crocheter ask for!
Once you move past the basic stitches, the authors also include a section for more intermediate stitches, such as cables, granny squares, and circle motifs. Additionally, there is also a section that talks about color work, where readers can learn about how changing colors can make your projects unique and fun.
Sometimes after you finish a project, you will notice your work doesn’t lie flat and you will need to block you project. Don’t panic if you don’t know how because there is a whole section dedicated to this technique! This section also includes how to weave in your ends, how to sew pieces together, and how to include buttonholes. As always, the authors include lots of pictures to help with visualization.
Towards the end of Complete Crochet Course, there is a section dedicated to different patterns you can create. This is a great way to get started and practice all those stitches you learned earlier in the book. There is also a handy dandy resource section that includes worksheets, abbreviation master list, and crochet symbol master key.
Overall, I think Complete Crochet Course is a great book for beginners to learn everything they need to know to get started on their journey with crochet. The authors do a great job in explaining everything from what you need to get started, how to make different stitches, and how to read crochet patterns. As a visual person, I enjoyed the pictures that accompanied the written instructions. This helped me see what the final stitch would look like.
One slight negative about this book is that the book itself is a little heavy, so it might be a little difficult to carry around with you. This is only due to the fact that there is so much information packed inside. However, I am a big fan of the hardcover book as I feel the pages in a paperback may easily rip out whereas I feel they’re a little more secure in a hardcover edition.
I recommend this book to those who are just starting out with crochet and even to those who want to learn everything they can about crochet. Again, you can pick up Complete Crochet Course on Amazon or see if your local library has a copy.
Have you ever read Complete Crochet Course? Let me know in the comments below. I’d love to hear from you!
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