Crochet Patterns For Dummies (Google eBook)

Susan Brittain

John Wiley & Sons, Feb 9, 2011 - Crafts & Hobbies - 288 pages

Would you like to learn to crochet? Already know the basics, but would like to stretch your crocheting skills? From scarves and sweaters to hats and handbags, you can create beautiful, useful designs with ease using Crochet Patterns For Dummies. From choosing the right hooks and yarn and crocheting basic stitches to joining pieces together, this easy-to-follow guide will have you hooked in no time.

Our hands-on workbook gets you crocheting fashionable, fun designs in a focused, step-by-step manner. You get a review of the basic stitches and stitch combinations, along with a concise appendix containing easy-to-follow instructions for working these stitches. You’ll find plenty of tips on changing colors and adding shape to your projects. Plus, you get full-color photos of every project—from potholders to afghans, belts to table runners, skirts to vests, and much more. You’ll also discover how to:

• Decipher crochet lingo
• Make a gauge swatch, read a pattern, and understand garment sizing
• Work with the most common stitches and stitch patterns
• Crochet in the round or with color
• Shape a design through increasing or decreasing stitches
• Use new techniques like felting and working with wire
• Crochet pictures and words using the filet crochet technique

There are also quick-and-easy designs that are great for kids to make, as well as handy hints on caring for your finished items. Featuring more than 50 fantastic patterns perfect for beginners or those wanting to take their skills to the next level, Crochet Patterns For Dummies is your one-stop guide to crocheting success!

What people are saying

Review: Crochet Patterns for Dummies

User Review  - TRJ - Goodreads

A good book for beginners or people who wants to crochet again after a gap. The low point is that there were just about few pages containing pictures of finished projects and it needs more useful patterns. Not for people looking for patterns.

Excellent Crochet Book for Teaching

User Review  - pap000se - Overstock.com

Just to the point and the pictures were perfect for students. if left handed ones.

Contents

• Adding New Yarn: 1
• Midstream changes: 2
• Hold on tight Carrying your yarn: 3
• Weave it to the end: 6
• The Ins and Outs of Increasing and Decreasing Stitches: 7
• Shortening your rows with dwindling numbers: 8
• Crocheting in Circles: 11
• Making the first round: 12
• Joining ends: 13
• Spirals: 14
• Part II: 16
• Chapter 5: 19
• Materials and vital statistics: 20
• Directions: 26
• Materials and vital statistics: 27
• Directions: 28
• Materials and vital statistics: 29
• Directions: 30
• Materials and vital statistics: 31
• Directions: 32
• Chapter 6: 33
• BeadedFringe Belt: 34
• Materials and vital statistics: 35
• Working up one end and the length of the belt: 36
• Beginning the other end: 37
• Adding some color or a jingle: 38
• Materials and vital statistics: 39
• Festive DiamondShaped Table Runner: 40
• Directions: 41
• Giving it some shine or adding a detail: 42
• Directions: 43
• Chapter 7: 44
• Materials and vital statistics: 45
• Building the skirt body: 47
• Finishing with the drawstring tie: 48
• Materials and vital statistics: 49
• Stitching in circles to create the beret: 50
• Joining the visor as you craft it: 51
• Finishing with basic stitches: 52
• Materials and vital statistics: 53
• Bella Drawstring Bag: 55
• Going 17 rounds for the base: 56
• Working your way up the sides: 57
• Finishing with the drawstring cord: 58
• Chapter 8: 59
• Materials and vital statistics: 60
• Directions: 61
• Denim Cloche: 62
• Materials and vital statistics: 63
• Wavy Chevron Throw: 65
• Materials and vital statistics: 66
• Highlight the stitches not the colors: 68
• Materials and vital statistics: 69
• Directions: 70
• Size it to fit just right: 71
• Fringe it: 72
• Chapter 9: 73
• BeadsnBows Belt: 74
• Materials and vital statistics: 76
• RufflesnBows Scarf: 1
• Materials and vital statistics: 2
• Directions: 3
• Materials and vital statistics: 4
• Directions: 5
• Materials and vital statistics: 6
• Directions: 7
• Part III: 8
• Chapter 10: 10
• Furry Boa Pillow: 10
• Directions: 10
• Materials and vital statistics: 10
• Directions: 10
• Choosing hues that fit your style: 10
• Materials and vital statistics: 10
• Directions: 10
• Belt it: 10
• Chapter 11: 11
• Materials and vital statistics: 11
• Directions: 11
• Materials and vital statistics: 11
• Directions: 11
• The loop stitch: 11
• Directions: 11
• Fashioning a furry look: 11
• Materials and vital statistics: 11
• Directions: 11
• Why knot add beads?: 11
• Chapter 12: 12
• Materials and vital statistics: 12
• Starting with the front: 12
• Turning to the back: 12
• Moving on to the sleeves: 12
• Putting the pieces together: 12
• Materials and vital statistics: 12
• Laying the foundation: 12
• Focusing on the left front: 12
• Turning to the right front: 12
• Adding the sleeves: 12
• Springtime Pullover: 12
• Materials and vital statistics: 12
• Fashioning the front and back: 12
• Attaching the front and back: 12
• Completing the sweater assembly: 12
• Materials and vital statistics: 12
• First youve got your back: 12
• Next focus on the front: 12
• In the home stretch Tackling the assembly: 12
• Materials and vital statistics: 12
• The back: 12
• Whats left? The left front: 12
• The right front: 12
• Attaching the pieces: 12
• Sew what? Joining the sleeves to the jacket body: 12
• Chapter 13: 13
• The afghan stitch: 13
• Materials and vital statistics: 13
• Creating a couple of panels: 13
• Making a bigger blankie: 13
• The Tunisian knit stitch: 13
• Materials and vital statistics: 13
• Making the body of the bag: 13
• LovetoRead Bookmark: 13
• Materials and vital statistics: 13
• Directions: 13
• Heartland Window Valance: 13
• Materials and vital statistics: 13
• Directions: 13
• Using the pattern to create edging: 13
• Chapter 14: 14
• Materials and vital statistics: 14
• Directions: 14
• Making a cozy afghan: 14
• Materials and vital statistics: 14
• Directions: 14
• Honey I Shrunk My Bag: 14
• Materials and vital statistics: 14
• Getting the hang of the handles: 14
• Felting? Fuhgeddaboudit: 14
• Materials and vital statistics: 14
• Working your way up the sides: 14
• WirenBeads Necklace: 14
• Materials and vital statistics: 14
• Directions: 14
• Part IV: 14
• Chapter 15: 15
• Directions: 15
• Geometric Coaster Set: 15
• Materials and vital statistics: 15
• Directions: 15
• Creating coordinating table accessories: 15
• Fun Fur Scrunchies: 15
• Directions: 15
• Materials and vital statistics: 15
• Dressing the bracelet up with ribbon: 15
• Materials and vital statistics: 15
• Directions: 15
• Pocket Patches: 15
• Materials and vital statistics: 15
• Finishing the design and adding final touches: 15
• StemmedGlass Markers: 15
• Materials and vital statistics: 15
• Directions: 15
• Making a marker set for every occasion: 15
• Materials and vital statistics: 15
• Directions: 15
• Materials and vital statistics: 15
• Chapter 16: 16
• Attach Your Own Care Labels: 16
• Forget Dishpan Hands Get Afghan Hands: 16
• Take It to the Cleaners: 16
• Machine Drying: 16
• Dazzling Displays and Safe Storage: 16
• Chapter 17: 17
• Materials and vital statistics: 18
• Materials and vital statistics: 19
• Stitching the heart: 20
• Fusing the stitches and finishing: 21
• MP3 Player Cover: 22
• Directions: 23
• Beadies CanCozy: 25
• Materials and vital statistics: 26
• Directions: 27
• Page Runner: 28
• Directions: 29
• Camouflage Belt: 30
• Materials and vital statistics: 31
• Directions: 32
• Materials and vital statistics: 33
• ChainLink Bracelet: 34
• Materials and vital statistics: 35
• Think Pink Pocket Purse: 36
• Directions: 37
• Stitching a small handbag: 38
• Beaded Anklet: 39
• Materials and vital statistics: 40
• Part V: 41
• Appendix A: 41
• Chain Stitch ch: 41
• Slip Stitch sl st: 41
• Single Crochet Stitch sc: 41
• Double Crochet Stitch dc: 41
• Triple Crochet Stitch tr: 41
• Double Triple Crochet dtr: 41
• Half Double Crochet Stitch hdc: 41
• Decrease 1 Single Crochet Stitch dec 1 sc: 41
• Decrease 1 Double Crochet Stitch dec 1 dc: 41
• Vstitch: 41
• Crossed Double Crochet Stitch: 41
• Shell Stitch: 41
• Cluster Stitch: 41
• Reverse Single Crochet Stitch reverse sc: 41
• Puff Stitch: 41
• Popcorn Stitch pop or pc: 41
• Bobble Stitch: 41
• Front Post Double Crochet FPdc: 41
• Back Post Double Crochet Stitch BPdc: 42
• Long Spike Stitch: 43
• Fringe: 45
• Tassels: 47
• Whipstitch: 49
• Appendix B: 51
• Further Reading: 53

About the author

Susan Brittain’s fascination with crochet began very early, when she was 4 or 5 years old. She would watch her grandmother, who had lost her sight in midlife, spend hours crocheting beautiful afghans for friends and family, counting the stitches with her fingers. By the age of 8, Susan was crocheting her own projects, starting with simple patterns such as scarves, and then moving on to afghans, toys, and sweaters. Although her creative streak has led her to learn many different crafts, crochet has been a steady thread throughout.
Susan finally had the opportunity to combine work with pleasure, and she held the position of assistant editor for Crochet Fantasy magazine for a little more than two years, contributing as a designer as well. She is also the coauthor of Crocheting For Dummies (Wiley) and continues to design new projects for various yarn companies, as well as friends and family.

Bibliographic information

• Title: Crochet Patterns For Dummies
• Author: Susan Brittain
• Publisher: John Wiley & Sons, 2011
• ISBN: 1118050703, 9781118050705
• Length: 288 pages
• Subjects: Crafts & Hobbies / Needlework / Crocheting