Portable
• Essential Techniques • Troubleshooting • Time-Saving Tips
Solutions to common crochet quandaries are at your fingertipsanywhere you go
Crochet VISUAL™ Quick Tips has the answers you needfast. With detailed color photos and concise instructions, plus time-saving tips, it covers:
- Selecting tools and yarn
- Working basic stitches
- Increasing and decreasing
- Working in rounds and colors
- Making puffs, bobbles, clusters, and knots
- Working Tunisian crochet, filet crochet, and lace
- Crocheting with beads
- Finishing
- Interpreting patterns
- Diagnosing problems and fixing mistakes
Table of Contents:
1 Hooks and Yarn 2
Hooks 4
Hook Sizes 6
Compare Hook-Size Labels 8
Other Tools and Notions 10
Yarn Fibers 12
Yarn Construction 13
How to Read Yarn Labels 14
Yarn Weight 16
Estimate Yarn Requirements 17
Substitute Different Yarn 18
How to Handle Store-Bought Yarn 19
Yarn Care and Storage 24
2 Basic Stitches 26
Slip Knot 28
Yarn Over 29
Chain Stitch 30
Foundation Chain 32
Turning Chains 33
Foundation Single Crochet 34
Anatomy of a Chain 36
Slip Stitch 38
Single Crochet 39
Half Double Crochet 40
Double Crochet 41
Treble Crochet 43
Count Your Stitches 45
Crochet Symbols 46
Teach a Child Basic Stitches 47
3 Basic Techniques 48
Increases 50
Decrease By Leaving Stitches Unworked 52
Decrease by Working Stitches Together 54
Crochet in the Round 56
Create a Ring Using Chain Stitches 58
Create a Ring Using a Loop 59
Use a Chain Stitch as a Ring 61
Basic Shaping in the Round 62
Join New Yarn 63
Fasten Off 65
Weave In Yarn Ends 66
4 Advanced Stitches 68
Double Treble Crochet 70
Extended Crochet Stitches 72
Work in Front Loop or Back Loop Only 73
Spike Stitches 75
Post Stitches 77
Clusters 79
Bobbles 80
Puffs 81
Popcorns 82
Bullions 83
Clones Knot 84
Lover’s Knot 86
5 Beyond the Basic Techniques 88
Felting/Fulling 90
Tunisian Crochet 92
Work with Color: Stranding 103
Work with Color: Intarsia 104
Work with Color: Tapestry Crochet 105
Filet Crochet 107
Crochet with Beads 109
Broomstick Loops 110
Hairpin Lace 112
Simple Daisy 116
Corkscrew 118
Teardrop 119
Triangles Using Increases or Decreases 120
Triangle in the Round 122
Rectangle in the Round 124
Mitered Square 126
Pentagon 128
Granny Square 130
6 Finishing 134
Buttonholes 136
Zippers 138
Patch Pockets 140
Join Motifs 141
Pompoms 143
Fringe 145
Edgings 147
Blocking 151
Seaming 153
Seam Pieces Together by Crocheting 156
Care for Crocheted Items 158
7 Working from Patterns 160
Abbreviations 162
Pattern Syntax 164
How to Read a Pattern 165
Gauge 168
Adjust Your Gauge 169
Take Your Measurements 170
How to Read a Chart 174
Standard Measurement Charts 175
8 Diagnose and Fix Problems 180
Recognize Extra Increases and Decreases 182
Fix Extra Increases and Decreases 185
If Something Still Seems Wrong 187
Use Stitch Markers 188
Working with Splitting Yarn 189
Smooth Uneven Sides 190
Loosen Up a Tight Foundation Chain 192
Fix the Fit of a Garment 193
Appendix:
Online Resources 194
Index 200
About the Author :
Cecily Keim documents her adventures in life, crocheting, and other creative endeavors at SuchSweetHands.com. Throughout her life, regardless of the type of study or type of job, making things has always fascinated Cecily. Her great-grandmother, Mama Mac, taught her to crochet at age 9. Since hen crochet has become a favorite technique in her crafty arsenal. Cecily is mesmerized by the endless possibilities of crochet and loves passing on her enthusiasm as a writer, designer, and teacher. She teaches crochet classes and contributes her designs to magazines and books. She has also demonstrated her designs on the DIY channel's Knitty Gritty and Uncommon Threads.
Cecily lives in Los Angeles, watches too much television, and loves candy, her cats, and her boyfriend. Kim P. Werker is the editor of Interweave Crochet magazine,. She is also the founder and Creative Director of CrochetMe.com, the online crochet community of innovative patterns, tips, and tutorials, and a playground for meeting crocheters from all over the world. After a couple of earlier flings, Kim got back into crochet in 2004. She is a professional member of the Crochet Guild of America and the National NeedleArts Association, and travels throughout North America to teach about crochet and to meet enthusiastic crocheters. She has appeared on the television show Uncommon Threads and will appear on the PBS shows Shay Pendray's Needle Arts Studio and Knit & Crochet Today. She was thrilled to work again with Cecily on this follow-up to their first book, Teach Yourself VISUALLY Crocheting. Kim's other books include Crochet Me: Designs to Fuel the Crochet Revolution (Interwave Press, 2007), Get Hooked, and Get Hooked Again (Watson-Guptil 2006 and 2007, respectively).
Originally from New York State, Kim lives in Vancouver, British Columbia, with her husband and their dog. When she's not crocheting, writing, editing, or traveling, she enjoys reading, hiking, knitting, and playing in the garden.
