Crochet VISUAL Quick Tips: (Visual Quick Tips)

Portable • Essential Techniques • Troubleshooting • Time-Saving Tips Solutions to common crochet quandaries are at your fingertips—anywhere you go Crochet VISUAL™ Quick Tips has the answers you need—fast. 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.