2007-11-27 So much more than an encyclopdia.

Crochet is a wonderful craft as it the material are fairly easy to find and very easy to transport. That means that you can carry the equipment around in your pocket or bag do it on the bus to work, at the local pub or up a mountain

All instructions are clear and informative. There are fabulous diagrams and pictures. The tables of abbreviations are fairly comprehensive. It is incredibly user friendly.

My only criticism is that books for beginners rarely show EACH step in the creation of a stitch. We beginners really do need 20 pictures where someone more experienced might need 3. I would also prefer diagrams as well as text as they are easier for me to follow. I believe that diagrams can be better understood as the names for stitches can vary from country to country and don't see why, with some revisions, Jan should't sell this book abroad.

There is a huge range of stitch types to try out and several projects. There is even a gallery of finished pieces created by artists at the rear. I would quite like a few more example of finished pieces as practically anything that can made from fabric can be crocheted: dress, hat, teddy bear, bowl to put wool in, blankets, babies' cloths etc. Then they can be embellished with embroider, ribbon, beads and sequins or felted! I am also amazed at how I can see something in one colour-way and ignore it, but when seen in a different colour-way I find it breathtakingly beautiful. There is a good selection of completed examples here, but I am hungry for more.

I want to know more and this book has done that to me! It is a brilliant starting point.