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Lunch » Tags » Book » Reviews » I Taught Myself Crochet

I Taught Myself Crochet

1 rating: 2.0

A beginners kit for crochet

Kit includes: Complete instructional DVD Special section of tips and techniques for left-handers Boye crochet hooks, sizes F, G, H, I, K Afghan hook, size I Plastic tapestry Yarn needles Stitch marker rings Bulky knit yarn bobbins … see full wiki

Tags: Book, Cafe Libri, Dvd, Crochet

1 review about I Taught Myself Crochet

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Beginner's crochet kit good for price, but not perfect

May 25, 2011

by GenreReviewer
posted in Cafe Libri: Reviewing Books & More

Rating:

I bought this kit at Walmart for about $10.00. The kit includes a DVD, and the instruction book is the 2010 version.

The "I Taught Myself Crochet" 32-page book was pretty bare-bones, but it did get the basic necessary information across. It explained the different Boye crochet products and what they're used for (steel crochet hooks, aluminum crochet hooks, jumbo crochet hooks, afghan hooks, CroHook, and two sets). It explained the different yarn weights, what hooks are good to use with the different yarn weights, yarn weight metric equivalents, crochet hook sizes, and a long list of crocheting abbreviations.

The book taught how to do a slip loop, chain stitch, slip stitch, single crochet, half double crochet, double crochet, treble crochet, increasing and decreasing, joining yarn and changing colors, finishing techniques, gauge, afghan stitch, how to use the cro-hook (needed equipment not included in the kit), how to make broomstick lace (needed equipment not included) and how to make hairpin lace (needed equipment not included).

Clear black-and-tan illustrations were included, though I would have liked more of the steps illustrated. It's great for a refresher, but not enough for an absolute beginner who's never crocheted, knitted, etc. The instructions were very good, but I guess I'm a visual learner when it comes to crocheting. There was also a tan-tinted photo of what a square of each stitch would look like, however it was difficult to see due to the coloring. All of the basic stitches (slip loop to treble crochet) were also taught for left-handers.

The book included 16 crochet patterns: (11 Beginner patterns, 4 Easy patterns, 1 Intermediate pattern). The patterns look fun and pretty easy, but this book didn't teach you how to read the patterns. You might be able to muddle through them with frequent looks at the included abbreviation chart, though. Three of the patterns required equipment not included in this kit.

The DVD included with this kit was "Learn to Crochet with Erin Elkins." The DVD was 11 minutes and 47 seconds long. We were shown how to do a slip knot, chain stitch, slip stitch, single crochet, double crochet, and finish off the yarn ends on your piece.

It was easy to see what the presenter was doing, however, she sometimes didn't do what she told us to do. (For example, she described a "yarn over" as putting the hook under then over the yarn, but sometimes she did the opposite. She never explained why she sometimes didn't do it the way she said to, so I'm assuming she just goofed.) Because of this, I found the DVD more confusing than helpful.

Personally, I found naztazia's YouTube videos, "How to Crochet - Part 1 - Basics for the Absolute Beginner" and "How to Crochet - Part 2 - Basics for the Absolute Beginner," very clear and much more useful. She also taught more of the basic crochet stitches.

The hooks included with the kit were easy enough to use, but I've since bought a full set of Susan Bates hooks and I much prefer them. The book and DVD didn't explain how to use the included stitch marker rings or bulky knit yarn bobbins. (I learn pattern-reading and the use of stitch marker rings from another book, "Crocheting in Plain English." )

Overall, this kit was a cheap way to see if I'd enjoy crocheting, especially since I had the additional help of the YouTube videos. I'm sure I'll use the book to refer back to about abbreviations and to double-check how to do the various stitches (now that I've done them some). However, this probably wasn't the best set to get in a longer-term perspective.

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Adrianna May 25, 2011

I bought a similar kit once at Target. I was disappointed in it...never did figure out the craft project. I think when it comes to this stuff, I'm all thumbs. Nice review, Debbie!