Anne Lando

Why I like this book.

Usually I gravitate toward cool looking pictures with lots of color and amazing graphics. The subtitle sums of the essence of the book "the simple way to spectacular clothes - a guide to creative crochet."

The books begins with a section titled "Notes" which is followed by nine chapters
1. Materials
2. Stitches & Skills
3. Belts
4. Purses
5. Wallets & Change Purses
6. Sweaters
7. The Iconoclastic Afghan
8. Jewelry
9. Appliqués & Fringes

and finishes off with an Index.

Rather than focusing on directions for a specific pattern for a specific item, Delia and Lorraine instead focus on to make categories of things.

In Chapter 6, titled "Sweaters," they teach the reader how to make a stitch they describe as "the sweater stitch," and then give general directions that allow the reader to create the sweater of her choice that fits. My goal this fall (after October 31), is to use the guidelines given in this chapter to make myself a sweater. I will update this review once I have done that to let other readers know how it went.

I have done other smaller items (purses primarily) and the results were very good.

While this book does not have comprehensive list of the most complicated stitches ever invented, it is an excellent guide to how to go about crocheting things for oneself and others if one wishes.

As a crocheter, I find this book to be well worth the money and the shelf space. ( )