Crochet

Patterns, projects and techniques

Crochet-opedia

by

crochet-opedia book

 

If you’ve ever wanted a great reference book for crochet stitches and techniques, for levels from beginner to intermediate, from the crochet mundane to the crochet ethereal, this book might be just what you’re looking for!

Julie Oparka has gathered a very useful collection of crochet information, including 30 projects, great illustrations of each stitch, blocking, beads, felting, seams and edgings, and just about everything else a crocheter needs to have in a reference.  Plus, it has my favorite satin cover and a lay-flat spiral binding making it even easier to use on your lap on on the table next to you.  I know these things are all available online – but I find a lay-flat book far more useable.

If you are looking for a gift for a crochet newbie, this would be the right one.  If you want to have a handy reference to use to enlarge your own repertoire of crochet skills, this would be the right one for you.  Five hundred color photographs and illustrations, numerous graphs, and a good Index add to this book’s appeal.

For a new crocheter, I can pretty much guarantee that working through the 30 projects in order will teach you most everything you need to know about crochet.  It’s amazing to me how much Oparka has jammed into this one 224 page book.  From holding the hook and yarn to basic stitches and increasing to her wide array of stitches ranging from textured to loop to chevrons and spikes then to tunisian, hairpin, and broomstick, I can’t think of much that’s lacking here.

Book Specs:

Crochet-opedia by Julie Oparka,

St. martin Press, June 11, 2013 (you gotta wait a bit!!)

224 pages, satin finished hard cover with spiral lay-flat binding

ISBN:  9781250020338

List price $24.99 USD

 

Comments

  1. I am excited to hear about this book. I am a new crocheter, and jumping all over the web. I think you hit it on the head with the idea of a book like this for beginners. I haven’t seen anything like it.

    If you have a mailing list of people who want to be reminded about it – please add me to it! 🙂 Thanks

  2. I have this book and it is pure awesomeness. I had a little bit of knowledge on crochet from when I was a child, but this book has allowed me to make some beautiful projects and given me the directions on great stitches, beautiful motifs, and even helped me with some basics that I forgot from when I was 10. Even if you’re not quite a novice, it’s a great book to have on hand.

Have you read?

Shock Wave Free Crochet Lap Blanket Pattern

This Free Shock Wave Crochet Lap Blanket Pattern from Mary Maxim looks like one of those wonderfully satisfying projects that gives big cozy payoff without fiddly detail. Mary Maxim lists it as a free download, designed as a crochet afghan/lap blanket, with a finished size of 45 x 50 inches.

What immediately stands out is the yarn choice. The pattern is made with Bernat Blanket Extra Thick, using 5 skeins, and calls for a U.S. U/50 (25 mm) crochet hook. That is gloriously chunky territory, which usually means fast progress and lots of squishy texture. If you are in the mood for a project that feels substantial in your hands and grows quickly row by row, this one definitely has that appeal.

Mary Maxim describes the blanket as having a beautifully textured, plush, soft finish and suggests it as a project for home décor or gifting. Based on the materials and oversized hook alone, that sounds about right. This feels like the sort of blanket you make for curling up on the couch, draping over a chair, or giving as a practical handmade gift that will actually get used instead of folded away “for best.”

The pattern is marked Easy, and the listed stitch requirements are straightforward: chain, repeat, double crochet, single crochet, and slip stitch. That makes it sound approachable for confident beginners and very appealing for anyone who wants a relaxing crochet project without too much counting drama.

I also think the lap blanket size is a smart one. Not every crochet blanket needs to become a giant commitment that takes over the lounge room and your will to live. A 45 x 50 inch blanket is a useful, manageable size for gifting, for wheelchairs or reading nooks, or just for keeping on hand for chilly evenings. That practicality gives this pattern extra appeal. The usability point is my own take based on the finished dimensions Mary Maxim provides.

At the moment, the pattern page shows no reviews, so there is not much customer feedback to go on yet. Still, if you enjoy easy crochet blanket patterns, super chunky crochet throws, or quick lap blanket projects, this one looks like a solid freebie to save.

My overall take? This looks like a fast, cozy, beginner-friendly crochet blanket pattern with plenty of texture and instant-gratification energy. Very much the sort of project you start because it looks easy, then keep going because the yarn feels ridiculously soft.