Crochet

Patterns, projects and techniques

CROCHET PROJECTS – THE COMPLETE IDIOT’S GUIDE

by

idiots guide to cro projects 1109

While I’m not a huge fan of calling people ‘idiots’ or ‘dummies’, these series of books are often helpful for learning a new skill.  In this case, I believe the ‘idiots’ do a better job than the ‘dummies’.

 

This edition of the ‘Idiot’s Guides’ even has great color photos which were lacking in some previous editions.  You just can’t go wrong with color pix for inspiration.  Some ‘bare boned’ books like Maggie Righetti’s “Crocheting in Plain English” are wonderfully valuable without a single color picture.  But, for the most part, photographs, especially color ones, bring out the best in crochet and make me want to pull out a hook right away.

“Crochet Projects Illustrated” by Marcy Smith is 223 pages packed full of useful information and lots of inspiration.  The unique inclusion of two tables of contents is very helpful.  There’s one Table of Contents has a thumbnail photo and page number with a brief explanation of the chapter.  The other Table of Contents contains detailed, page by page, listings of content.  So, if you’re taking your first look through the book, the more detailed Table is helpful while the simpler one will quickly direct you to the page you remember having seen something on.

Of course, actual content is more valuable than a listing of it.  There has to be some meat there.  This book takes the crocheter from novice to advanced with instructions, pictures, and projects.  You can find a great copy of this in any number of used book vendors online.  It would be a great gift for a beginning crocheter or someone who has expressed interest in learning.

SPECS:

The Idiots guide to Crochet Projects

ISBN 9781592576180

LIST PRICE $22.95USD (widely available online for a few bucks)

Published by Alpha Books, a Penguin subsidiary, in2007.

Comments

  1. I agree- don’t like referring to myself or others as an idiot, but I have found the “dummies” books to be a great resource. I’m sure this would be a wonderful book to own. 🙂

Have you read?

Christmas Tree Crochet Scarf – A Fun and Festive Pattern Worth Revisiting

Some crochet patterns are practical, some are pretty, and some are just pure holiday fun. This Christmas Tree Crochet Scarf from CraftBits falls firmly into that last category, and honestly, that is exactly why it caught my eye again. It is quirky, cheerful, and the kind of novelty scarf that makes people smile before you have even had a chance to explain that yes, you really did make it yourself. The pattern comes from CraftBits and creates a scarf made up of Christmas tree motifs joined together into one gloriously festive wearable.

If this scarf looks a little familiar, you might already have spotted it in our roundup of 18 Free Christmas Crochet Scarf Patterns To Make As Gifts or in our collection of 15 Fun And Silly Crochet Scarf Patterns. It has definitely popped up on Crochet.CraftGossip before, and for good reason. It is one of those patterns that manages to be both wearable and wonderfully ridiculous, which is a very fine line in the world of festive crochet.

What I like most about this design is that it does not try to be subtle. It fully embraces the novelty Christmas vibe, and sometimes that is exactly what a seasonal project needs. The scarf is made using repeated tree shapes, so it has that satisfying motif-based construction that many crocheters enjoy. It also gives you the chance to play with embellishments like pom poms and stars, which adds even more personality to the finished piece. According to the CraftBits pattern, the scarf uses Red Heart Super Saver yarn, a size I hook, and simple decorative extras including felt and pom poms.

This would be such a fun project for a holiday party outfit, an ugly sweater event, a handmade gag gift, or just for someone who genuinely loves festive accessories. We all know at least one person who would wear this proudly while serving Christmas lunch or turning up to school pickup in December like the absolute queen of holiday spirit.

It is also the sort of pattern that feels a little nostalgic in the best possible way. CraftBits has had this project around for years, and it still holds up because novelty crochet never really goes away. It just waits patiently for the rest of us to catch up again. And let’s be honest, there is something refreshing about a project that does not take itself too seriously. Not every scarf needs to be neutral, elegant, or sensible. Some scarves are allowed to be actual Christmas trees.

So yes, you may have seen this one before in our scarf roundups, but I think it deserves its own little spotlight too. If you are in the mood to make something playful, memorable, and completely unapologetic for the holiday season, this one is worth another look.