The Cool Girl's Guide to Crochet: Everything the Novice Crocheter Needs to Know

by Nicki Trench

The Cool Girl's Guide to Crochet includes everything you need to know to make exciting accessories and garments to a beautiful finish. There is step-by-step photography, invaluable information and practical advice on what equipment you will need, where to buy it and how to use it. Instructions on simple crochet stitches are clear and easy to follow and will turn you from a beginner to an expert in no time.

Using yarns with strong, fashionable colors, 20 exquisite patterns are featured: including a wrap-around cardigan; a funky flowered beaded belt, a daisy-square cashmere scarf with mini pom-poms and pretty ribbon slippers. Let's not forget the pets: there is a fun tasselled blanket for pampered pooches. Even the hot-water bottle has been brought up-to-date using superchunky thick yarns for a quick and easy project.

Discover crochet and you'll find out how traditional has turned into cool.

Genres: Knitting, Crafts, Nonfiction, Crochet, Reference

96 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2005

About the author

Nicki Trench is one of the leading figures in the revival and promotion of home crafts. As well as teaching, lecturing and feature writing on knitting, crochet, sewing, cake decorating and hen keeping, she is the founder of Laughing Hens, the UK's leading online yarn store, and Rooster Yarns. Her most recent books include Creating Your Garden Farm and 201 Knitting Motifs, Blocks, Projects and Ideas. Nicki also runs Dancing Hens (www.dancinghens.com), a craft studio.

Reviews

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

While this book isn’t highly technical, it is helpful. There are some pretty cool projects in here that are worth trying out. I dislike the “cool girl” lingo. It seems to dumb down the book. Use only for the patterns.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

Needs a good accuracy check (some incorrect instructions), but good photos in the how-to portion. I wouldn't recommend this for a beginner, but not bad for intermediate crocheters or learning new skills after having a solid base. The instructions for making a hat go backward from every other hat pattern I've encountered, but it worked fine.

[Kayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book and I plan on finishing my scarf and knitting some flowers to sew on it.

[Bryn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Clearly, 'cool' is used loosely here.

[Iwona · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bardzo fajna książka z absolutnymi podstawami. Mam ją na swojej półce, głównie po to, żeby mieć pod ręką jakiś taki najbardziej bazowy poradnik. W tej kwestii spełnia swoje zadanie wyśmienicie. Jest ładnie wydana i zawiera też kilka projektów dla zupełnie początkujących, które nie wymagają zbyt dużo od czytelnika a pozwalają wejść gładko w świat robótek na drutach. W sumie jedyne czego mi brakowało w książce, to iż nie wspomniano w ogóle o oczkach brzegowych, które naprawdę się przydają, gdy chcemy mieć ładnie wykończone brzegi. Biorąc pod uwagę, że jednym z pierwszych projektów jakie możemy na drutach zrobić a nawet powinniśmy, jest szalik, to brak oczek brzegowych może spowodować, że robótka nie będzie taka ładna jak być powinna.
Co jeszcze w książce mi się podoba, to że tłumacz dołożył starań, żeby w dziale z listą sklepów online i stron o robieniu na drutach podać polskie źródła - to się naprawdę chwali!

[Joanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a cute book for younger girls. There was only one casting on method given. The two needle method seemed too hard, so I went back to my trusty Stitch N' Bitch. Long tail cast on success!
I quickly worked up an fast and easy beanie hat that I like (page 77). The main complaint I have is that the book is printed in mice type. When you are wielding your size 15 needles and bulky yarn it would be very helpful to have a larger font.

[Kira Boonyea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good beginner book but not great, and the writing is annoying IMO. The patterns are solid (really- excellent beginner patterns and they even include clear instructions for beading!) but there’s a lot of fluff content and weak attempts at jokey language. Also, some basic knitting techniques aren’t explained- no instructions on what slipping a stitch is, basic cable knitting etc.

[J · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was one of the first knitting books I owned and I think it has a nice range of projects for beginners.

The one thing that I find incredibly helpful with this book is its explanation of techniques. Occasionally, when I'm stumped on a knitting pattern, this book has totally bailed me out when SnB could not.

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG, my sister just got me this book for my birthday. Am I actually going to learn to cast off correctly instead of using my made-up version??? WTF?? I really should have read this before I started making socks and fingerless gloves, oh well.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

I ttied to use this as a guide to learn how to crochet and I just couldn't figure it out. I do consider myself fairly crafty so I'd guess it would be difficult for others as well. However, I did enjoy reading the stories about the origin of crochet, etc. Very interesting.

[Rebecca · Rating 1 out of 5]

Pictures are hard to follow and descriptions are difficult to understand. This is not the best book for you if you are trying to learn crochet (like me) and if you like clear, concise, detailed instructions!

[Annette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun patterns that are not too difficult. I'm still a beginner!

[Darlene · Rating 3 out of 5]

great book to start out learning about crochet. cute easy patterns too.

[Megan]

Hate the cover and title but it is useful.

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun little book with some cute patterns.

[Kimbra L. · Rating 3 out of 5]

How to knit duh!!

[R · Rating 4 out of 5]

ta da! finished my first scarf and working on second! After all, Christmas is a-coming.

[Megan]

same

[Mckinley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nothing for me.