Saturday 24 January 2015

I ❤️crochet books



I really love crochet books.  I'm not one for magazines and although I did buy a couple of copies of Simply Crochet magazine when it first came out, I haven't since.  I much prefer looking through a craft book even to Pinterest and Ravelry, neither of which I go onto at all now. 

I have quite a few crochet books...



...and I really never tire of looking through them! 


Having said that I did buy a new one recently which I'm not entirely sure about yet...




It's called Easy Crochet Flowers. There are a lot of projects in it but not really many that I'm inspired to make. I think it's the colours and styling of the book that are just not really my style.


Anyway, I thought I would share my favourite crochet books with you.  Anyone who has been reading my blog for a wee while will probably know that I really love the Cute & Easy Crochet books by Nicki Trench...




I have them all and just love them. I have made several things from each book but my favourite is definitely the first one which is just called Cute & Easy Crochet.  It was the first crochet book I bought and in fact it was purchased before I had even ever picked up a crochet hook! It was this book which inspired me to learn to crochet...as soon as I saw it in a bookshop in Glasgow I knew I had to buy it and learn to crochet. It's the most beautiful book, the styling is gorgeous  and the colours used so pretty, and in my opinion, every project in the book is perfect. I have made lots of things from it so far and I'm sure I'll make plenty more!




I'm currently making the Camellia blanket from Cute & Easy Crochet and I'm really enjoying it. It's such a nice pattern and the squares turn out so pretty.




I also really want to make the Summer Evening Shawl which looks challenging but is so beautiful. Maybe I will attempt it at some point this year if I'm feeling brave enough!


I have a couple of other firm favourites too...




Granny Squares by Susan Pinner is also lovely. Last year I made my Dotty Spotty blanket using a pattern from this book and there are lots more patterns I want to try too.



Another Nicki Trench book which I love is Easy Knitting & Crochet. I've also made a few things from this but I'm really keen to make the gorgeous ribbon slippers and pretty flower blanket. 


When I'm looking for ideas for a new project I love to sit with a cuppa and just look through the books above, such a nice way to spend an hour or so!


What is your favourite crochet book? Or do you prefer magazines? I would love to know if there are any "must have" crochet books out there that I should add to my collection!


X












32 comments:

  1. I got the easy crochet flowers one from the library - didn't like it. It's funny that you either like or dislike a book and never really maybe both. I prefer books to magazines, I also had simply crochet in the beginning but I never made anything from it at all but I do from books. x

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  2. Hello,What a very interesting post,thanks for sharing.I have been looking for some really good crochet books,one's that aren't all styling and no substance if you know what I mean.It is my birthday tomorrow,think I am definitely going to buy the Cute and Easy Crochet and the Easy Knitting and Crochet.I have been crochet and knitting for a long time but only basic crochet,want to branch out from my beloved blankets lol.Happy Weekend.

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  3. I prefer books to crochet magazines. I have a few of the ones you mention & find them far more interesting. I'm in the process of trying to cancel my subscription to a crochet magazine as I've become so disheartened with the projects contained.

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  4. The first and only crochet book I have bought is The Encyclopedia of Crochet Techniques by Jan Eaton. It only has a few patterns in it but was very helpful when I was learning to crochet. I still use it a lot now. I must admit any crochet pattern with the word "easy" in it always grabs my attention!

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  5. I prefer books to magazines but still have a crochet magazine every month as it was a subscription gift. One of my favourite books that I have used lots for the Grand children is Crochet at Play by Kat Goldin. A lovely book with hats, scarves, clothes and toys for children.

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  6. I am the same with crochet books. I just love them far more than magazines. I do like Pinterest but it falls short to a really good crochet book. For a while I thought I was missing out of the whole monthly magazine trend of Simply Crochet, but maybe I haven't at all. Cute and easy crochet is by far one of my favorites as well! There are so many great projects and the way the pictures are styled, i just cant get enough. I also have notices hat when i buy a crochet book then i usually like it more and more the more often that I flip through it. As if all the greatness is impossibly to soak in with the first read through.

    Have a lovely weekend.
    Birgitta xx

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  7. I have two of the Nikki Trench books and really love the colours and styling. I also have Kat Goldin's books. I really like her latest-I've made two projects from it so far, a shawl and a pot holder. I think I'd like Granny Square Crochet by Susan Pinner but I'm trying not to buy any more craft books for now so I'll just have to keep using what I already have! x

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  8. Hello,
    the shawl pattern looks very beautiful.
    Books rule in my world.
    xx

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  9. I just have a couple of books which I like to refer to. I do like to look at the covers of the craft magazines in the newsagents but I never buy them. The Granny Squares book looks nice though. I had an Amazon voucher given to me at Christmas, so I might treat myself! xx

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  10. Cute and Easy crochet is my favourite too. I don't buy craft magazines either - although I was briefly tempted when Lucy (attic24) started writing a column for Simply Crochet. Good luck with the shawl and enjoy the rest of the weekend. x

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  11. I'd love to make the shawl as well, I think you'll be fine giving it a go, stuff like that always looks complicated but when you get going it usually makes sense.

    I definitely prefer books too and they make my bookshelf nice and lovely :-) Not sure I could pin down an absolute favourite but I have a great book called Super Cute Amigurumi which is little crochet animals, but Cute & Easy Crochet is definitely up there! I might do a post about the books I've got too, you've inspired me :-)

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  12. I love books and magazines! I keep magazines, in great piles, then every so often I go through them and (carefully!) tear out any patterns/recipes/articles I want to keep. But I love my books too! X

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  13. I love books and magazines. I buy both. Our local fabric store just had a sale on crochet and knitting books and I bought three crochet books. One of them is the Cute and Easy Crochet Flowers book you have. I love the cute and easy books too. They are fun to sit and peruse. I've been bad about pinterest lately too. I enjoy flipping through a book or magazine while sitting in front of the telly in the evening, unles I'm actually crocheting of course!

    Cindy Bee

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  14. I love books and magazines but am trying not to buy magazines anymore. I find I really don't find much in them I want to make. And I do love Pinterest and Ravelry, especially to look up a pattern, I have a few of the books you posted about and love them.
    Hugs,
    Meredith

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  15. Yep, got a few myself! I love the Granny Squares one :) xxx

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  16. I love the Nicki Trench 'Cute and Easy' books and the Susan Pinner book too - the camellia blanket is so pretty. I buy a crochet mag once in a while if there's something that catches my eye, but not regularly. At the moment I'm working on projects from Totally Simple Crochet by Tove Fevang and Simple Crochet by Erika Knight. Have a lovely week.
    Jane x

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  17. I only have two crochet books, but a stash of SC magazine. I like looking through the books and magazines for inspiration and ideas, but am not very good at following instructions. You have some lovely books, I really like the look of the Nicki Trench ones. I hope that you will fall in love with your new book and enjoy making some things from it. Sometimes it just takes a while to decide what to make doesn't it. xx

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  18. I have had both and enjoy them, but I'm finding currently my major sources of inspiration are the blogs on the web that send me to find the pattern or shape I want to make then, although I probably use the pattern as a basis not a strict instruction!

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  19. I have the Sue Pinner granny squares book too but your others are new to me. I have the 100 Flowers book and a book on borders, but that's all right now. I'd like a few more eventually. I have a subscription to Interweave Crochet magazine but I find most of the patterns a little complicated even though I enjoy reading it.

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  20. As you know, I love my Cute & Easy Crochet too. I had a subscription to SC for a year but stopped it recently as there weren't enough projects in it to justify carrying on. There are a few things in it I want to make though. I always have far too many ideas in my head to ever do them all! x

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  21. Have you ever seen any of the Japanese crochet books, Marianne? I have a feeling that you would absolutely love them. Only one has been translated into English to my knowledge (available via Amazon) and it's called Crochet With Color. The others are in Japanese but have charts to follow - they're available from a seller called Pomadour24 on Etsy. They are most definitely my favourites, along with the Nicki Trench books. xx

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  22. I love books have Hook, yarn and crochet and and keep looking at the Granny squares one online, I feel a purchase coming on!xxx

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  23. Such a lovely selection of books Marianne - having just received a new crochet book in the post today I completely understand where you're coming from 1 have a good week, Kate xx

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  24. I have all the Cute and Easy books too and have made quite a few of the items. I was going to try the Summer Evening Shawl but haven't got round to it. But having looked at the pattern I think it would be very easy to do. I like the look of the other books you've shown too - especially Easy Knitting and Crochet. I've never seen it before for some reason! Love the slippers from it.

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  25. Hello! I've just found your blog and am now following! I love the Niki Trench books too. They make crochet seem so much more accessible and not ultra complicated. Can't wait to see some of your future makes! J9

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  26. Hello! I've just found your blog and am now following! I love the Niki Trench books too. They make crochet seem so much more accessible and not ultra complicated. Can't wait to see some of your future makes! J9

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  27. Although I don't crochet, I totally understand your addiction to the books. I have bought up quite a few knitting books for the simple reason that I love to browse through them. I've made a few items from them, but some projects are just nicer to look at rather than attempt ;) Wendy x

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  28. You have some really good books x

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  29. Hi,Have just received my copy of Nicki Trench Cute and Easy Crochet.Thanks to your post.I have linked back to you.x

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  30. I made those green gloves they are fabulous. Jo x

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  31. I'm addicted to the books and the magazines. Well if I'm going to have an addiction, it's ab fairly healthy one to have I guess! My favourite crochet book is One Skein Wonders, everything in it is, by definition, short and quick, I've made loads of things from it. For the styling and aesthetics I agree the Nicki Trench Cute and Easy Crochet is gorgeous.
    Jillxo

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  32. I love Nicky trench books, particularly the "Cute and easy crochet" one. I would also recommend Japanese crochet books, the styling is gorgeous and they have diagrams for you to follow the patterns. One of my all time favourite crochet book is "my name is Amineko", it is very quirky and shows you this great crochet cat photographed in a variety of places and situations. You get the pattern to make it also. It is irresistible. Before Susan Piner published her book on grannies I had a similar one by Sarah London and it is visually very colourful and good. I love crochet books and love looking at them.... I have now branched into other crafts and also love Alicia Poulson's book on embroidery, Tilly's sewing book and Nicky Trench's book on patchwork..... It's a bit of a healthy addiction.....have a lovely week! Pati xx

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