Crochet for Beginners Who Want to Improve Book Review

Disclosure: I purchased Crochet for Beginners Who Want to Improve by Ali Campbell in order to review it. Links within the article will earn me a commission via Amazon. All opinions are my own. 

Book:

Crochet for Beginners Who Want to Improve: Continue Your Crochet Journey with 10 Easy to Follow Projects by Ali Campbell

Remember Ali of Get Hooked on Crochet? I interviewed her back in February for the Friday Crochet Business Feature. She teaches crochet from her home in the UK.

Earlier this year she released the first virtual crochet course in the UK. She was also a featured guest in Kat Goldin’s Crochet Camp. As if that were not enough, she released her first book on Amazon – Crochet for Beginners Who Want to Improve.  Yes, she has been super busy growing her business.

Introduction:

Crochet for Beginners who Want to Improve is for those new to crochet but already know the basic stitches. It features 10 projects that gradually teach more advanced techniques like, reading crochet patterns, understanding symbol crochet, decreasing, increasing, changing colors, and joining squares.

Sample projects include a headband with a flower, a hat, socks, granny squares, and a couple of cozies like a date planner cozy and a tin can cozy.

Features:

Traffic Light System ©

Often crochet books are written in American terms but Ali offers both a UK version and a US version.

She teaches you in a manner similar to those she teaches in her home studio. She invites you in with her welcoming personality and takes you by the hand (hook and yarn) and gently shows you how to decipher a pattern.

One unique feature to her teaching methodology is her Traffic Light System©. She explains in plain language the sometimes confusing terms of a written pattern.
  
She highlights tips, tricks of the trade and cheats in Green for GO.

All abbreviations are written longhand (unlike patterns in magazines and books) to help you recognize them in a written pattern. These she highlights in Amber – (Slow) to help you recognize them when you graduate to reading a pattern on your own.

Finally, all warnings are highlighted in Red as in Stop to signify that this is important for this pattern so do it.

Yarn and Hook:

After teaching hundreds of students how to crochet she suggests using Chunky Wool (Bulky Weight Yarn) and a 6mm (J) hook as it helps beginners identify the stitches.

Example of Pattern:

Foundation Ring 4ch chain & join with a sl st slip stitch (slow down) into the first ch the one nearest the knot for form a ring.

Before you continue: Keep the tail end to the left (if you are right handed and to the right if you are left handed) and make the stitches in Round 1 “over” this tail end so that you darn it in as you go. When you get to the end of the pattern pull this tail end to tighten the hole. That’s how it’s done. If you forget this step, you’ll have to darn it in at the end, which is to be avoided if possible – hence the tip. (Tips and Tricks in Green means go)

Do Not Fasten Off (in red means do it)

Photos:

Each pattern has a photo of the completed project. When needed there are additional photos to highlight a certain step (crocheting the toe of the sock).

Symbol Crochet:

To introduce you to symbol crochet she teaches the classic granny square. This is a color coded chart with detailed explanations

written in Pink.

Color Changes:

Changing colors is first introduced through making a granny square. You will also learn how to change colors in a row and in a round. She also touches on the topic of “to knot or not to knot” when ending a color.

Joining Methods:

• Stitched seams
• Crochet seams
• Joining squares for blankets with diagram
• JAYGO or join as you go.

Final Exam:

To test your knowledge Ali gives you one last pattern this time without her Traffic Light System © tips. This is how you will see the pattern in magazines and books. Don’t stress though, by this time you are ready to take this on.

Price:

US Paperback $22.50 Prime $19.81 or US Kindle edition $9.99

UK Paperback $20.00 Prime $17.66 or UK Kindle edition $9.99

Where to Buy:

You can purchase your copy on Amazon.com

Get Your Copy Today on Amazon:

US Version Paperback or US Kindle Version or  UK Version Paperback or UK Kindle Version

Disclosure: I purchased Crochet for Beginners Who Want to Improve by Ali Campbell in order to review it. Links within the article will earn me a commission via Amazon. All opinions are my own.