The Best Crochet Books – Our 2020 Picks!

For over one hundred years, people have been sharing the art and enjoyment of crochet in books. Today’s crochet books offer readers full-color photos, unique designs, and easy-to-understand pattern steps. But there’s nothing more frustrating than purchasing an expensive guide, only to find the book causes frustration or worse, unreliable patterns.  That’s why we’ve reviewed the best crochet books for both beginners and more advanced crocheters.

The Top 5 Crochet Books Reviewed

 

Book #1 – The Complete Photo Guide to Crochet – Margaret Hubert

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Now in its 2nd Edition, The Complete Photo Guide to Crochet continues to be one of the most popular crochet books on the market.  Author Margaret Hubert’s comprehensive guide covers all forms of crochet stitches, including Tunisian and freeform.  Readers love the handy reference for more than 100 different stitches and the full-color photos helping guide beginners through the basics.

Pros:

  • More than 200 different crochet stitches included in the text.
  • Unique stitches that many crochet books do not cover.
  • A handy reference for standard abbreviations and how to read stitch patterns.

 Cons:

  • Some of the stitches from the first edition did not make it into the second. Many people end up purchasing both.
  • Some stitch patterns only include a beginning and end photo, assuming you’re familiar with the abbreviations and can complete a portion without the guide.

Book #2 – Crochet Techniques and Tips – by Publications International

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If you’re looking for a simple, yet a convenient guide to different crochet stitches, consider the spiral-bound how-to title Crochet Techniques and Tips. The book cuts out all of the extra fluff and uses only the very essentials to teach crochet basics. Beginners can use the full color, step-by-step photographs, and quickly learn 20 different crochet stitches.  It’s an excellent selection for younger learners since it more heavily emphasizes photos than complex instruction.

Pros:

  • Spiral-bound book lays flat for easy reference while crocheting.
  • Reasonably priced.
  • It contains all the basic stitches, finishing and edging techniques for beginner crochet.

Cons:

  • Just contains stitch guides, no patterns.
  • May not be as helpful for intermediate or advanced crocheters.

Book #3 – Complete Crochet Course – by Shannon Mullett-Bolsby & Jason Mullett-Bowlsby

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World-renowned crochet artists Shannon and Jason Mullett-Bolsby join together in Complete Crochet Course for a must-own guide for any crochet library collection.  The guide includes step-by-step professional photography and easy to understand patterns. Unlike other guides, it also provides information about ‘why’ you need a particular step in a crochet pattern, helping beginners learn faster and gain more experience in crochet.  Outlined as a ‘crochet course’ or like a class you might take at your local yarn store, start at the beginning of the book and work your way through.  Each project builds on the previous. At the end of the book, you’ll have enough experience to tackle most crochet patterns, just as if you’d taken live classes.

Pros:

  • Professional photography, instructions, and projects designed by top crochet instructors.
  • Covers basic equipment, stitches, and techniques for common projects.
  • Mean to work as a self-guided crochet course.

Cons:

  • The book is 300+ pages and quite heavy. Not the easiest for on-the-go crafting.
  • Diagrams are smaller than other texts.

Book #4 – Crochet One-Skein Wonders: 101 Projects from Crocheters around the World – by Judith Durant and Edie Eckman

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Over the years, yarn crafters of all experience levels have fallen in love with the One-Skein Wonder franchise.  With 101 different crochet patterns across a wide range of skill levels and materials, this title in the series should be in every crocheter’s library.  Crochet One-Skein Wonders combines clear and easy-to-understand written instructions with universal stitch diagrams and color photographs.  Each project can be made with one skein or less, making the projects perfect for quick weekend work or a last-minute homemade gift.

Pros:

  • 101 patterns at around $1 per pattern.
  • Patterns include both instructions and visual crochet diagrams.
  • Organized by yarn type and yarn weight to easily substitute for what’s in your yarn stash.
  • Good variety of projects among home items, jewelry, wearables, baby items, and other projects.

Cons:

  • Assumes that you already have some crochet experience. There are limited explanations of basic stitches and abbreviations. May not be the best for anyone starting crochet.
  • Patterns do not include a skill level rating.
  • Most patterns are for lightweight or lacy yarns.

Book #5 – Crochet Cute Critters – by Sarah Zimmerman

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Once you’ve learned the essential crochet skills in some of the other selections above, you’ll want to snag a copy of Sarah Zimmerman’s Crochet Cute Critters.  The book contains 26 patterns for beginning amigurumi projects along with instructions on purchasing yarn, the basic stitches, and how to finish projects with embroidery and embellishments.  Zimmerman takes an ‘amigurumi for everyone’ approach, with detailed step-by-step instructions and patterns for both easy and more advanced crocheters.

Pros:

  • Twenty-six different projects (one critter for every letter of the alphabet) for an affordable price.
  • Each amigurumi pattern has the same primary head and body design. Once you master that, you can build out every project in the book.
  • Each pattern uses worsted weight yarn and a size H crochet hook, reducing how many extra tools you’ll need.
  • The book is available in paperback and Kindle editions.

Cons:

  • The design of these amigurumi patterns is unique to the author. The techniques described here may not match other traditional amigurumi patterns.
  • Instructions for attaching embellishments like eyes and noses could be more detailed.

What to Look for In A Crochet Book

New crochet books hit the market in yarn stores every month.  Once you’ve added a few of the top-rated books to your list, you may find others to add to your collection.  But how do you decide if a crochet book is worth the extra money you could otherwise spend on new hooks and yarn?

Here are a few questions you may want to consider as you grow your crochet library:

  • Does the crochet book match my skill level? If you’re looking to get the most use out of a crochet book, it’s best to select one with projects that are at or slightly ahead of your current crochet experience.  A text full of projects that are too difficult will only lead to frustration.
  • Does the crochet book use easy-to-find materials? It may be tempting to purchase a crochet book with gorgeous photos of hand-dyed yarns, specialty finishes, or vintage materials.  But if finding those materials requires searching across the globe, you’re apt to spend more time shopping (and money) on acquiring your yarn than crocheting.  Look for crochet books that have easy-to-find materials or suggestions for substitutions.
  • Do the patterns include easy to understand instructions or visuals? Turn to one of the designs in the book.  Slowly read each of the steps of the pattern.  Can you visualize what each of those steps in the project means?  Are the pattern abbreviations written clearly and consistently throughout?  Even though pattern abbreviations are standard, some crochet books assume you have a certain experience level.  If it’s a mismatch with your current skill, it might not be the best fit.