I can’t help it. This book has limited my vocabulary.

Every time I start to talk or write about it, I find myself reduced to spluttering such phrases as “delightful, “incredible,” “wonderful,” and “you’ve just got to see it.” Donna Kooler’s Encyclopedia of Crochet is such a visual treat, such a rich dessert of content, that it leaves one glutted and unable to get much beyond, “Come look at it! It’s good—really, really good.”

But it does no good as a reviewer for me to simply repeat how good it is (no matter how much that might be true). After all, the point of a review is to explain why a book is good and what makes it worthwhile, not to simply drool over it.

So I will make an effort to regain use of the English language (even if that means I’ll have to put down my crochet hook to do so) and try to tell you why this is such a fabulous book.

First, if you don’t crochet, knit, or enjoy any of the other needlework arts; if you don’t have a closet (or even an outted) yarn fetish, well, you might as well stop reading now. As wonderful as this book is, it IS for people who like to work with yarn. The book would be a dull read (though there are some pretty pictures) for anyone who doesn’t either know the craft or have an interest in learning the craft.

Let’s get down to business

OK, then, now that we’ve gotten rid of all those people who simply won’t understand, let’s talk, shall we? Go ahead, get out your hook so you can work while we talk. I’ll wait.

Donna Kooler’s Encyclopedia of Crochet ought to be immoral. Anything that isn’t chocolate or blessed by a priest that makes a person get as tingly and excited as this book does definitely ought to be licensed or regulated in some way. From the moment you lay eyes on its brilliant cover embraced with a luscious mohair cherise yarn threaded with a metallic sparkle until you reach the final table of chart symbols used in crochet, the book is a treat. Everything in it—the graphics, the content, the patterns, the explanations—are superior.

Let me start by pointing out that this is a Leisure Arts publication. Unless you’re new to the craft, you know what that means. Leisure Arts puts out some of the finest pattern books and publications in the industry. Their name is synonymous with quality and creativity. Donna Kooler’s Encyclopedia of Crochet easily qualifies to be the flagship of their already large fleet of crochet publications.

Don’t know much about history

At least, I didn’t know much about the history of crochet before getting this book. I knew it was a relatively new art—it wasn’t until the 1800s that people started using hooks to make loops into shapes (which is the most basic definition of crochet). Unlike knitting—which is an ancient art—crochet is an art that came out of the Industrial Revolution.

How do I know this now? The encyclopedia has a fascinating section on the history of crochet. I know, that doesn’t exactly sound stimulating, but it is. The essay is a fascinating look at where the art came from and what influenced it. There are also some beautiful pictures of old crochet hooks (some of which you can still find in flea markets and estate sales), Irish crochet, and a crochet sampler book from 1900. It’s also hard not to smile at the pink, crocheted cotton bra from 1920.

Back to the basics

When I first got this book, I was going to just skim through the crochet basics. After all, I’m hardly a beginner and I know how to do the basic stitches and read patterns.

But then I noticed that they were explaining the difference between American and British stitch names. And the boxed text telling me to plan ahead caught my attention. They even almost convinced me that I really should check my gauge before working on any project where size is important (maybe that’s why I can’t make a decent set of slippers).

They also explain—in some of the clearest text I’ve yet seen—the difference between yarn spins, plys, sizes, and fibers. As someone who frequently substitutes one yarn for another, I found the section on substitutions to be very helpful as were the pictures of the different types of yarns.

If you are a beginner, the section explaining how to hold the hook (and yes, there are pictures and instructions for both righties and lefties) and make stitches is well illustrated and simply explained. I also wish I had read the section on what to do at the end of a row back when I was first starting. It would have saved me from unraveling and tossing several projects that were messed up before I figured it out.

The basics section ends with a series of patterns designed for beginners and intermediate crocheters. They include a mohair-blend stole, a hot pad, button-top socks, mufflers, granny square poncho, sleeveless top, and an aran muffler and tam,

Beyond the Basics

The next section is aptly titled “Beyond the Basics” and it had me drooling immediately. (OK, there is something they could do—they could put page protectors on each page to protect it from drool. But that would probably be prohibitively expensive.)

The first section is working with color. This is what has always been the biggest challenge for me. I rarely (if ever) follow a pattern exactly as it appears in a book. I’m always substituting yarns, colors, or hook sizes to get a look that is more to my taste. The problem is, I’m not at all good at matching colors or figuring out what goes well. I’m afraid some of my projects have rightly been called garish.

No more, though. The encyclopedia has a whole section on color beginning with a color wheel to show you how to create your own colors. It explains how to figure out complementary colors and analogous colors. It gives guidelines for how to match things.

More importantly, it ends with advice that is music to the ears of someone who shies away from too much structure, “Base your final selections on what stirs your heart, because working with the yarns and colors you love is sure to produce a successful design and project.” Amen.

They also gave some clear instructions on several different techniques for changing colors—a skill I still struggle with.

They next go into thread crochet and how different steel hooks interact with different thread sizes. It then details thread crochet, including lace making and Irish crochet.

The thread section is followed by specialty crochet—bead crochet (including instructions for a beautiful wedding keepsake beaded bag that I’m going to have to try before a friend of mine gets married), wire crochet, and tunisian crochet.

Finally, there is a section giving step-by-step illustrations and instructions for those expert details that challenge crocheters such as myself: pockets, buttonholes, and edgings.

Like the basic section, this section is followed up with another set of crochet project patterns that use all the techniques described. Some day I’ll be talented enough to try making the wool philosopher’s coat that I lusted after.

Take a stroll through the gallery

The final section is invaluable for the people like myself who are just starting to make their own designs. The extensive pattern gallery gives a wide variety of stitches with photos, charts, and written instructions.

While the gallery is not as extensive as some other books I’ve seen, it definitely covers the basics and gave me lots to work on. Indeed, I don’t think you can adequately review a crochet book until you’ve tried to make some of the patterns. In the past I’ve been fooled by books that looked great but were filled with unworkable patterns. This is definitely not a problem with this encyclopedia. Indeed, there is now a box next to my bed filled with pattern squares, half-finished blankets, thread doilies, and scarves made from the stitches in this pattern gallery. It provided me with the perfect lacy edging for a baby blanket I was working on and helped me whip together a few birthday gifts.

The pattern gallery includes: simple combinations, fans and shells, lace patterns, waves, ripples and chevrons, angled patterns, spiked and crossed, post stitches, bobbles, popcorns and puffs, tapestry, jacquard, mosaic, net, mesh, trellis, motifs, filet crochet, edges, and tunisian crochet.

Wrapping it up

Finally, the book finishes with a series of references, including resources and suppliers, history footnotes, a bibliography, a full index and a pattern index, and a large illustrated table of chart symbols.

The other side of the story

Now, I’m supposed to give you the downsides of the book, right?

Well, I would. If I could find them. And if I didn’t have this chenille scarf calling my name. I designed it using the thistle stitch on page 140 of the encyclopedia and I just finished the first repeat of the pattern. I want to see how it looks if I change colors now. Maybe I’d better go check the color wheel to see if white goes with rose and fawn.

You’ll excuse me won’t you?


Recommended: Yes