Complete Guide to Symbol Crochet – $9.99
from: Leisure Arts, Inc.

Title: Complete Guide to Symbol Crochet
Author: Rita Weiss and Susan Lowman
Publisher: Leisure Arts, Inc., 2013
ISBN: 9781464712081
Photographers: James Jaeger and Carol Wilson Mansfield
Diagrams: by The Creative Partners LLC

Complete Guide to Symbol Crochet Review

Have you had a chance to explore crochet diagrams? Or are you still crocheting by following written patterns?

To be honest, I am much more comfortable with written patterns but I have been slowly learning how to read and ‘write’ my patterns using the international crochet language of crochet symbols. Many of these symbols are easy for me to recognize and many are easy to guess at because they tend to resemble the crochet stitch you going to be crocheting in the pattern.

The Complete Guide to Symbol Crochet is a very handy resource – it includes a symbol directory. The symbol directory includes the crochet symbol, the name of the symbol and the page number you can reference for the illustrated instructions to crochet the stitch.

The differences between crochet diagrams in the round and in rows are outlined – including the directions (i.e. left and right) you should be reading and crocheting your projects. Crochet diagrams are generally created only from the right-handed perspective. Left-handed crocheters will need to reverse the images in order to see it visually, the way they would crochet it.

The Complete Guide to Symbol Crochet is a fantastic resource for new crocheters and more seasoned crocheters wishing to branch out into patterns provided solely in diagram form. If you are only just learning how to crochet you will find everything you need, to learn all of the stitches listed below – each one is explained with both written instructions and step-by-step illustrations. You will learn the name of the stitch, the abbreviation you will see in U.S. Crochet Terms and the symbol associated with it and used internationally.

Stitches included are:

chain, slip stitch, single crochet, half double crochet, double crochet, triple crochet (treble crochet), double treble crochet, triple treble crochet, Front Post single crochet, Back Post single crochet, Front Post half double crochet, Back Post half double crochet, Front Post double crochet, Back Post double crochet, Front Post triple crochet (treble crochet), Back Post triple crochet (treble crochet), single crochet 2 together, single crochet 3 together, half double crochet 2 together, double crochet 2 together, treble crochet 2 together, single crochet increase, half double crochet increase, double crochet increase, treble crochet increase, extended single crochet, extended half double crochet, extended triple (treble) crochet, reverse single crochet (crab stitch), V-stitch, 3 half double crochet cluster, 3 double crochet cluster, 5 double crochet popcorn, 5 triple crochet popcorn, 5 double crochet shell; 2 double crochet, ch 1, 2 double crochet; 3 double crochet shell, open picot, ch 3 picot, triple picot, picot with single crochet, crossed stitch, X stitch, Y stitch and adjustable ring

Additional symbols are provided after 57-pages of illustrated stitch instructions. These include the symbols which help us recognize whether we need to work into the back loop, front loop, where to join to begin the row and where to finish off to end the row.

Two projects have been included to completely breakdown and provide a written step-by-step comparison of the diagram.

Granny Square (pattern 1) begins by providing us with a complete diagram – which includes all rounds of the project. You can see how it visually looks compared to the actual finished crocheted square. You are provided with the KEY to the diagram which lists each symbol used and gives it the comparable abbreviated stitch term.

Then, what I love, is you are given a total breakdown of the project. One side of the page provides you with THE SYMBOLS and the other side of the page provides you with THE WORDS, for each round of the project. You are able to compare the process, symbol by symbol, to learn how to read the diagram completely.

The second project which is provided in the same manner is a Little Doily (pattern 2).

Both projects are shown in a full diagram because they are small projects. Symbols for every round of the project have been included. Each round is shown in an alternating colors of black and blue, to make it easy to recognize the different rounds you are crocheting.

You also receive other patterns to try, including:

• Crossed Stitch Hat
• Snowflake Earrings
• Striped Scarf
• Sweet Sachet
• Kitchen Angel Dishcloth
• Galaxy Doily
• Pineapple Centerpiece

The small projects are shown as full diagrams and the large projects (like the Crossed Stitch Hat and Pineapple Centerpiece) are shown as ‘slices’ or sections of the diagrams. This will allow you to try your hand at crocheting with both forms of diagrams you will come across. Each pattern is also provided in written format in U.S. Crochet terminology to provide a reference so you can work through the diagrams.

If you’d like to see some of the projects included, the are available on Susan’s site here:

The Crochet Architect

Please note the giveaway mentioned on Susan’s site is over (in 2013) but you can enter for a chance to win an eBook version of this fantastic book right here!

If you are not the lucky winner of the giveaway and you would like to purchase your own copy of Complete Guide to Symbol Crochet, you can get them directly from Leisure Arts. They currently have both the eBook and Paperback available.

Complete Guide to Symbol Crochet eBook – $7.99
from: Leisure Arts, Inc.

Complete Guide to Symbol Crochet – $9.99
from: Leisure Arts, Inc.

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I’d like to thank Leisure Arts, Inc. for providing me with the review copy of Complete Guide to Symbol Crochet and for the giveaway copy for my readers!

All images are used with permission from Leisure Arts, Inc. For more information about Leisure Arts, Inc. visit their website, Facebook or Twitter!