Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I am an experienced crocheter, but I don't do it often. When I find myself inspired to create with crochet, I often want a quick refresher on: Placement of markers; How and where to count stitches; The way to create flat circles or squares or triangles and how and where to increase on rounds (so I can then make up my own pattern for a hat or placemat or dishcloth or whatever); How many stitches back from the hook I need to work to start back on my foundation row (if doing anything other than single crochet). Just those quick little reminder tips that get you off and running and back to your work... After a recent frustrating search, I found that none of my other crochet books have any information on markers, none have any of the modular piece formulae, and the other tomes have the stitch details buried within pages and pages of opinionated text (I'm going to hold my hook how I darn well please, thankyouverymuch!) None of my other books have clear, two-color diagrams indicating which part of a working stitch I'm supposed to be working through. None of my other books even has a decent index. They do, however, have stupid patterns for baby items I'm never going to make. Blech. THIS BOOK HAS ALL OF THE ABOVE EXCEPT THE STUPID PATTERNS. Not only that, it's written in a concise, easily-referenced manner, and it's small enough to carry with you in your yarn tote. Trust me when I say that IF IT ISN'T IN THIS BOOK, YOU WON'T NEED IT... and you will be able, like I, to give your other crochet books away. Included are: Info on yarn and substitutions, hook sizes, English/American translations. Info on stitches mentioned above plus increasing and decreasing and specialty stitches. Gauge, working shapes as mentioned above, fabric creation (drape, etc.) Working in circles vs. working in spirals and how to tell where you are on either. Colorwork, borders, buttonholes, buttons, working/reading patterns. Extensive info on body measurements including standard charts. Blocking, joining, Tunisian and other types of crochet. Adding beads and baubles to your work. Garment care, abbreviations, terms. And more! The drawings are clear and in two colors of blue with black lines, so you can see *exactly* which is the working stitch, and where the working yarn is supposed to go. It's written in a conversational "question and answer" way which encouraged me to keep reading, and I learned some quick tips that I'd never seen addressed in other sources. Get it, toss the rest, and gain some space on your bookshelf. Better yet, get two copies and give one to a friend or new crocheter, and save them a thousand frustrations. It's perfect for a beginner who has a hook and a pattern and some yarn, but doesn't know where to start - as well as for the experienced crocheter exploring new or challenging territory. This is going to save me so many headaches, I may just crochet more often! [...]