When I found this book, I thought it had a few interesting patterns, especially flower designs I might like to use eventually. I put it in my stack of crochet material and promptly forgot about it. Then one day I was trying to find more information on blocking crochet pieces and pulled it out. Wonder of wonders, it was chocked full of helpful information.

Maggie writes with friendly easy to understand language. She makes you feel she has gone through all the trials and tribulations of fine finishing of crochet and you are getting all the results right at your fingertips.

She gives you a little background on crochet and then gets into the real meat, threads and yarns, sizing systems for thread, sizing systems for yarns, quality , yarn finishes, color and dye lots. This is information we can all use. Hooks are explained along with sizing and which hooks for which projects. Gauge is covered extensively. Patterns and instructions, abbreviations, pattern developing and problems areas are discussed with helpful suggestions. This is great for new designers of crochet patterns.

Making a test swatch before beginning a project is an idea Maggie drives home. Many small items I make do not require a test swatch, but I found out very quickly that I needed a test swatch when I decided to make a pattern that is from the 1970s, calls for fibers that were named differently back then and a hook that the sizing is different now from the 1970’s. The only way to make the blouse is to make a test swatch.

Instructions for crochet from chain stitch to triple crochet and long stitches are provided along with illustrations. What is nice for beginners is she explains what the piece should look like after you make a few stitches. International symbols are explained with examples. For each stitch, an example is created and the international symbols follow.

Adding new yarn and joining yarn, increasing, decreasing and additional ways of doing it are explained. Working in loops, front, back or both, puff and popcorn stitches and many more stitches are included.

Improvising, changing and experimentation is a subject of interest. How to correct patterns, compensating for too many or too few stitches are defined.

Next are many stitches, each with a photo image of a stitched sample, the international chart and clear instructions to make them. This includes various medallions, Irish motifs, pineapples, laces on linens and florals, chevrons and other motifs. The instructions are much easier for beginners than many of the books on the market with patterns and instructions.

Multi-Color Jacquard Crochet chapter explains the stitch and then gives you patterns to make. The last part of the book is about finishing of crochet work. Joining pieces, seams, problems encountered, using invisible weaving for joining vertical woven seams, horizontal seam weaving, weaving horizontal to vertical and stair steps for finishing is explained. Use of various stitches for finishing, edging, fringe, tassels and pompoms, twisted cords, crocheted cords, yarn buttons, ball buttons and covered ring buttons are offered as embellishment.

Care of crocheted articles has help for cleaning, dry cleaning, washing, hand washing, machine washing, drying flat, machine drying and blocking.

At the back of the book are a few projects to make using the techniques you learned followed by a glossary and index.