Crochet book for beginners

[saltyseadog]

I've just learnt to crochet (just the basic double crochet) and I was wondering whether anyone could recommend a basic crochet book with some mini projects in please?

I'm currently using a Learn to Crochet for Kids book which is great for learning, but I have no desire to make a bird pencil topper strangely enough .

Any recommendations please?

If you have kids I definitely recommend supercute crochet by nikki trench. But actually I get most of my patterns online.

Are there any sites that you would recommend for an amateur like myself please?

Just looked at the nikki trench book - I think that my friend's about to lend that one to me (looks great).

Attic24's blog. She does some items with really detailed directions. I've only been into crochet for a couple of months. Careful, it's addictive.

I know lots of people like Youtube tutorials but I learnt mainly from this one and a little bit from Stitch and Bitch Happy Hooker although it uses US terminology which is OK so long as you remember it isn't the same thing as the UK one. Books seem to suit me more than trying to do it online.

I also have this book of squares which you can do for practice and then sew them all together for a throw.

This month's Crochet magazine has a bit for beginners so that might be worth a look.

You could also try Ravelry if you want to look online. It does knitting and crochet. Lots of free stuff on there.

I second Attic24 though - love looking at it for the colours more than anything. I am doing a granny strips throw based on her ideas.

What sort of things would you like to make?

Oooh thank you for the links! So excited! I think I'll treat myself to a couple of crochet books with my christmas money. The Attic 24 blog is gorgeous and utterly inspirational.

I think blankets and scarves in the short term - any thoughts on mega simple patterns?

well, I have just made oven mitts, I found knit was too thin, so went for crochet in the end, I made them in circular way, but stiched flat at the top so they are basically rectangular.
Plain single colur, dark-ish yellow, they are quite textured and at the push resemble pineapple with the slightly nobbly pattern, I might add green cuffs for leaves :)
(this is my 1st refresher project in xx years ;o and yes, it does feel sooo addictive)

Can you post pics nightcat :)? I'd love to see them.

I have lost my one and only hook. Arrrgh. Desperately looking for it (how sad to be pre-occupied with searching for a crochet hook on NYE!).

I'd second happy hooker, taught myself from the book a couple of years ago and now I've always got at least 3 projects on the go! I like it because I still refer back to it for different stitches.
My other favourite is Lucinda Guy's crochet designs for girls and boys if you have any small children to make for. And inside crochet magazine...

I bought The Happy Hooker this week puddle, along with an Encycopaedia of Crochet. Very pleased with The HH so far, although I can't imagine ever making myself the crochet bikini !

salty, I am tech-illiterate , but it was hook size 5, really thick yarn (I think polyester-ish, a leftover from my Mum), chain of 38 closed in a loop, then I carried on going round and round and round, and the pattern comes out as slightly diagonal smallish knobs (2nd basic stitch from what I remember, I am sure there are bigger knobs possible, but so rusty). Kept going round until I got to about 15 cm in length, then started closing in to get rounded corners and finished off flat chain at the top (where fingers end) . Not done green cuff yet as need to find some green yarn.

I bought Lucinda Guy's crochet for girls and boys, lovely book but not what I think I want to make - I'm going to return it and I'd like a book on home furnishings. I'd love to make blankets, throws and cushion covers. Any suggestions for a beginner?