Crochet Stitch Bible – Book Review

The Crochet Stitch Bible is the subject of my review today.

I love to go to the bookstore to find crochet pattern books. I usually look for the books that teach me stitches because I design patterns and stitch books are great reference books for my crochet library. I think reviews are always helpful to today it’s “The Crochet Stitch Bible” by Betty Barnden. I purchased this book several years ago. The reason I picked this particular book was because I liked the format and the color images. However, as many of us do, after purchasing the book it collected dust before being pulled from its place of rest and placed into active duty.

I like The Crochet Stitch Bible. I like that it has photos in various colors of stitches that I need to learn. I like that each page holds one or maybe two stitches but it doesn’t get confusing as to which stitch you’re working on. I like that the book is separated into sections, so if you’re looking for a lace stitch it’s clear where you need to go. Overall, I like this book. However, the one thing I get frustrated with is the wording. I’ve been reading patterns for a few years and I’m teaching crochet, so I get very frustrated with the “non-standard” way in which the stitches are written. I’ve found myself re-writing the stitch pattern sometimes, just so I get a clearer understanding of what needs to be done.

I’ve used this book extensively but I still get frustrated with the way it’s written so although I like this book and the information it provides I don’t love this book. I’m always looking for one that’s a bit better and more standard in its abbreviations, groupings and syntax. If you are new to crochet, this book may not be your best option because the language may be confusing.

I rate this book 3 out of 5 stars.

Do you own The Crochet Stitch Bible? Tell me what you think, I’d love to know your opinion.