A very well constructed book, with clear explanations and explanatory diagrams. Combining symbols and written explanations is a very good idea, and the patterns offered are very varied. An essential book for any crochet enthusiast.

I really liked the flexibility of this book. It covers a lot of basic stitch patterns, and explains how to use them. I think it might be helpful to have an example, maybe a hoodie or something to demonstrate how to use gauge, the math for calculating foundation chain lengths, and shaping in an actual garment pattern. I liked that this sort of creative approach to crochet is facilitated though in this book, rather than just specific patterns with specified yarns and hooks. I especially like that each stitch pattern includes a diagram. That is such a useful skill, and having the diagram makes it easier to make sense of any ambiguous text instructions. So far in the stitch patterns I read through carefully they seem pretty straightforward though. I may be adding this book to my crafting library next year, and will recommend it to my friends who are developing their crochet skills..

It shows the crafts well and is easy enough to follow. I’m not currently starting any projects,, but if I were this would be a good tool as a beginner.

This book is incredibly useful and beautifully put together. The images of the stitches are stunning, and the instructions are clear and well-written. It offers an impressive variety of stitches, organized into sections like lace, shells and fans, and edgework, making it easy to find exactly what you need.

The introduction is particularly helpful, covering how to incorporate these stitches into patterns and how to shape pieces effectively. There’s also a section at the back with detailed instructions on how to crochet and form the basic stitches, making it a great resource for beginners and experienced crocheters alike.

This is a must-have addition to every crocheter’s library!

With beautiful and clear images demonstrating each of the numerous techniques, and a friendly can-do attitude, this guide to Essential Crochet Starter Stitches is a necessity for any serious crochet artist! Either as a gift for a fellow yarner, or a back-up in case the internet ever goes down, rest easy knowing that you have all you need. Designs, terminology, demonstration of technique and different stitches-- it's the perfect accompaniment for anyone wanting to expand beyond single crochet stitches. I highly reccomend!

I received a copy of this eBook from NetGalley for a honest review.

A perfect starter stitches book for beginners and those looking to branch out into making their own patterns.

As a person who loves to crochet, but usually ends up using the same kinds of stitches, this book was very useful!! I learned more stitches that I did not know much about and now I have different stitches to use for my many projects. This will definitely improve my crocheting skills and the step by step instructions were helpful. 5/5 stars and would recommend this to any crocheter whether beginner or advanced!

This is a pretty decent stitch dictionary. I would’ve chosen a better color of yarn for the pictures of the stitches (preferably a lighter one), but that’s just me. Definitely not one of the bigger stitch dictionaries I’ve seen, but it makes a nice reference depending on what you need.

A wonderful beginners guide to creating some of the most elementary to intermediate patterns is Essential Crochet Starter Stitches Portable Stitch Companion: Solids, Shells & Fans, Openwork & Lace, and Simple Edgings by Melissa Leapman. I will begin by saying that the book set-up was a bit confusing. A list of all basic stitches, symbols, and beginner information can be found at the end of the book. Having this information at the beginning of the book followed by stitch patterns would be much more helpful. Beginners might struggle because they usually need to refer to the basic stitches and symbols as they learn new patterns. When this information is placed at the end of the book, it requires constant flipping back and forth, which can disrupt the learning process and make it harder to follow along with the stitch instructions. Organizing the book with foundational content at the beginning would create a more intuitive and seamless learning experience. It was nice to see so many different patterns and color palettes. The diversity of patterns provided a rich tapestry of options for crocheters to explore, ranging from simple designs to more intricate motifs. This variety not only caters to different skill levels but also inspires creativity by allowing beginners to experiment with different textures and styles. Moreover, the inclusion of various color palettes adds an element of personalization, enabling crafters to tailor their projects to their unique aesthetic preferences.

This book is excellent for anyone looking for new crochet stitches. It’s very detailed and has graphs, written instructions on how to do the stitches, and pictures of the stitches. I’ve been crocheting for 10 years and I learned how to make many more beautiful stitches with this book.

This is a really handy little book for anyone who already knows their way around a crochet hook but I felt it far too detailed for someone like me who wouldn't know where to start. It's broken down in really easy to follow sections showing how to doa variety of different stitches, although it does use a lot of shorthand, which as a total novice i found really confusing, irrelevant of how many times I checked what they each meant. I think being a book for beginners it really should focus more on the very basics of this craft

This is a lovely book if you are starting out with your crochet. It explains how to do the new stitches in an easy to understand description. It is also a good book if you have been crocheting for a while as there might be stitches in here that you have not come across before.

This book has something for everyone- from newbies to more seasoned crocheters. I consider myself an intermediate crocheter and I learned some new stitches with this book. The pictures are also very helpful!
Many thanks to NetGalley for this book. My options are my own.

As someone who knows the crochet basics and is after inspiration for what to learn next, this is great. I like how each pattern is explained with a photo, AND a pattern diagram, AND in writing, to cover all the bases for how people visualise the patterns best. There's lots of really cool stuff here and I can't wait to give these a try.

Very approachable stitch bible for crochet. I appreciated the photo examples of each stitch style, along with explanations and diagrams. The openwork / lace section was particularly inspiring, and I appreciated the inclusion of multiple styles of edging as well. Very accessible for new crocheters, and a good general resource for yarncrafters.

I’m trying to teach myself how to crochet. This seems like a good next step after I teach myself. It doesn’t teach you from the ground up.

But I appreciate all of the different stitching and the symbols explained. A lot of times that’s missing in books or instructions.

The book is super colorful and captures your attention, I will come back to it once I’m at a more advanced state!

After years of teaching myself to knit, I recently started learning crochet for more of the amigurumi projects and that kicked off a new obsession. So I was excited to pick this up and get some more ideas on stitches to try out and was really pleased with how easy this was to follow even as a fairly novice crocheter. This really isn't a guide on how to crochet, but it is a great stitch dictionary for those who are at least a little familiar with the basic skills.

The bulk of the book is a list of different stitches, each with a picture of a square of the completed design and instructions in both text and the international symbol diagram format. I'm completely unfamiliar with the symbol format so I appreciate that it also has a resources section showing different techniques that are referenced in the stitches as well as how to read the symbols.

If you're curious to learn more crochet stitches and want an easy reference, this is definitely a good dictionary to pick up!

I enjoyed going through this book. I am relatively new to crochet. This book is full of beautiful stitches that are fun to attempt. However, many stitches are not suitable for a true novice. I just learned how to read patterns and was able to follow directions for quite a few without too much trouble. I look forward to buying this book in person so that I can use it to continue to build on my patterns and stitches.

These books from Melissa Leapman are a pair of stitch dictionaries for beginner to advanced crochet artists. She provides patterns that can serve as the starting point for designing patterns, or for personalizing others' designs. The patterns offer a range of complexity, but they are broken down into easy to use steps, both charted and written. In the back of the books are detailed drawings of the various stitch techniques (for those of us old-school enough to prefer drawings over online videos!)

I'm a lifelong knitter, with only basic crochet skills, but I found these books intriguing and accessible. I see a pile of sampler/dish cloths in my near future!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A fabulous little resource book aimed at the who are relatively new to the art of crochet. It takes the basic stitches and offers a multitude of options to elevate your work.
I liked the layout and the clear illustrations at the back for the typed of stitches. What could be improved on was the use of a symbol which appeared to indicate that the pattern was reversible. You had to carefully read the starting section to find this, especially as the symbol was not included here to illustrate or clarify what the author was on about. This symbol needed to be included at that point.
Another bugbear was the stitch key. This is at the back of the book. That may be fine if it is a physical book but as it is being sold also as a eBook allowances must be made to have the stitch key more accessible. For example having a key to the stitches being used on the relevant pages. Not all beginners are familiar with all the stitches and trying to find a key in an ebook can be particularly annoying. Both of these points have previously been highlighted my by students when we have been assessing other crochet books for the progression class.