The Most Helpful Crochet Books:  

Crochet Books     by Janice Jones    

Which are the best crochet books on the market today?

Not an easy question. There are so many of them. Do you really need a book to learn to crochet?

Books are helpful for a number of reasons:

• Use a book as a ready reference for a specific stitch
• Use a book to help you determine if your crochet looks as it should
• Use a book to keep tabs on your progress as a crochet lover

The books on this page have a lot in common.  First they are my favorites, but for very good reasons.

Crochet books should be:

• Easy to understand
• Full of real illustrations and photographs
• Help solve crocheting problems
• Inspiring and helpful for new projects

Why Buy Crochet Books?

There are a lot of crocheting techniques and a lot of talented people who bring us their experiences and knowledge.  If you decide to invest in a few good books, I hope the ones I've mentioned on this page will help you out.

A few words of caution. Please keep in mind that all of us are different. Some people consider that the best way to learn is by reading and looking at a book. Others need a video or a hands-on in person class.

Here are some of my favorite crochet books. I usually look for the books which provide me some "fundamental" and solid information that I can't get on the web or YouTube. This kind of information allows a crocheter to experience more freedom in his/her designs.

The better you understand the basics of classical design, the more creative ideas and inspiration they will provide. 

You can always pick up a pattern and follow it from top to bottom without ever having to think about it.  But what if you want to go further and make some modifications or changes that reflect your own creativity. 

Learning all the basics from a book may be very helpful.

Amazon has tons of them for much more reasonable price than a regular retail store. Their customers reviews are also extremely helpful.

Favorite Crochet Books To Check Out

Crochet Stitch Books

Books on crochet stitches can be a wonderful addition to your craft library.  Here are a few of my favorite:

Basic Crochet Stitches:  250 stitches to crochet, edited by Erika Knight (Part of the Harmony Guides)

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The Big Book of Crochet Stitches: 350+ Stitches, by Jean Leinhauser and Rita Weiss

Best for Beginners and Beyond

Ultimate Crochet Bible: A Complete Reference with Step-by-Step Techniques 

This is not a pattern book, but rather a comprehensive review of a huge selection of crochet techniques presented in text, diagram and colorful photographs. If you are the type of person who wants to learn new stitches, this is the book for you. 

After working through the basics, this crochet book delves into tunisian and entrelac crocket, working with color, beads, and sequins and then covers embellishments and professional finishing techniques.  There is a little something for every crocheter from the very beginner to advanced.  A great reference book to have on hand.

Ultimate Crochet Bible: A Complete Reference with Step-by-Step Techniques:  Check Price on Amazon

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Donna Kooler's Encyclopedia of Crochet

A classic but still very helpful for today's enthusiastic crocheters.

Check Price on Amazon

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Crochet Techniques & Tips Spiral-bound – February 3, 2014

This is a short, but powerful crochet book that every beginner will benefit from because it features 20 stitches in easy to understand directions and illustrations. 

It's meant for the beginner, but any intermediate crocheter will find it helpful as well as a quick reference for those stitches that one may not encounter every day.

Crochet Techniques & Tips Spiral Bound

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Teach Yourself VISUALLY Crochet Paperback 

I'm often wary of books that are associated with a common publishing line,  such as the Teach Yourself Visually product line, but this book caught my eye for it's excellent photographs of techniques, stitches, and cleverly chosen crochet patterns.

Beyond the great illustrations, I found this crochet book to include all the basics in learning the craft, but going further into techniques that I consider well beyond the beginner stage.  

Even if you aren't interested in making cute little critters, or baby items, there are still plenty of patterns that might spark your interest.

Teach Yourself VISUALLY Crochet Paperback 

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A to Z Crochet

This book is the go to guide for different stitches, but don't expect to get a wealth of instructions on specific patterns.  As a book, I recommend this to the advanced beginner to intermediate crocheters as it provides plenty of drawings and tutorials, but may be a bit to vague for the absolute beginner.

This book covers topics such as how to crochet in the round and how to add fun edges to your blankets and scarves.  There are so many topics covered that it is difficult to include them all here.  Color changes, weaving in ends, adding texture and beads are just a few of to tutorials you'll find in this volume.

A to Z Crochet

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The Crochet Answer Book: Solutions to Every Problem You'll Ever Face; Answers to Every Question You'll Ever Ask

Here's a little book chocked full of valuable information and advice, written by a knit and crochet master.  It's small enough to fit in your crochet bag and can be used to learn a new technique, review or check your knowledge.  A must have for anyone truly interested in crochet.

The Crochet Answer Book

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How To Crochet 

By Emma Varnam, this is truly a beginner's book to crochet techniques.  It has everything an absolute beginner needs including descriptions of tools, explanations of ball bands and yarn, to techniques and project.  There's plenty of photographs and illustrations to make each lesson clear and understanding.

How To Crochet 

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Complete Crochet Course:  The Ultimate Reference Guide

This may have been the very first crochet book I purchaseed.  Written by Shannon and Jason Mullett-Bowlsby, this book covers just about everything a beginning crocheter needs, but doesn't stop there. 

For more advanced crocheters, there are tutorials on how to do motifs, cables, colorwork and finishing techniques.  It's nicely illustrated with step-by-step tutorials on many different stitches and techniques. A good addition to any crafter's library.

Complete Crochet Course

Crochet Books About Specific Techniques

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TUNISIAN Crochet - Vol. 1: Basic & Textured Stitches (TUNISIAN Crochet Stitches) 

If you're ready to try something new, Tunisian Crochet might be just the think.  This is the first in a series of 3 volumes that help you get comfortable with the technique and the various stitches. 

Don't be discouraged by the small size of this book.  It's full of illustrations and directions for making stitches.  If you like Tunisian Crochet, you might even decide to check out Volume Two and Three.

TUNISIAN Crochet

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Crochet One-Skein Wonders®: 101 Projects from Crocheters around the World Paperback 

This book is mainly about little projects that you can make quickly using your existing yarn.  I like it because the book is organized by the weight of yarn needed for the project rather than specific projects themselves. 

So, for example if you have accumulated tons of medium or worsted weight yarn, you can thumb through the patterns that take that weight of yarn.  The book does contain a glossary that covers basic techniques with illustrations and directions.

Crochet One-Skein Wonders

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Whimsical Stitches: A Modern Makers Book of Amigurumi Crochet Patterns

If you've seen these cute little creatures, you may decide that it's time to learn Amigurumi and this is a great book to learn some great techniques.  With great photographs, easy to understand directions and clear illustrations, you'll be making these cute designs in no time.  This is just one of Lauren Espy's books.  You may want to check out Crochet Cafe and Tiny World Crochet

Whimsical Stitches

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201 Crochet Motifs, Blocks, Projects and Ideas

So much of the fun of crocheting involves making little shapes or squares that can be either a stand-alone project or sewn together to create a larger masterpiece. 

Here's one book that not only offers tutorials but provides a very large assortments of patterns.  Each project is clear with easy to follow instructions.  Most patterns provide both written and chart diagrams. 

201 Crochet Motifs, Blocks, Projects and Ideas

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Crocheting in Plain English: The Only Book any Crocheter Will Ever Need 

Maggie Righetti is a certified knitting and crochet instructor and her books are considered classics in these areas.  I have both this one and Knitting in Plain English and refer to them often. 

Both were written in the early part of the century and may not have all the colors, bells and whistles of books written in 2021, still, her advice and wisdom is timeless.  

Crocheting in Plain English

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Crochet: Over 130 Techniques and Stitches

This is an all-round great beginner book that covers all the basics and beyond. It covers over 130 techniques with photographs, directions and illustrations and provides a variety of projects to help you learn and practice the techniques. 

The projects, for the most part provide written instructions, but there is a section on learning to read stitch charts.  Unfortunately the stitch charts are small and difficult to see.  Over all, this is a great book that you can use to learn to crochet, or as a general reference for reviewing techniques.

Crochet: Over 130 Techniques and Stitches

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The Go-To Book for Irish Crochet Motifs

You know what they say, "what's old is new again," and Irish Crochet was once a household word.  Now, it is making is resurgence because crafters are rediscovering how beautiful lace can be. 

Finding vintage patterns may be one way to learn these techniques, but most of us find it difficult to follow old pattern books.  They are either difficult to read, have unfamiliar terminology or seem to leave out important details.  I, for one have a difficult time following any books that are completely in black and white with poor illustrations and photographs.  

This book solves all of these problems. Now we can enjoy these "old" designs in a way that is understandable.  This is not a beginner book but for anyone who is curious, this is the best book I've found.

The Go-To Book for Irish Crochet Motifs

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Granny Square Academy: Take your beginner crochet skills to the next level

Granny squares may not be totally beginner-friendly, but it's likely the first thing that beginners learn to make.  Here's a book that provides step-by-step instructions and all the photographs and drawings you need to make granny squares, your next-best-crochet technique.

Granny Square Academy: Take your beginner crochet skills to the next level

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Crochet Techniques & Tips Spiral-bound

I debated whether to add this little crochet book, but the price was right and I felt it had enough information to  provide a solid foundation for someone learning crochet for the first time.  It's spiral-bound which makes it an ideal book to lay flat and work with.  The illustrations are clear and directions well-written.  For anyone on a tight budget, this is the perfect "starter book" for your crochet library.

Crochet Techniques & Tips Spiral-bound

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Disclosure:   This post contains affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase from one of these links I will get a small  commission.

Hi, there, I'm Janice, the voice behind this website and avid knitter and crochet enthusiast. I want to share my passion with you and help you learn how to knit or crochet, smarter.

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