Book Review & Giveaway: Melissa Leapman’s Indispensable Stitch Collection for Crocheters

By Caissa "Cami" McClinton – 162 Comments

Melissa Leapman is fiber arts royalty as a prolific and celebrated designer. Known for knitting as well as crochet, Leapman has built a robust career with over 1000 published patterns in print. Her wealth of design experience serves as a foundation for her beautiful, new reference book, Melissa Leapman’s Indispensable Stitch Collection for Crocheters. Read on to find out a bit about the book, and to see how you can win a copy!






In this 176-page book, we are introduced to a comprehensive collection of crochet stitch patterns divided in to six categories: Simple Solid Patterns, Shell and Fan Stitch Patterns, Openwork and Lace Patterns, Textured Patterns, Colorwork Patterns, and Edgings. There is also a useful resource guide in the back of the book with information about reading symbols, basic stitches, and abbreviations. These features combined with Leapman’s introduction with useful tips about how to use the stitch patterns make this not only a useful, but also a fun addition to your crochet library.

I have seen (and I own) a great deal of crochet stitch dictionaries. I can say from experience that this is a very high quality reference to have on hand. There are beautiful color photos of each example, along with crochet symbol charts and written directions. The stitches move from simple to complex, so it’s a good learn-as-you-go type of book.

If you’ve pledged to increase your crochet skills in 2017, then why not let this book be your guide? If you crochet a swatch of each pattern you’ll have a huge skill boost and a collection of pretty squares to join!

In order to win your copy, enter by commenting on this post until January 31, 2016. I’ll contact the winner via email afterwords.

What about this book sounds best to you? Is there a certain type of crochet stitch you’d like to explore? Please leave your thoughts, ideas and questions in the comment section below.

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162 Comments

  1. Nancy Janda says:

    I spin yarn for myself, my friends and most folks who ask nicely. 😉 I can knit simple items, but I’d love to get past single and double crochet stitches! This book would be a wonderful resource; it’s certainly a good match for the Crochet Spot website!

  2. Debv says:

    I am a crochet addict. I love learning new stitches and applying them to projects and patterns you wouldn’t necessarily think would work. Funky purses, blankets, toys and even clothing (if you can get the gauge right). Having a “stitch bible” would rock!!

  3. Collette says:

    I teach crochet classes at our local Senior Center, and at an apartment complex for elderly and disabled people. This book would be an ideal teaching tool!

  4. Joy Barnett says:

    I would love to win this book. I have a partially done baby blanket that belongs to a friend. Her great grandmother started it a long time ago and it was found, with the remaining yarn, in a sack, after her passing. It was found without the pattern. I have been searching for a matching pattern so I can finally finish it for her family. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if this book contains the correct pattern?

  5. Amy Kiernan says:

    I would love to win this book. Im a fairly new crocheter. I could learn a lot with this book.

  6. Jan says:

    I recently bought a magazine because I noticed in the introduction it had stitch teaching sections listed by texture, color mixtures, and lace. It talked about bobbles, mesh, and tulip stitch all in one paragraph. I thought this was what I was looking for! I brought it home, and found it is a British magazine. Especially being left-handed, Melissa’s book would be so much more informative and much less difficult to translate. Plus I want to know how to crochet by symbols more than instructions since newer patterns are available this way. Having been a basic functional crocheter, I am being called upon to be more creative all the time, and I need this book to help me try to please the expanding people group who receive my gifts and charity. This tremendous book would be an asset and adventure for crocheting life.

  7. Carmen N says:

    Edgings are often where I feel at a loss. Sounds like a wonderful book all around.

  8. Debra Phillips says:

    Ooh this looks like a great tool to have. Thanks for the opportunity to win!

  9. Sara says:

    I have been stuck in the single, half-double, double stitches. I have done a couple patterns with the front post/back post treble and puff stitch, but that’s about as adventurous as I’ve gotten so far!

  10. I have been crocheting off and on for a couple of years now and am ready to start branching out to do even more designs. This looks like a great way for me to broaden my horizons! Thank you for the opp!

  11. Raye says:

    Love love love!!!

  12. Elizabeth says:

    I would very much enjoy a book like this. I love experimenting with new crochet stitches.