Book Review & Giveaway: Melissa Leapman’s Indispensable Stitch Collection for Crocheters
By Caissa "Cami" McClinton – 162 CommentsMelissa 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.
Would love to win this book and try the idea of making swatches and joining to form a blanket. Hope it’s open to Australian residents 🙂
Omg
See… this is why I absolutely LOVE this website!!!
I would really love to win this!!!!
I’m an absolute beginner in crochet (as in many other skills), and would love to win this book! From what I can understand, it’s very useful for beginners and skilled “crocheters” alike. I could really benefit from a little inspired teaching!
I definitely would love this book! Thanks!
This looks like a must-have book! I would love to own it! Thanks for the chance to win it!
This book looks wonderful. I’d love to have copy. Thanks!
New to crocheting and would be excited to win this book! Thank you
I would love to win this book! I recently began crocheting again, and really am enjoying it. I’m looking forward to learning more and for me, reading is the best way. Looking forward to many more projects!
Awesome! I love crocheting different stitches to see what cool pattern they make. The would be a great addition to my crocheting endeavors!!
Would absolutely love this, I’ve been crocheting for years, self taught, this book would b amazing… Thx
I enjoy crocheting very much and would love to win a copy of this book. Thanks for the chance.
You can never have too many books
I considered buying this book just this weekend but I was already spending too much money on yarns and such, so I didn’t do so. Would love to have this as a reference book for all the crocheting I am going to be doing with the yarn I ordered this weekend.
I’d love to be able to add this book to my collection. =>/<=
Love the stitches mentioned in this book. Hope I win!! Good luck to me!
Sounds like an awesome book everyone should have. Jane
I have an ancient stitch pattern book with ancient b&w photos for knitting and crochet. Since this one is at least 20 years old, a new updated book would be a nice cozy read on a rainy day. Internet patterns are nice but I’m still a book person.
How great it would be to win a fantastic handbook of stitches with many I have seen but would love to try! Especially with new granddaughter on the way!
I would love to have a copy of this book.
I love to learn new crochet stitches, awesome book & giveaway
What a great prize to win. As a newbie to crochet I believe this would be a great asset, I’ve got a couple of starter books and think that I’m ready to progress in my hooking, and I’ll have a great Afghan to go with it! I’ve not been brave enough yet to do a blanket/afghan!
I hope that the competition is open to the UK,
Good luck everyone
Vanessa
I truly think this book is awesome if i won this i would use the different stitches that i had learnt from it to make things like a stitch sampler blanket which would be adorable or even cushion covers the idea’s would be endless.
looks great, would love to win!!!!![as i’m sure so would everyone else!!!!}
I like this collection of stitches. Would be a great addition to my knowledge of stitches!
Fingers crossed, hoping I win!
like everyone else I would like this book also
I enjoyed reading about this book. From what I’m reading it is a comprehensive book on the various stitches in crochet. It would be nice to have such a book. Thus far I’ve had to purchase several books to get the information I’m looking for. Good pictures would be an added plus. I tend to learn better if I can see it as well as written. It sounds like this book is just what I’m looking for!
Ican crochet basic sts want to learn more quickly as my sight is failing
I’m always looking for new ideas to make crochet more interesting….this book is fabulous! thanks for the opportunity to win.
I love books like this one. Thanks for the chance
This book would be awesome to have and share with others in my group. Always someone looking for new ideas.
lol If I had this book, no one would see me until at least summer!! I’d finally have an excuse for hibernating! Thanks!
I would love to add this book to my collection! My grandmother taught me to crochet many years ago, and I’d love to be able to have a quick reference to brush up on my skills.
I left my favorite instruction book with all sorts of edgings, special stitches, example patterns at a hotel in Phoenix, Az. last year and need a replacement!
I would love to win this book so I can learn more stitches. Thank you for the opportunity,
I am an avid crocheter and would love to win this awesome book. Thank you for this giveaway.
This book looks awesome. I love to learn new skills. Thanks for the chance to enter your drawing.
I would love to win this book as I am always looking for instructions to crochet new stitches. Thank you
With a new grandson to crochet for this book would really come in handy!
I just started crocheting by teaching myself and this book would be such help!! Can’t wait to see this book-sounds awesome 🙂 2 scarves down, where will I go next?
I’ve been crocheting for over 35 years, and every time I run across an unfamiliar stitch, I need to leaf through all of the little papers I’ve saved over the years–clippings torn from magazines and how-to-crochet books–until if I’m lucky I find the stitch I’m looking for. Having all of the stitches gathered together in one book would be a great convenience, and it would be even convenient to have them subdivided according to the type of stitch.
This book would be a useful reference for my crochet class that I teach.
I really love reading stitches in symbol form, so I would love to read up more on that!
I would absolutely LOVE to win this! Thanks for the opportunity.
Omg! I can’t wait to see who is going to win this wealth of information! It looks like such a marvelous book. I would love to peek inside! I have books here at home, but they are still missing certain stitches that I would love to learn. I am a visual learner, and must have pictures in front of me to really be assured I am doing it right. This book looks like it would cover them all. Good luck everyone.
I’m interested in the textured stitches the most. However, I’d like to learn how to read diagrams too. I’ve been crocheting for 33 years and taught myself to read patterns; that was years of patience and practice. Thanks for making this book!!!!
I would love to have this book. It looks like a great learning tool and reference for future use.
I’d love to win this book, as I am learning how to crochet more things and this book would be a good book to have to use in my learning crochet. I also love Crochet Spot!!!
I could use a book like this. I always have to find an example of the stitch before crocheting a new pattern. This would be convenient.
Would love to win this book. Thanks for the chance.