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.
I am a crochet newbie and very much still learning. I love finding new resources to help expand my skills.
Ooo pretty book.
Would love to win. This looks to be a must for every hooker’s library.
I’d love to win a copy of this book. I really want to learn some new stitches, instead of relying on the granny square and shells. Thank you
This sounds like the perfect book for me! I can crochet but it’s been forever and I’ve forgotten a lot!
I love to learn new things especially new crochet stitches
This sounds like an awesome book to add to my collection. It would be great to have a physical book to look at. So much is on the web now!
Looks like a great resource!
This book sounds amazing! What a great resource to have when creating new and innovative patterns.
This would be ideal for me as I am attempting a new crochet stitch every day for 100 days. I’m inspired by the Skull-A-Day project I recently learned of. It urges creating one small thing everyday to encourage exercising a your own creativity regularly, hopefully daily, with a small easily achievable goal.
Always ready to learn something new or something old that is new again. Patterns and stitches on the internet are fine but there is nothing alike a cup of coffee and a beautiful book of stitches and designs to pass the time.
The colorwork stitches sound especially interesting to me.
Learning new stitches, the stitches on the cover are so pretty.
Love an in depth crochet dictionary, thanks for the give away.
Her patterns outstanding! Would love to get a copy of this book!
I want to try lace stitches and the thicket stitch. 🙂
I have crocheted for many years but do not own a single stitch dictionary. I used to just check out books from the library, and now when I need to find/learn a new stitch I use the internet. I always feel like I need to get some good stitch dictionaries though, as the internet is not always available for one reason or another and the library’s collection of crafting books has shrunk drastically since a new head librarian was hired.
i think the term eye candy is pretty good for this type of book, just a pleasure to look throughand learn from
I love stitch collection books. This would be a great one to have. Thank you for having a giveaway!
One of the first things I thought of when I saw this beautiful looking book was the movie “Julie & Julia”. The girl in the movie made all Julia Childs’ recipes from Julia’s famous cookbook. It would be so interesting and fun to do the same thing with Melissa Leapman’s lovely book!
I love to crochet and if I can’t be doing it I will read it. I spend many hours reading patterns, magazines and books to learn more and to be better. This book would be great reading.
My crochet skills are still minimal, but I’d like to expand them. A good stitchionary is just what I need. I could do some stitch swatches as dish cloths or coasters and improve my skills.
I love stitches which are a variation on the basics, like herringbone and shallow front post, also the alternative double etc. Easy to rememberr but so effective. I’m sure there must be many more and it would be good to see them all together. I do enjoy your posts so thank you and good luck for the future.
I love perusing different stitches and creating beautiful sampler afghans. This would be a perfect book!
Thank you and Happy Crocheting in the New Year.
I love a good stitch dictionary. I’m always trying out new stitches.
I’m a new crocheter, so I’d love to learn any new stitches!
I am very interested in owning a crochet stitch dictionary.
I love the colorwork stiches!: )
This looks like it would be a wonderful addition to any crafter’s library. I have been crocheting for years and considered myself an advanced beginner to intermediate crocheter. However, after suffering a traumatic brain injury in 2010, I now sometimes struggle with simple patterns. I would love this book to learn about colorwork and also reading symbols in charts.
Would love to learn new some new stiches.
Looks like a wonderful book for expanding my crochet skills. I’d love to win it!
I left the best crochet book I had at a hotel in Phoenix about two years ago. I need another book with special stitches and helpful hints!
as someone who is not a very experienced crocheter, this book could clarify doubts about such things as increasing, decreasing and types of stitches… looks very useful
I love crochet stitch books! This would be a great one to add to my collection.
I would love to see all the edgings. The book sounds interesting would love to see and try the stitches.
WOW! I would love to have that book. I love the challenges of new stitches and different looks. I have learned so much from using the basic stitches in different ways. So neat! I would love to try more!!!
Something new to do, stretching my skills, beautiful colored patterns on the front of the book, and when you are done with all the samples, you have a project you can keep or give away. I like that! It’s enough to make you “lick your lips.”
A newbie ‘hooker’, I need a resource like this!
Even though there are so many great online resources, for me, nothing is better than a book in hand. This stitch guide seems to be perfect!
The format is wonderful, having the categories of stitch patterns to follow and learn. Of course I would love to win this book! If I don’t win, how can I purchase it?
I would love to have this book to give as a gift to a friend who is learning to crochet. She has gone from potholders to hats and is doing great. She has expressed a desire to purchase a book such as this when she can afford it. What a great way to encourage her to keep crocheting.
I would love to have this book. I am a beginner almost intermediate crocheter. It would be so nice to have how to do stitches at hand.
This could be an ultimate resource. I make many gifts throughout the year and stitches from this book would continue to make each one of them unique and special for the person or persons receiving it. Right now I am donating baby blankets.
I think the organization of this book will be the most helpful in using it. I have other stitch guides that use single, double, treble and then granny square, tunisian, etc.
I find the pictures of Ms. Leapman’s books very helpful; somtimes there is difficulty in just following the words or symbols of a pattern, to see the pictures help a great deal to us visual learners.
I am newly retired and one of my goals is to learn to crochet. I love that this book will take me from simple to more complex patterns. Thanks for sharing your knowledge!
I would love this book. After crocheting for over 40 years, I still never tire of learning new stitches and techniques.
I have been crocheting for many years and need to up my skills to create some of the new patterns. This sound like just the book to help me do this.
This looks like a great addition to any library.
What a lovely prize opportunity. Although not a new crocheter, I suffer from low self esteem and a book like this would help me keep on top of my craft, and encourage me to stretch my capabilitieson and use new, beautiful stitches. Many thanks for letting me share the opportunity xx
I’ve crocheted for over 40 years but I’m learning more stitches & techniques almost daily!! I’m amazed at all the stitch variations I’ve come across in the last 5 years & try to practice them when I can. Winning this book would be a boost!!