Every Which Way Crochet Borders Book Review, Free Pattern, and Giveaway
By Rachel Choi – 131 Comments
I’m so excited to be apart of the blog tour for Every Which Way Crochet Borders – 139 Patterns for Customized Edgings by Edie Eckman. In this post I’ll start with a complete review of the book with my honest option so that you can decide if the book is right for you. Then I’ll include a free pattern excerpted from the book (thank you Storey Publishing). Finally, there will be a free giveaway for you to enter to win a copy of the book. This will be a loooooong post, so feel free to jump around to any section that interests you!
Book Review
As the title states, Every Which Way Crochet Borders contains 139 border patterns. Holy moly! That’s probably more border patterns than you will ever use in your lifetime. The variety of patterns to choose from has a wide range, from reversible, wide, narrow, layered, motifs, textured, or even fringy. The collection is like none other. If you need a pattern to finish off your blanket or other project, it’s probably in this book.
Book Layout
Like most books, it starts with general information that most people tend to skip over. This includes suggestions on how to choose your yarn and color, customizing the borders, working around different fabrics, working around corners or other odd shapes, and stitch count. I would recommend at least skimming through the beginning section before getting starting on the border patterns, or come back to these tutorials if you run into any problems while crocheting the borders. 139 patterns make up the body of the book (more on this later). Jump to the appendix of the book if you don’t want to flip through all 139 pages to choose a pattern. The appendix contains a 4 pages photo directory of all the crochet patterns and has a table of attributes so that you can choose a pattern based on reversibility, width, and other fabric characteristics. You can also find other tutorials, such as how to read the crochet patterns and symbols.
The Patterns
As a pattern writer, I’ve come across a lot of patterns that are well written and a lot that are not. I’m happy to say, the patterns in this book are well written and edited. Not all of the crochet patterns are easy to crochet though. Depending on someone’s skill level, some patterns will naturally be more difficult to understand if they are complex. Fortunately, every pattern has a stitch diagram with symbols. So even someone who doesn’t enjoy reading patterns or perhaps doesn’t read English, can crochet the pattern as long as they understand the diagram.
See the free crochet pattern excerpted from the book below to get an idea of the pattern writing style. You can also sneak peak a bunch of patterns from the book for free by going to Amazon and using the “Look Inside” feature and also clicking on the sample photos provided.
Is This Book For You?
Yes, if you can use a well written book that contains a lot of border patterns. The book has plenty of variety to choose from. No, if you do not use border patterns often. I would recommend the book for someone who has previous experience with crochet. Although the book contains tutorials for crocheting, it does not have a “how to crochet” section for absolute beginners. Most of the patterns seem to be at an intermediate to advanced skill level, with a few at an easy skill level.
Free Crochet Pattern
This border pattern is #32 in the book. I really like this pattern because of the whimsical colors used in the sample photo and it is a great design for items you want to add a lacy feel. You can crochet it with 3 different colors, like in the sample, or use one color for a solid border. Thank you Storey Publishing for letting us publish this pattern on the blog!
Stitches & Notes
Picot-3: Ch 3, slip st in third chain from hook.
V-st (V-stitch): (Dc, ch 1, dc) in st or space indicated.
Base rnd, each side: Multiple of 6 + 3 + corners.
Begin 5Â sts to left of corner st.
Rnd 1: Ch 1, sc in first st, ch 3, skip 2 sts, *V-st in next st, [ch 3, skip 2 sts, sc in next st, ch 3, skip 2 sts, V-st in next st] to 1 st before corner, ch 3, skip 1 st, sc in corner st, ch 3, skip 1 st; rep from * around, ending last rep V-st in next st, ch 3, skip 2 sts, join with slip st to first sc.
Rnd 2: Ch 1, sc in same st, *ch 3, (dc, ch 3, dc) in center of next V-st, ch 3, sc in next sc; rep from * around, omitting last sc, join with slip st to first sc.
Rnd 3: Ch 1, sc in same st, *ch 3, skip ch-3 space, (3 dc, picot-3, 3 dc) in next ch-3 space, ch 3, sc in next sc; rep from * around, omitting last sc, join with slip st to first sc. Fasten off.
Excerpted from Every Which Way Crochet Borders © by Edith L. Eckman. Photography by John Polak. Diagram by Karen Manthey. Used with permission from Storey Publishing.
Giveaway
It’s giveaway time!!! If you’re excited about having your own copy of Every Which Way Crochet Borders then you’re in luck to win a free copy. Here is how to enter:
- To enter into the giveaway, simply leave a comment below on this post.
- Please only 1 entry per person, as multiple entries will be deleted.
- This giveaway is restricted to the U.S. since the book will be mailed directly from Storey Publishing.
- A winner will be randomly selected on March 1, 2017.
Good luck everyone!
P.S. You can also enter to win this book by following the blog tour! Other blogs on the tour will also have giveaways, so feel free to visit them too.
I would love to win this book! Looks great!
This looks awesome, love having the diagrams to follow. Can’t wait to try out some borders. Thanks Rachel!
Looks like a lot of crocheters would like to have this book…and so would I.
After reading your review, I checked out the preview on Amazon. This looks like a well-written and well-edited book with lots of new information about borders (for me). I would treasure a copy. Kindle version would be fine if hard copies are limited. 🙂
I would love to own a copy of this, I’ve always wanted to put fancy borders on artwork and such!
I’m glad to see it has both written directions and diagrams. I recently bought an edgings book that turned out to require reading diagrams over written instructions and I didn’t have much luck with that.
I’m all for learning new techniques! Would love a copy of this book.
I would love to have this book. Thanks for the review.
I love Edie Eckman’s work. I have a few of her earlier books so would love to win this to add to my collection. Thanks for the chance to win it.
This book will save me lot of hours since I would not need to look on the internet. I have heard of her work, but the book looks real interesting. I would love to win it
I’m so excited for this book!
Thank you for the opportunity to win a crochet book! This would be a nice addition to my collection. Fingers crossed!
Looks like a great book! Thanks for the giveaway!
This is great timing for me! I’ve just completed a toddler sized afghan and it needs a special border.
Thanks for bringing this to our attention!
Thank you for the Bonus pattern above. I love the other book I have by you and can’t wait to get this one. I really would love to win this book.
Thank you for offering this.
this free pattern is beautiful so i can just imagine how lovely the rest of the book is going to be. Thank you again Rachel for this great opportunity to win this 🙂
I would love this book. I hope I win!!!!
I am a huge fan!!!! Can’t wait to see this bookâ¤ï¸
I would love to win this book, thank you.
I am just picking up crochet and this looks like a gorgeous book. I always prefer the physical book over Internet stuff. Yes, I am an oldie!
I’ve read a lot of good reviews about this book. I’d love to add it to my library!
Perfect addition to any library.
Would just st like to say good luck to everyone.
New to crocheting. Not got as far as adding borders to my projects this book would be great to further improve my work.
I loved Edie’s first border book. It would be great to have a matched set.
Thanks for the giveaway!
Cheers,
Shauna
I would love to have this book so I can do different boarders on my work.
I would love to have this book as I am in new to crochet and have so much to learn. I made a baby blanket for my new granddaughter and, of course, I had to learn a border; this book would be great for helping me with my ongoing and future projects. Borders add so much beauty to any project.
I attach crochet borders to everything I make! This book would be great for new and exciting borders to crochet!! WooHoo!!!!
What a beautiful book! I would love to win it!
Beautiful way to add an awesomeness to any project! Thanks for the chance to win!
What an excellent resource! I love the spiral binding and the directory and the attributes listings — all brilliant!
Would love the book. Have often wondered how to do them but i live in a very rural area and have no one to help w doing them.
I have used Edie Eckman’s previous book on borders until it is dog eared. It is very well written and illustrated. Can’t imagine where she gets all the ideas for a new one!
Thank you for the nice review. Looks like a great book to have in one’s library.
I could use some fresh ideas for borders. I like the spiral binding too.
These look like really interesting and fun borders. A lot more exciting than the ones in my old black and white crochet book that I learned from years ago. It would be great to update my archive.
I have been searching for borders and edge ideas, and I would just love to win this book!!
Gorgeous and useful book I’d love to own!
Going to be making some new pillowcases and these designs would be lovely trims.
Such pretty borders. I’d love to try some of them. 🙂
I would love to have this book and try some of these more advanced borders. Thank you.
~ ♡ Wowser, Thank you for the Awesome Giveaway, I’d love to learn all that I can, these borders are Ahhmmzzzzing and Awesome ♡ ~
Hi, i would love to enter to win the book. Thanks.
I would love to get this book! Thanks for the giveaway!
What a fantabulous give away!!
Weather old or new to crocheting,anyone would LOVE such a gift!
Thank You for such a Beautiful book â¤â¤â¤
Beautiful charts! Gorgeous photos
Dont know why i even try……
What an awesome book! I would love to win! Thank you for the opportunity!
I would love this book. I have been wanting to put borders on some receiving blankets.
Borders are my biggest challenge! Would truly love this book to help me!!
Would love to win this book! I am always looking for edges for my crochet projects. Thanks for the chance to win.