“500 Crochet Stitches” — Book Review

I’m a sucker for a good stitch dictionary, and 500 Crochet Stitches is one of my favorites. It’s so fun to look at new combinations of stitches and see what kind of fabric they make. Sometimes I search for a stitch pattern that matches a specific look I have in mind (e.g. lacy, or triangular shapes). Other times, I just browse until I find something striking and imagine how I could use that stitch in a project. Let’s crack this book open and have a look!

NOTE: I am not affiliated with this author/publisher, and none of the links in this review are affiliate links. This means I am not compensated in any way for this review, nor do I earn a commission if you click on a link to make a purchase.

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500 Crochet Stitches: The Ultimate Crochet Stitch Bible

“Although there is a wealth of ideas in this book, you can think of it as just a starting point for your own creativity.”

500 Crochet Stitches, page 6

Overview

There are three main sections in this pretty book, with some instructional material at the beginning.

The first section, “Basic stitches,” is by far my favorite. This where I spend most of my time in this book, looking at stitch patterns and their swatches.

The second section, “Motifs,” is pretty good. I haven’t made any of them, although there are some beautiful ones. I have another favorite book for motifs that I prefer over this one, so I don’t spend much time in this section.

The third and last section is dedicated to “Edgings & trims.” I’ve used several edgings from 500 Crochet Stitches and been very happy with them.

Instructional Material

I rarely refer to these opening chapters, but when I do, it’s usually to remind myself of the differences between bobbles, popcorns, and puffs. (They won’t stick in my head!) I believe these chapters would be helpful for beginners because they’re comprehensive and very clear.

In its opening chapters, 500 Crochet Stitches will show you:

• US and metric size charts for steel and aluminum crochet hooks.
• How to hold the yarn and hook.
• The basics from making a slip knot to a treble stitch. Each stitch is listed with the US term, its abbreviation, its diagram symbol, and step-by-step instructions with illustrations.
• How to make fabric: “These are the basic procedures for making crochet fabrics—the things that crochet patterns sometimes assume you know” (page 16).
• Stitch variations (e.g. filet crochet, crossed stitches).
• A short introduction to Irish crochet.
• Tips for reading patterns and stitch diagrams.

There are example swatches sprinkled throughout these chapters to show off some of the concepts being discussed. Overall, it’s a very easy to understand how-to section.

Section One: Basic stitches

According to the Introduction, “The emphasis here is on texture…” (page 6), which this section does a good job of showing. For every stitch pattern I see, I’m tempted to make a whole blanket!

For each stitch pattern, there’s a color photo of a swatch worked in a fine mercerized cotton, so the stitch definition is great. This is followed by written instructions and a stitch diagram. I think the diagrams are essential because they help me see how the individual stitches come together to make the pretty swatch in the picture. If I decide to try something out, that’s when I use the written instructions to make sure I’m getting it right.

The written instructions start by telling you how to calculate your starting chain: for instance, “Multiple of 3 sts + 1 (add 2 for base chain)” for the “Silt stitch” above (page 86). The instructions will also spell out any special abbreviations, and note when there’s a base row before the pattern commences. I appreciate the thoroughness they’ve achieved while still being concise.

Section Two: Motifs

As in the first section, the motifs are all accompanied by beautiful photos, written instructions, and stitch diagrams. The motifs range from squares to circles, flowers, leaves, stars, triangles, snowflakes, you name it. I will say there are a few unattractive motifs that don’t “work” in my opinion, but there are also some that I think are absolutely gorgeous. I guess this section is hit-or-miss for my personal taste, while the first section is almost all hits for me.

Section Three: Edgings & trims

There are some stunning edgings in this section, and some that make me wonder what they were thinking. This is a very subjective opinion, of course. I hate all fringes and most ruffles with a passion, which means I automatically rule out a lot of the edgings included. If you like fringes and ruffles, you’ll have more options to pick from!

The instructions are all given for straight edges, so you won’t find guidance on how to turn a corner while keeping the pattern going. For some of these patterns, it would be easy to figure out. Others look like they’d be a nightmare to try. To be fair, this book brands itself as inspiration and doesn’t claim to have patterns to follow for specific projects. But if I wanted to use one of these to border a blanket… I might stick with a simple one.

My Opinion

This is a solid stitch dictionary that I use often and would recommend for crocheters of all skill levels. What keeps me from giving it five stars? I think it’s partially because I find the first section so wonderful that I wish it was longer. Or maybe I wish I liked more of the motifs and edgings. But the first section alone is worth the money for the book, in my opinion. I really can’t complain about much: the whole book is comprehensive and easy to understand, with very clear and accurate instructions.

I say pick this one up, or borrow it from the library, for excellent instructions to help you make the type of fabric you’re looking for. I opted to buy it because I wanted to have it readily available when I need it (which, as I’ve repeated, is often).

If you’d like to see a flip-through of the book, check out this YouTube video with another crocheter’s review.

What questions would you like answered to help you decide if this book is for you? Let me know, either in the comments below or by sending a message.

Work Cited

500 Crochet Stitches: The Ultimate Crochet Stitch Bible. St. Martin’s Griffin, 2015.