Get Hooked: Simple Steps to Crochet Cool Stuff
author/editor Kim Werker
Watson-Guptill Publications
release date: August 2006
ISBN 10: 0-8230-5092-0
ISBN 13: 978-0-8230-5092-5
96 pages
8 1/2 x 9 inches
$11.95 US

SUSHI PILLOW
Materials
Lion Brand Microspun yarn (100% microfiber acrylic; 168 yds/154m per 2.5oz/70g), 2 skeins in Lily White, 1 skein each in Ebony, Cherry Red, Lime, and Buttercup.
4mm (size G) hook or size to get gauge
Five 3/4-inch buttons
12-inch round pillow form or insert, or materials to make your own (instructions are provided)

Gauge
4 stitches/4 rows = 1 inch in double crochet stitch worked in the round

Yarns for this book were chosen based on wide availability and low cost. Lion Brand yarns are stocked by many big-chain craft stores as well as available online. Lion Brand Microspun is labeled as Weight Category 3 Light: DK, Light Worsted and is machine wash/dry. It is smooth, soft, and a little shiny. Loosely spun out of several individual strands, it does have a tendency to open up and get “splitty” especially if you have had to rip back some stitches. For substitutions, I recommend using a smooth, easy-care yarn that feels good against your skin. I chose filling colors that were bright and reasonably sushi-like; you could choose the colors in your favorite sushi instead.

Now shipping! Should be hitting bookstore shelves soon (if not already). For more info, check out the Crochet me blog and my quickie review, written after getting my advance copy.

Get Hooked: Simple Steps to Crochet Cool Stuff
author/editor Kim Werker
www.get-hooked.net (blog for the book)
Watson-Guptill Publications
release date: August 2006
ISBN 10: 0-8230-5092-0
ISBN 13: 978-0-8230-5092-5
96 pages
8 1/2 x 9 inches
$11.95 US

10 designers, in addition to Kim, contributed. Full disclosure: I’m one of them.

The book is clearly geared towards tweens and teens, but don’t let that stop you.* Since the book hasn’t been released yet, I’m going to keep the review basic and may add more details later on. One of the best things about this book, besides the teen-friendly cover price, are the instructions. Kim W. and Cecily Keim co-authored Teach Yourself Visually: Crocheting, which has fantastic step-by-step photos, and the photos in Get Hooked are also clear and sensible, with simple written instructions. All of the expected info is here on hooks, yarns, reading yarn labels, and notions. There’s a section on abbreviations as well, but all of the pattern instructions are written out as full sentences (that’s right, NO abbreviations used, at all, in any of the patterns). In addition to washcloth and kerchief patterns in the skills section, there are 12 patterns, all of which have a list of the necessary skills right at the beginning (ex. “chain, single crochet, weaving in ends, seaming”) and a full-page color photograph of the project. Some of the patterns have clearly drawn schematics, and some have illustrations detailing particular steps, like seaming pieces together. Additionally, the yarns used for the projects are generally carried by craft stores (Bernat, Crystal Palace*, DMC Embroidery Thread, J.&.P. Coats/Aunt Lydia’s, Lion Brand, and Patons). This book was tech edited, so hopefully no errors. I know that my tech editor caught a math problem and revised the way I phrased some things and I think she did a great job.

If Teach Yourself Visually: Crocheting is too much for you, either in price ($24.99) or size (280 pages), Get Hooked is a lower-priced option that is not as extensive in the instructions but has the same visual instruction style.

Other reviews:
The Hook and I blog

*unless you are the type who sighs and complains about patterns being to “young” or “trendy” for you – if that’s so, I recommend you take a look at Teach Yourself Visually: Crocheting for yourself, and keep Get Hooked in mind if you are shopping for a youngster.

**I know that craft stores in Hawai’i carry Crystal Palace, mostly for making yarn lei. Might be different elsewhere.