First crochet - Lesley Stanfield

Crochet has made a comeback: everyone from Prada to Roberto Cavalli featured it in their latest collections. It can have a delicate lacy beauty or it may be robust and hard-wearing - a modern fabric with practical uses. To be up-to-the-minute in the fashion stakes you need crochet, but what if you don't know how to crochet a simple chain, never mind interpret the strange language and complicated-looking instructions for anything more complex? And how do you choose from all those tempting and different types of yarn...?

Crochet is much simpler than it may appear. With the help of clear instructions, coupled with step-by-step photographs, 'First Crochet' explains the individual techniques. It features over 20 unique projects, each accompanied by photographs showing the key stages, so you can check your work every step of the way. The projects include both stylish items for the home, such as cushions and a throw, as well as fashionable gifts for your friends or for yourself, such as scarves, bags and baby items.

From the first loop to the last seam, this book is ideal for the beginner. Its comprehensive instructions - with fold-out flaps giving key techniques for quick reference - will make mastering this skill easy and fun for the reader.