The Crochet Crowd

by Michael Sellick and Daniel Zondervan

[annieb123]

Originally posted on my blog: Nonstop Reader.

The Crochet Crowd: Inspire, Create, Celebrate is such an exuberant, inclusive, and just plain fun crochet guide with tutorials and patterns collected and written by Michael Sellick and Daniel Zondervan. Released 26th July 2021 by MacIntyre Purcell Publishing, it's 243 pages and is available in ebook format. Print format is in pre-release now.

The first part of the book contains some background for the authors and their journey within the fibrecrafts world as designers. I enjoyed reading about their lives (before and after they met one another) and building their online community and the story until now. There's a warmth and kindness to their writing "voice" and although it's certainly quirky and fun, it's also honest, and not all yarn and sunshine.

The second part of the book contains the patterns and tutorials. Patterns include accessories, baby things, blankets, wraps, cowls, and several other items. The patterns are written by several different designers and they're all attractive and well written. Most include both written directions and design charts, so readers have a choice. Patterns include yardages and specific yarns, so readers can potentially substitute followed by step-by-step directions.

Every page includes clear, full colour photography. Tutorials and patterns include process shots (without fingers or tools in the way of the camera). The authors have also included some useful appendices: a primer on making a success of selling at craft shows, abbreviations and short directions for different stitches used in the book, and a useful resource and links list.

This is a quirky, inclusive, and very fun book with some beautiful patterns and a strong sense of community. I hadn't heard of them before (I'm much more of a knitter than crochet-er), but I'm definitely a follower now.

Highly recommended for library acquisition, fibrearts and guild studios, and home use.

Five stars.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.