I’ve been needing a fresh crochet stitch dictionary for a while; I’ve been working out of an old Reader’s Digest dictionary, which has a surprising number of useful stitches, since I started designing. Recently I’ve been asked to create some more crochet content, and I’m beginning to feel the limitations of my faithful Reader’s Digest book. I’m also feeling my own limitations; my understanding of knitted fabric structure is well underway, if evolving, while crochet structure is something I haven’t explored in detail. Enter the Crochet Every Way Stitch Dictionary by Dora Ohrenstein.
Dora is a legendary crochet designer with a couple of decades of design experience under her belt. I remember seeing her books popping up in catalogs back when I was a wee baby crocheter. When I decided to invest in a new dictionary, this one was top of the list.
It’s a hefty book; it’s about an inch and a half thick, and the paper stock is thick. I love the weight it has in the hand. While the binding isn’t really going to lie flat, I personally like it; since I’m usually working with my stitch dictionary spread across my knees anyway, it’s not a huge deal.
The book starts with an extended overview of shaping in crochet—what it’s for and how to do it. While I understand this in theory, I’m curious to discover how it plays out in crochet vs. knitting.
The stitch dictionary itself is divided into several sections with different types of stitches—textures, laces, shells, ripples, and so on. Each stitch is shown in its basic form and usually with at least one shaped variation. Directions are both written and charted.
As you can see, everything is laid out and presented beautifully.
While it’s not the most exhaustive stitch dictionary on the market, the educational value is high. Dora goes into detail about why certain types of shaping work for some stitches and not others; that info can be extrapolated to other stitches besides the specific motifs she covers. I can’t wait to start swatching!
