40 projects with "easy-to-Understand Text and Symbols"

Not a lot of beginner stuff, and I think I would learn this all better in real life anyway. ( )

Not exactly my favorite book.

On the plus side, it has an extensive description of many stitches and directions for people who are left-handed.

That said, in as much as I am not left-handed, I don't have any sense of whether the directions are helpful or not.

As for the projects, I just flat out detested the sampler afghan. I thought the colors were wrong, I didn't like the way the swatches were combined. In general, it left me with a bad attitude, and I have not been able to articulate well what my dissatisfaction is.

Another plus about the book is that I am not so attached to it that I won't lend it out to beginning crocheters.

I have done one of the projects (the juliette cap), and there are others that were also of interest (a bobble beret) that I haven't done.

I think the colors of the project that is featured on the cover of the book might get at what part of the problem is. I think that a fair number of people would not enjoy the color choices, and this impacts the perception of and enthusiasm about the design.

I paid full price for this book, so obviously I must have liked something about it at the time of purchase or seen something that gave me a new crochet insight, but I no longer recall what it was. ( )

This book divides neatly into three parts, the first being basic instructions, the second squares you stitch to create an Afghan to learn the stitches and the third clothing and other patterns. It's a good idea, an easy way to learn how to stitch and well illustrated. The only caveat I would have is that it's in US terminology and that can confuse UK stitchers. ( )