This is a great book for anyone interested in crochet. It is especially informative for beginners.
I like how the book starts with basics and builds, and covers everything I feel a new crocheter absolutely NEEDS to know. It builds upon skills, stitches, techniques, and explains and illustrates more than 1 way to do things. For instance, when working in the round, a person may only learn to chain X, join to form a ring, and work into the ring. However, it can also be accomplished by working into 1 chain, or by forming a magic circle. Dora Ohrenstein covers and illustrates all three methods. She also covers spiral rounds, and while she doesn't illustrate tube rounds, she references them and adds several patterns for tubed rounds, including a hat.
Later in the book, she explains and illustrates specialty stitches, textural stitches, lace stitches, and gives some great overall tips.
My only disagreement is that I feel gauge doesn't always matter. Lets face it, if you're creating a blanket, placemat, potholder, dishcloth -- a smudge larger or a smidgen smaller REALLY isn't going to matter. If the item is meant to fit, gauge maters, if the fit isn't an issue, when one uses the suggested yarn weight and hook size, it isn't the end of the world.
Overall, highly recommended to anyone who wants to learn to crochet, or newbies. Could make a great teaching tool as well.
