Sometimes I'm looking for a crochet pattern and just can't find it anywhere. So then I decide to wing-it for myself. The problem is that I don't write my own patterns down. If I want to duplicate something I've made up, it takes a lot of looking at my finished project to figure out how I made the original. This book encouraged and taught me to write down my patterns. It is also great that the author includes information on different types of yarns and their uses. I normally just grab a pretty yarn and use it, without care to its size or texture.

I really enjoyed this book, the instructions are clear and the pictures are beautiful. There's some really helpful spreadsheets included in the book that you can use to help in the designing process. E.g. swatches, yarn type, yarn weight, stitches used, gauge etc. Patterns are also included to help you along the way to designing your own piece of work. 5 Stars

This book is lovely (lots of beautiful illustrative pictures) and will be quite a resource for a crocheter who is ready to begin making their own designs.

As a relative beginner to crochet, I found this book to be full of useful information. Sara Delaney covered types of yarns, including how they should be treated and how they will feel (which is very useful when considering different projects). Although I had a fair idea of these details, it was a very useful summary to remind me of which yarns would be good for a given project. Delaney also makes a good argument (with visual examples to support her argument) that we should always swatch before attacking a new project.

In addition to providing a variety of crochet patterns, the book provides templates that walk you through the calculations needed when creating your own design. There are tips to help you work through various changes in stitches (increase, decrease, etc.). The most useful aspect is that the author includes the calculations behind the patterns that she provides, so that you can see how she had calculated the stitch changes and yarn amounts.

Finally, there is a handy visual appendix that shows the many stitches that are required for the many patterns that are included in the book. Not only was this book attractive, but it would make an excellent resource that I would turn to again and again.

Design Your Own Crochet Projects by Sara Delaney is probably a bit beyond my basic crocheting skills, but it is a book that I have found helpful too. Delaney gives good basic information covering the art of crochet including information about fibers, yarn construction, yarn weight (loved her chart showing the yarn weights), how to swatch and the need for it. She also covers basic information on how to measure and block your swatches. Later in the book she gives basic information on how to design your project and includes a chart where you can log your information based on project type.

In the scarves chapter she shows how to design the scarf, how to measure and weigh your scarf swatch to determine how much yarn to buy, and how to design the pattern.

While this book is a bit ahead of my novice crocheting skills, I did learn enough to help me along my journey in becoming a better needlework artist.

Recommend.

Review written after downloading a galley from Net Galley.

Wonderful book! It teaches you how to read a pattern, how to choose yarn and what a swatch is.
You'll find formulas and advice on how to combine techniques in order to create great accessories. You'll learn about fibers and formulas to design your own patterns from scratch.
It also gives you some basic patters to have as a base, for scarfs, mittens, gloves, socks, etc.

this is great for very experienced crochets'. in that sense reccommended.

A great comprehensive guide to creating items that will fit correctly

Design Your Own Crochet Projects by Sara Delaney is an awesome addition to the library of anyone who enjoys crocheting! With its extensive coverage of project types, multiple patterns of their own within each project type, and formulas to determine how much yarn you need to complete the project of your choice with your choice of stitches, this book has it all!

I found the book easy to understand, the many pictures helpful, and the formulas to determine how much yarn you need for your own project unduplicated anywhere else that I know of.

If you love to crochet, no matter how long you've been doing it, this book is for you!! Five stars for FABULOUS from me!!

Many thanks to Netgalley and Storey Publishing for allowing me to preview an ARC of this book!!

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2116836680?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1

Excellent. This is the next level up from simply following a pattern - design one! The book starts with a design template and some good tips for developing a design, and continues with some sample patterns that feature that same design template already filled out. Very nice. Highly recommended.

wonderful book for making your own crochet projects.......

I am a self-taught, fairly experienced crocheter who has been crocheting for over 30 years. While I found this book informative, I think it is probably for somebody who is relatively new to crocheting or maybe toward the intermediate side of the spectrum.

The instructions for everything are great and very well-written. As an experienced crocheter I did not find very many pieces which I could not have made without a pattern, but if you are just starting out with crochet and see a pattern that is close to something you would like to make but want to tweak it, this would be an excellent book to have.

I think the glove, hat, and sock instructions are the best parts of the book. I love to have reference material handy when I crochet or knit and this is a good book to have if you forget some of the basics.

I found this book very informative. It starts out with gauges, yarn and all things that you need to know as you start out a project. It includes Scarves, Cowls, Hats, Fingerless Mitts, Mittens, Gloves, Socks, and gives you freedom to put some design ideas to work. Personally right now in my crafting I’m focused on socks and this book did not disappoint in that area. This book includes 3 variations of socks and also a slipper which was really nice. But wherever you find your flavor right now, this book has at least a couple of everything to choose from and unending designs you can think up yourself with the help of her direction to get started.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

It is a very organized book. It is informative with clear illustrations. Patterns for scarves, cowls, hats, mitts, mittens, gloves and socks are available with useful templates. Good book for beginners

I cannot recommend this book enough! I haven't been crocheting very long but everything is explained in such an easy way and with great quality photos that I now feel confident enough to have a go at couple of the projects in this book!

Design Your Own Crochet Projects by Sara Delaney
Very high quality photos that sometimes take quite some time to load in, be patient they are worth the wait.
Like the Introduction and the story of the author and how she came to be a designer and learn while working. Also a section on the tech side of yarns. Important things that you will take by reading this book that are important for measuring right especially for clothing. Love the yarn weight charts.
Each category has its own chapter with a brief summary at the start. Shows the technical side of how to measure but in simple terms that we can understand. The blank forms are very handy for keeping your own designs in order along with notes. Mine are in my head or on bits of paper all over the house.
Patterns themselves start with a brief summary along with color photos. Calculations for yardage using the particular pattern, formula used and row by row instructions. Chapters are for scarves, cowls, hats, fingerless mitts, mittens, gloves, and socks.
Love the names of the scarves. The items made are going to fit like a glove for the intended wearer. My problem is I never know who my items are going to as I crochet and knit for charity for those less fortunate and sold also at bazaars.
Love that the color photo of the items as they are laying down flat on a table and the next page is of a model wearing them, outside-excellent contrast so you can really see the item.
Stitch dictionary along with a swatch is also included and at the end where the row by row instructions are given also.
There are 31 in total-what a resource of knowledge! Makes it easy to pick out a pattern first then go to the area you want to make.
Stitch abbreviations and definitions are included: Shows step by step color photos of the steps involved along with the words.
Love that they use a white background so you can see the instructions as they move along. I am a published corchet designer myself but I don't go into all this detail to do the hats and mittens for others.
My favorite to try would be the fingerless mitts as most everybody can wear them and they don't have to be a perfect fit.
I received this book from Net Galley in exchange for my honest review.

This is a great resource for those who wish to design their own crocheted accessories! There is a lot of information on measurements, and templates are provided for figuring out and documenting your exact pattern. Step by step up close photos help clarify stitches and patterns. The advice on how much yarn will be needed based on size is presented in an easy to calculate way.

Included are patterns for scarves, hats, cowls, mitts, mittens, gloves and socks.

This book is a great resource for crocheters and also includes original patterns.

This book is filled with instructions, pictures and enough projects to warrant adding it to your collection of books on crocheting. I highly recommend this book to crocheters and want to be crocheters.

A detailed guide to crochet!
Very interesting and insightful.