How to crochet a four-color spiral from the new book: The Complete Photo Guide to Crochet by Margaret Hubert

This is so cool. I could see making doilies, crafting pot holders, super-sizing it to make an area rug, oh all sorts of things in all sorts of color combos!

Click on the images to enlarge and read how to crochet a four-color spiral.

This four-color crochet tutorial is from the new book:

 

The Complete Photo Guide to Crochet

Basics, Stitch Patterns, Projects for All Methods of Crochet

By

Margaret Hubert

The Complete Photo Guide to Crochet is a comprehensive reference book on all aspects of crochet. This book provides a reference for all methods, including:

• Tunisian
• Filet
• Intermeshing
• Broomstick lace
• Bruges lace
• Freeform crochet

It includes step-by-step instructions for all the basic stitches and swatches of hundreds of stitch patterns with complete instructions. This handy guide also provides instructions and patterns for 50 projectsfor garments, accessories, and décor items!

Margaret Hubert designs for yarn companies and book and magazine publishers including Crochet, Interweave Press, Quick and Easy Crochet, Crochet Fantasy, and Belle Armoire. She teaches at yarn shops, retreats, and national gatherings and rarely misses a national conference in the needle arts field. A world traveler, Margaret pays close attention to the fashions in Europe and spots style trends as they hit New York. She is equally as passionate about knitting and crochet, and can design patterns for either, in any size or shape. Among her specialties, she is a master at free-form crochet.

She is the author of 11 other books including five books in our Hooked series, Knits for Men, Plus Size Crochet, and Knit or Crochet: Have It Your Way.

Holiday Goodness Giveaway Time!

Here's how it works:

• We ask a question each weekday.
• You leave your answer in the comments section each day to the question (and you can enter each day!).
• We will randomly pick a winner each day to send a free book to!

Today is DAY 7 of 19!

Question:

Who taught you how to do the craft you do? Did you learn from a family member as a child and it was "handed down"? Did a friend turn you on to it as an adult? Or did you see it in a book, take a class, or learn online?

My answer:

I learned to knit, crochet and sew from my Mom and Great Grandmother. I learned painting and some art skills from my high school teachers, a lot of my design and building skills from the teachers in college, and now I learn new skills, stitches and techniques mostly from books.

Be sure to read the comments of others; maybe you can pick up a good idea, a new place to find your inspiration, or just a good giggle!

Comments

[Marjorie Jumisco]

It is amazing what a good teacher can do. At my school I learned how to cook and sew. My mother taught me to darn: not much of that anymore! I self taught crochet and have been taking lessons in book arts. Today I have a collection of books that I can use as references & there are still many folks who are willing to share their skills.

[MAry Anne]

The first 'craft' I can remember doing was a gigantic crocheted granny square afghan made from nylon yarn. My aunt taught me the basic stitches and I went on from there. Pretty much all the other things I do I learned from books. I live in an area where there are few classes to be had, so books were the best option until the internet came along.

[Lila Schmidt]

I am self taught mostly. At one time a friend helped me in my quest to learn how to dry brush ceramics. Usually I can see a picture or a finished product and then come home and create it myself. I do better that way than with instructions. I do ask questions and listen to how others accomplish a certain craft, but in the end,it is usually my own creation and idea. But one thing I have tried for years to learn to do is crochet. I have taken lessons many times and still can't master this skill.

[Rebecca Jones]

My grandmother taught me to crochet along with how to knit, tat, embroidery and other crafts.

[Shari]

My grandmother taught me the fundamentals of needlework but I didn't really start taking any classes until I joined EGA 20+ years ago. My cake decorating was first learned through a park and rec class,then at the local cake shop and I progressed to taking professional classes from traveling teachers over the years. A lot of the other crafts I do are mostly self taught or shared learning experiences with friends at craft groups and shops.

[wendy m.]

My mom taught me how to sew, and my best friend in grade school taught me how to crochet (well, mostly just those funny little worm bookmarks).I've taken a lot of classes, both in "real life" and online, for the more paper-related crafts, like bookmaking, etc.

[Lynda Taylor]

My mum taught me to knit,sew and crochet.
My friends over the years have taught me other skills such as scrapping and car making and I have used the internet and books (I especially love books) to learn other skills such as jewellery making and beading and to improve my skills also.

[Suella]

Whilst my grandmother taught me the rudiments of crochet and knitting, and my mother taught me to sew a garment, nothing really stuck.

Life intervened and it wasn't until much later in life that I discovered the wonderful courses in Creative Studies at South Nottingham College here in England. I will be taking these and other one day courses for as long as I can manage to get to them.

Both the information and skills gained and the friends made in them are priceless.

[f lynn rush]

my mother taught me to crochet and knit when i was five. we made chains of left over yarn and see how long it was by waling down our street. encouraging teachers in junior and high schools. went to college in my middle 30's, and studied color and graphic design. years ago, i stopped into a local stamp store. when they closed, they were creating a stamping group, which i attended. we had projects led by different people. i learned a little. there, we met joyce, who is still our friend. she has been our stamping guru every since. she is a hobby su! demo. she has taught us quite alot. we were free to experiment and play. su! is a little tame for me sometimes, so i frequently create "artsy" stuffs...collage, altered tins, books, grunge, etc. there will always be something to try. fun and stressing at the same time!

[Hapi Kamper]

My paternal grandmother taught me how to knit, crochet, sew (by hand and on a machine) and make clothing patterns from my favorite store-bought clothes so I could make more! (She was a pattern maker by trade.) When I was a kid, I had the best dressed dolls in town. :)

Nowadays I still occasionally make up my own (clothing) pattern if I'm looking to sew some clothes, but I'm most likely to be found with a crochet hook in my hand (and passing on the love by teaching my 4 year-old grandson how to crochet).

[Ellen Lai]

As far as I can remember, my grandmother taught me to make crepe paper flowers when I started schooling. I always joined the Art and Craft Club in schools, learning and doing all sort of craft projects. When I started working, I would take some lessons and also learned some online.

[send flowers to philippines]

This is cool.I will try to do this at home when weekend.

~Ashley~

[Debbie Shipley]

The first official craft I learned was crochet. An older neighbor in our apartment building offered to teach me and I wasn't sure that would work well because she was stern and sort of intimidating but I agreed. The first thing I learned to make was a red carnation....I don't actually remember making my first, other than being afraid to show this woman my work incase it wasn't up to pare....Good news is she was pleased, she was friendly, became a family friend to my single mother and I still use the needles from the kit I got that year....some 30 years ago!
I taught myself to knit from a book, the decoupage came from a class my mom and I took about 20 years ago, and everything else is based on pure curiosity!
Being a huge photo buff this books looks great!

[Sue G]

A very dear family friend, who was like a second mother, taught me how to knit when I was just in elementary school. My first project was a sweater of all things! I was only able to finish part of the front...when it came to increasing/decreasing, I was lost! Over the years, I've taken classes or taught myself various crafts: quilting, cross stitch, needle point, even scrapbooking. Then I learned to crochet and found it so enjoyable I always come back to it after venturing off to other crafts. I guess I just love any crafts involving fiber.

[Shelley Senker]

My Grandmother taught me to sew and basic knitting. I always enjoyed doing any type of creative things. In High School I made really cool pocketbooks out of metal lunch pails and decoupaged them , lined them in felt and sold them . I made beaded necklaces and gave them as gifts too. A friend in Nursing school taught me how to crochet and my first project was a really nice afghan for my first home. I made this while my soon to be husband was 800 miles away in graduate school. It really helped pass the time and I had something very special in the end. A very special teacher named Dee Stanziano was very patient with me since I am left haded and taught me a lot of new stitches and good crochet techniques. I have a lot to learn but the kindness of others plays an important role. Thank you too Margaret for your wonderful books.

[Debra Burke Binghamton NY]

My very creative mother taught me how to crochet when I was about 11. She made all kinds of hand crafted things for her family and I continued in her footsteps with my daughters. I recently learned about Free form crochet, and realized "that's what I've been doing all these years!" And I find that Margaret Hubert's video and books are truly inspiring!

[Trish ONeil]

I learned from a library book when I was 5. My mom was way too busy and my grandmothers didn't live close enough. It did inspire me and give me the confidence to learn freom anything- books, magazines, pictures, patterns I saw in nature, anything and everything can be inspiration if only we can see it!