Masterpieces of Irish Crochet Lace: Techniques, Patterns, Instructions (Dover Crafts: Crochet)

This book, like it's title, is a masterpiece. There's no way I can praise this one book too highly. Even if you never make a thing from it, just looking at the photographs/engravings or these lace projects is enough to make your spine tingle. I had never seen anything like this lace before I bought this book. At first, I just gazed at the various lace designs and was in crochet lace heaven. Eventually I tried making some of them. At first, I used larger thread than what was used in the illustrations, which was a good way to become acquainted with the techniques. After that, I used very fine thread and hook, and, it's hard to explain but I found that it was easier to make these using the smaller thread. I made a very small curtain for a small window in a front house door using the design on the cover. I did it exactly according to the book, including pinning down every single point and starching and ironing it, so that the lace didn't curl up and it looked exactly like that on the cover. It was extremely time consuming! But, it was well worth it too. People truly marvel when they see it, and I'm so proud of myself! But, I haven't tackled many of the full projects in the book, although I have made elements of various designs and found that to be so instructive and rewarding. This is really an "essential" for the Irish Crochet Lace lover.

I haven't begun crocheting yet, but the book is clear, precise, and exactly as advertised. It captures many types of crocheted lace that will probably be lost, since crochet cannot be duplicated by machinery. I find that amazing. Everything you see in stores or anyplace else, that is crocheted, has been done by hand. No exceptions. You should try to keep this tradition alive, if you're reading this review, and crochet. Irish crochet is beautiful.

I did not like the organization of the this book. Pictures are not located with the instructions. You have to hunt to figure out which instruction goes with what pictures. Plus things are not labeled in the pictures so it makes things very confusing. I think if you are going to reprint a book that was once free from the antique library.org that the publisher would at least re-write the book with a translation of the 1906 crochet terms to modern terms. The 1906 crochet language should be there with the modern translation. This would have made the book fantastic. But they were lazy in my view. It is fun to read but very frustrating for someone who wants to make these projects but have to keep referring to the stitch instructions. This reprint could have done much better.

I like the way this book is written. It's not a book for beginners but one that adds something new to long-time crocheters. It starts out with the more solid designs and then shows you how they are connected with mesh stitchs. Each page gets a little more intricate until you are doing the "fancy" stuff. There are drawn designs in the back of the book that help with designing your own or you can just follow that written design to recreate what they already have done. I had hesitated for quite a while before buying the book because I don't like long difficult instructions. They are short and to the point. Not a big book but you will find everything you need to know.

The book was written a long time ago and they didn't edit it for the newer terms. The threads needed to get the look for the crafts are no longer around. The printing is very dark, like the copier was set to a dark setting and should have been lightened. I'm pretty good at following crochet patterns, but I kept having to stop and figure out which stitch it called for because they changed the names of the stitches in the last century. I wish they had cared about it enough to make it a better product.

Overall, I enjoy this book because it gives me building blocks of Irish crochet. Irish crochet is an advanced type of crochet. Keeping this in mind:Pros:-Great elements (motifs, borders, grounds) you can mix and match-Great patterns that use the elements listed in the book-Contains directions along with patternsCons:-Originally from an older publication and it's Irish crochet, so the text of the pattern is not as organized as modern patterns-Pictures in book have less contrast than pictures on Amazon-Names of stitches are the old names, BUT there's a conversion chart in the beginning of the book

The patterns are what I wanted and they are beautiful.

You need to understand the lingo in the pattern directions but with some patients you’ll get it. Nice addition to your library.

You don't have to get complicated with Irish Crochet---you can use single motifs as focal points or trims!This IS a reprint of an old book, so some of the photos are a bit dim, but the instructions are clear, as are the diagrams. And bonus: if you're an stitcher as well, use the templates in the back for embroidered borders!Well worth the price.

Lovely book, but not for beginners.

It is like a catalogue of main stiches of irish crochet! Fantastic. It is very well conceived. I love it !!!

A good instructional book

ooks lovely