20 Crochet Stitch Dictionaries for Beginners and Beyond

This comprehensive stitch dictionary covers 200 stitches including some original designs of the author. They are clearly arranged into chapters by type of stitch. All stitches include clear color photos, stitch diagrams, and written instructions.

Includes: Diagrams, Written Instructions, Color Photos

Number of Stitches Included: 200

Types of Stitches Covered: Simple Solid Stitches, Shell and Fan Stitches, Openwork and Lace, Textured Stitches, Colorwork, Edgings

This is one of my favorite crochet stitch guides especially for those looking to expand their knowledge. Robyn Chachula is a master of crochet stitch diagrams. This visual encyclopedia excels at the use of stitch diagrams and clear color photos to illustrate the structure of the stitches. It also includes the stitch multiples and clear written instructions for each stitch. This is a good guide to have if you explore some more more advanced and interesting stitches.

Includes: Diagrams, Written Instructions, Color Photos

Number of Stitches Included: 300

Types of Stitches Covered: Simple, Textured, Lace, Colorwork, Tunisian, Motifs, Edgings

This Stitch Dictionary is an amazing resource for anyone who wants to understand how to produce shaping with crochet stitches. The author gives instructions on how to shape each of the 125 stitches included. Many of them can be shaped both on the edge and internally with full instructions and diagrams for both.

Includes: Diagrams, Written Instructions, Color Photos

Number of Stitches Included: 125

Types of Stitches Covered: Closed Stitches, Lace Stitches, Textured Stitches, Shells, Ripples

This is a good basic starter stitch dictionary. It covers the basic stitches with clear color photos, stitch diagrams, and written instructions. There are some more advanced stitches included as well. It’s fun to flip through this one for inspiration since the photos are large and easy to see. The stitches are not arranged into chapters.

Includes: Diagrams, Written Instructions, Color Photos

Number of Stitches Included: 250

Types of Stitches Covered: Basics Stitches,

Although this book has now been replaced by a newer edition, it’s still one of my favorite stitch dictionaries. It contains a variety of stitches from the basic to the more advanced. It has instructions as well at the beginning of the book for how to make the basic stitches. Then, each stitch comes with a color photo illustration, a stitch multiple, written instructions, and a stitch diagram. I love stitch dictionaries that have all of these elements so that they help me truly understand how the stitch works.

If you’re going to get the book above, you might as well grab this one too. This one continues with some more all-over patterns plus filet crochet, motif, Irish crochet, and edgings.

Includes: Diagrams, Written Instructions, Color Photos

Number of Stitches Included: 220

Types of Stitches Covered: All-over pattersn, edgings, filet crochet, motifs, Irish crochet

This is another stitch guide that been around for a long time. The spiral binding is a huge bonus with this one! It’s so easy to keep it open to the stitch that you want. This is a great overall starter stitch guide. It covers the basics and then has chapters arranged around other stitches like fans and shells.

Includes: Diagrams, Written Instructions, Color Photos

Number of Stitches Included: 200

Types of Stitches Covered: Basic, Textured, Fans and Shells, Mesh and Filet, Trims and Edgings, Clusters, Puffs, and Bobbles, Spike Stitches, Relief Stitches, Tunisian Stitches, Colorwork, Squares, Shapes and Motifs, Special Stitches like Broomstick Lace and Beaded Crochet

This wonderful book includes 150 colorful border ideas. The best part is that Edie Eckman has also included instructions for how to take each border around a right-angled corner. What an amazing resources if you love to make blankets or really anything with a corner!

Includes: Diagrams, Written Instructions, Color Photos

Number of Stitches Included: 150

Types of Stitches Covered: Borders

This books expands on Around the Corner Crochet Borders with 139 additional border designs. Another cool feature of both books is that color photographs of the borders show how they would look at the corner of a project. So you can hold your blanket or other project up to the book to get a view of how it would look.

Includes: Diagrams, Written Instructions, Color Photos

Number of Stitches Included: 139

Types of Stitches Covered: Borders

If you’re looking for more inspiration, this book contains a collection of 150 crochet edgings and trims. Each one includes written instructions, a stitch diagram, and a clear color photo.

Includes: Diagrams, Written Instructions, Color Photos

Number of Stitches Included: 150

Types of Stitches Covered: Borders

This collection includes over 200 borders plus 9 projects. If you like texture, the book has an entire section on borders using ribs and bobbles plus a section on ruffles.
Screen reader support enabled.

Includes: Diagrams, Written Instructions, Color Photos

Number of Stitches Included: 200+

Types of Stitches Covered: Borders

This fabulous book covers a variety of methods for joining crochet motifs. These include sewing them together, crocheting them together, join as you go (slip-stitch join, flat join, and single crochet join), and a variety of continous join as you go methods. This is an essential book for anyone who loves to make motifs and wants to explore a variety of ways to connect them together. The sections on the 101 motifs then include diagrams for ways to join some of the motifs together. If that isn’t enough, the book also includes full patterns for 12 projects that use motifs and joining methods.

Includes: Diagrams, Written Instructions, Color Photos

Number of Stitches Included: 101

Types of Stiches Covered: Motifs plus Joining

Can you tell I love Edie Eckman’s books? This is another fabulous book that covers a variety of motif shapes. Like all her books, this one includes great color photos, written instructions, and stitch diagrams. You’ll find circles, hexagons, triangles, squares, and some other unusual shapes.

Includes: Diagrams, Written Instructions, Color Photos

Number of Stitches Included: 144

Types of Stiches Covered: Motifs

Originally published in Japanese, this book has been translated to English. It includes motifs in a variety of shapes (circles, squares, triangles, polygons and Irish motifs) – all with stitch diagrams. This book does not include written instructions for the motifs. There is a section on basic crochet techniques that includes symbols, diagrams and written instructions. There are also diagrams at the end of the book for various arrangements of the motifs.

Includes: Diagrams, Color Photos

Number of Stitches Included: 150

Types of Stitches Covered: Motifs

This beautiful book includes over 40 three dimensional flower patterns. Each one comes with a gorgeous color photo plus written instructions and stitch diagrams. The book also includes a number of patterns for using the flowers especially for accessories. LIke some of the others this book has been out for awhile. You can still find it on Amazon.

Includes: Diagrams, Written Instructions, Color Photos

Number of Stitches Included: 40

Types of Stitches Covered: Flowers

If you love crocheting flowers, this book has over 40 flower and leaf designs. The pictures are fun and colorful. And each flower includes written instructions. There are no stitch diagrams though so it may not be for you if you like to rely on diagrams. There are some simple projects included as well with several ideas for using the flowers are appliques.

Includes: Written Instructions, Color Photos

Number of Stitches Included: 40+

Types of Stitches Covered: Flowers and Leaves

This book will help you take a deep dive into crochet cables. 50 different cable patterns are included with photos, diagrams, and instructions. Fli pthrough it to get inspired by the variety of cables available. The cables in this book are all worked using post stitches and single crochet stitches in various combinations.

Includes: Diagrams, Written Instructions, Color Photos

Number of Stitches Included: 50

Types of Stitches Covered: Cables

If you love making crochet cables, you may want to explore live loop cables. Sue Perez developed the live loop cable technique. This is a variation on making cables with amazing results. The fabric looks like crocheted fabric with knitted cables on top. The book takes you through all the steps you need to learn how to do live loop cables. Then it includes 25 stitches including pictures, written instructions and diagrams. The author developed her own stitch diagram method for showing how to do the live loop cables. Then, the end of the book includes 11 fun projects using the technique.

Includes: Diagrams, Written Instructions, Color Photos

Number of Stitches Included: 25

Types of Stitches Covered: Cables

This is a great resource for an intermediate or advanced crocheter who likes stitch diagrams. Each of the 300 crochet stitches included is covered by a clear color photo and stitch diagram. There are not written instructions for the stitches. If you like shell, pineapple, and fan stitches, this book is a great resource. The book includes lots of variations. There are 700 knitting stitches included as well – making this a great volume for someone who loves to both knit and crochet!

Includes: Diagrams, Color Photos

Number of Stitches Included: 300

Types of Stitches Covered: Grid, Pineapple, Fan, Colorwork, Shell, Net, and Edgings

This book emphasizes unique stitch patterns. It includes variations on colorwork, beaded crochet, broomstick lace, motifs, Irish crochet lace, and edgings. There are clear color photos of each stitch. Some are accompanied by stitch diagrams on the same page as the photos. For others the stitch diagrams are included in the back. There are a few projects as well. This is a great resource for an intermediate or advanced crocheter who likes stitch diagrams and is looking for some new ideas.

Includes: Diagrams, Color Photos

Number of Stitches Included: 156

Types of Stitches Covered: Colorwork, Bead Crochet, Broomstick Lace, Motifs, Irish Crochet Lace, and Edgings