Crochet Therapy: The Soothing Art of Savoring Each Stitch

This small book is beautifully rendered. The paper is high quality, with intriguing line drawings in the margins throughout, and beautifully styled color photographs of the projects. Instructions for twenty projects, most of them small, are categorized by intended psychic state or outcome ("Refresh;" "Energy;" Find Joy;" "Calm," etc.). Brief passages on mindfulness, relaxation, and focus are included, as are basic stitch instructions. Betsan Corkhill's unlikely combination of editorial and graphic elements results in a unique little gem.

First, this book is beautiful. Beautiful colors and beautifully laid out. So it is a pleasure to just look at. The patterns are quite simple -- the better to focus on the calming effect that crocheting them produce. There's good science that supports what crafters have always known -- crochet and knitting does have a soothing effect on us.

This book focuses on mindfulness in crochet. It also suggests adjusting your crochet to use both hands more - which I struggle with.There are stretches and things for hands and wrists before you crochet. I love them! I started as a knitter, but have been doing more crochet lately. Unfortunately, the way I hold my hands/yarn and the fact that I am a left doing Right Hand crochet (because I had no idea you could do it differently when I learned) it definitely hurts my right wrist. The stretches help a lot. I like it so much I have used it before knitting as well. Its very relaxing this yoga for my fingers.The projects range from very simple to more complicated. They are arranged into categories in the book where there is a set of exercises on a theme - calming, energizing, relaxing are the first three, but there are many. After the exercise is a couple of projects related to the theme and with colors and complexity matching it. For example one section is on reducing the anxiety of travel and the projects are all small and very simple so they can be done while traveling. The exercises are more focusing on your breathing and your experience touching the yarn as you use it, while other themes are more stretches and posture, etc.Overall, if you like yarn this is a great book. If you are often busy and stressed this will help you refocus and center your thoughts while also crafting.

This book is full of great designs for you to choose from. The photos and directions are great. Beautiful designs.

I had gotten this book from the library and realized I needed my own copy very fast. This book really is about therapy through crochet and it is wonderful!

Gorgeous book with fabulous projects!

Absolutely love the book. So informative and easy to follow

I knit for pleasure but I crochet to relax. It is so forgiving an art, you never drop a stitch. I think all crochet is soothing but definitely not just these projects. I find the patterns very basic, beginner level. Some things like the buntings just seem like a less than useful home decor. I thought the yoga bag was bizarre and more complicated than necessary. I like the pillows, afghans and flowers. There is a simple shawl that looks nice. I thought the eye mask was silly but loved the eye mask bag, which you could use for anything.The book is well photographed and patterns are written only, not charted. Directions are solid. I think if you were new to crochet this book would be encouraging.

Delivered promptly. Book like new as was stated. Can't wait to try out some of the crochet.

Fun book

Excellent book

Some basic patterns to follow together with meditative advice to improve your crochet experience.