Move beyond granny squares and get ready for crocheted circles, triangles, hexagons, and stars, using this easy to follow guide.
Edie Eckman opens up the door to crocheting creativity with motifs of every shape and size. Embellish your clothing, linens, housewares, and bags with colorful patterns as you put odd yarn leftovers to good use. Step-by-step instructions and color photographs provide the building blocks to limitless possibilities.
Read more
2503 reviews for Beyond the Square Crochet Motifs: 144 circles, hexagons, triangles, squares, and other unexpected shapes
4.8out of 5
★★★★★
★★★★★
8
★★★★★
1
★★★★★
0
★★★★★
0
★★★★★
0
Write a review
Show allMost HelpfulHighest RatingLowest Rating
★★★★★
zion_zodiac –
Muy facil de entender aunque no se hable inglés. Los gráficos son muy buenos y útiles. Gran ayuda para principiantes
Helpful(0)Unhelpful(0)You have already voted this
★★★★★
Cliente Amazon –
I’ve not been crocheting very long, but I’ve picked up the basics. I wish I had bought this book sooner as the descriptions of how to work stitches (I think really intended as a reminder) are so clear that I think I could probably have learned from scratch with this book. Each design has a photograph of the finished piece, a set of written instructions and an instructional chart of symbols. I’m addition, there is a brief explanation of any slightly unusual stitch used. The instructions use the American terminology, but it’s easy enough to mentally convert to UK, especially as charts use internationally recognised crochet symbols. The charts have even been printed in contrasting colours to make them as easy to read as possible. My fingers are itching to get my hooks and yarn out to get cracking on a new mofit. My only problem will be choosing where to start. . . Oh, WOW! I was excited enough by the lovely motif designs and the way the designs have been made so accessible to a fairly new crocheter, but then I found the appendix. Edie Eckman has included graphs to enable the reader to design their own mofits! Whilst this may not appeal to everyone, personally I know that those graphs are going to get a lot of use. I can’t wait to get designing.
Helpful(0)Unhelpful(0)You have already voted this
★★★★★
V. Schmidt –
Bought it used, It’s in very good condition and has beautiful patterns.
Helpful(0)Unhelpful(0)You have already voted this
★★★★★
Juana Maria Collado Garcia –
Fácil de seguir
Helpful(0)Unhelpful(0)You have already voted this
★★★★★
Amazon Customer –
This is a great crochet book. As an avid, experienced crocheter, most of the books I buy are so-so or plain awful. This book delivers.
PROS: 1) Easy to read and use. Clear large colorful photos (motifs made up in easy to see yarns) and large easy to read type on a spiral bound book, for flat, no flip pages. Large diagrams and well written instructions. Love having both to go by. 2) Creative and unusual. Lots and lots of new motifs here in all sorts of shapes, from the traditional square to decorative motifs, like the star fish. Well organized layout by shapes. 3) Nice introduction with hints for use, and even aids for making up your own motifs. Well done. 4) Thankfully, the first half of the book is not dedicated to learning how to crochet. Sorry beginners, but there are tons of learn how to crochet books, and I hate spending my money on a pattern book that spends more time showing me how then letting me get at it. Yes, there are charts and a few reminders, and even a glossary, but it’s not overdone.
CONS: Okay not cons, I love this book, more like a wish list. I wish there were more squares. I am in need of new motifs for things that must be square, (hint: Title “Beyond-the-Square”) and this book is chockfull of motifs, but fewer squares. There are a fair amount, but not as many as I would have liked.
I wish there were photos of projects. Yes, the book will inspire you, and there are a few pages with cutesy, colored ink drawings, but no actual photos of projects. Just for the sake of eye-candy, because the colored motifs are so striking, I would have loved to have drooled over a few photos of put together projects.
I wish the motifs had names, titles. It’s a trend in books to label patterns by number, but it is an art craft book, let’s have some names. I can remember names, but it’s hard for me to remember “Oh, yeah I want to make number 72 or was that 27?”
Summary: Great book, creative, colorful, fun, and well written. I have made up two motifs so far, and I am very pleased.
Helpful(0)Unhelpful(0)You have already voted this
★★★★★
V. Schmidt –
This could be anyone’s bible of crochet motifs. As all such books do, this begins with a short course on how to crochet – I suppose it would not do to assume that anyone who buys such a book already knows the basics (better be safe than sorry) – but it is not only well done but also covers valuable information about guage in relation to yarn and hook size, so it does add to the value of the book. The motife patterns are separated into sections by shape, ending with some irregular ones, and also offers a number of practical ideas as to projects to make. IMHO the best part is there is basically one pattern per page and each pattern is rendered three ways – a just-about-life-size multicolor photograph, written instructions, and a round-by-round diagram for each piece. Each motif is created in at least two colors so that you can visually separate the stitches between rows. If the written directions get confusing, it is easy to parse out the diagram to determine what to do at any given point. Also it is simple to make your own modifications if needed. I am attaching a jpeg of the beginning of a project that shows a veritable sampler of motifs from this book along with a couple of my own creation. Together, between this book and its companion on joining motifs, I have everything I need.
Helpful(0)Unhelpful(0)You have already voted this
★★★★★
Love The Colors and easy to use –
But that doesn’t affect the contents of the book. I’m still considered a novice to crocheting(when does that title wear off?) and actually have no idea how to do a granny square, but want to make some afgans for the back of my couch, among other things 😉
Pictures are very bright, the instructions seem clear enough, and it’ll be a great reason to practice reading patterns and diagrams together to produce something nice.
The only thing I don’t particularly care for is the covering on the spiral binding- it makes it a bit too tight, and I already heard a small tear or two when trying to lay the book flat to look at some of the motifs in the back.
Overall, I’m satisfied with my purchase, although we drove an hour to go to a craft supply store and it was on sale for 30% off there, which put that price at 8.00 versus the 16 that I paid. But if you don’t have sales near you, the price isn’t bad for the overal quality.
Helpful(0)Unhelpful(0)You have already voted this
★★★★★
EH-C –
Meine Erwartungen wurden mit diesem Buch übertroffen. =D Es hat eine liebevolle Aufmachung, die sich mit durchgängigen Farbabbildungen durch das gesamte Werk zieht. Der Ringbucheinband ist hervorragend, das Buch bleibt beim Arbeiten geöffnet neben einem liegen. Die Anleitungen sind sowohl sprachlich ausformuliert, als auch in internationaler Häkelschrift (Symbolen) dargestellt. Es ist für Anfänger als auch Fortgeschrittene gleichermaßen geeignet. Die Häkelschrift ist für Anfänger zweifarbig gestaltet und das Buch enthält mehrere Workshops zu den Themen: Erlernen der Grundmaschen, Lesen der internationalen Häkelschrift, Runden anfangen/beenden, Hinweise zu Farben, Grundlagen der Planheit mit Problemlösungen, Versäubern von Kanten und häkeln von Borten sowie Arrangieren und Zusammenfügen der Squares. Und nach meiner Meinung sind durchschnittliche Englischkenntnisse zum Lesen dieses Werkes ausreichend, wenn man internationale Häkelschrift kann braucht man eigentlich gar keine.
Zum Abschluss sei noch gesagt, dass Edie Eckman eines in seinem Buch immer wieder deutlich macht, nämlich, dass es um den Spaß an der Sache geht und nicht darum, Vorschriften über Farben und Formen zu machen. Der Nutzer des Buches wird angeleitet seine Fantasie und Vorstellungskraft zu gebrauchen, um das zu machen, was er möchte. Dieses Buch ist für mich definitiv “Mehr als nur Quadrate”, es hat Suchtpotential, weil man tausend Sachen machen will. =D
Helpful(0)Unhelpful(0)You have already voted this
★★★★★
Riversong –
Questo libro è fatto veramente bene! Le spiegazioni sono chiare, le Illustrazioni altrettanto, la struttura ad anelli lo rende comodo da sfogliare e tenere aperto… Sarebbe bellissimo se ci fosse un’edizione italiana per tutti coloro che magari alle prime armi potrebbero fare fatica a capire le spiegazioni in inglese… Ma se non avete problemi di lingua questo libro è una miniera di spunti!
zion_zodiac –
Muy facil de entender aunque no se hable inglés. Los gráficos son muy buenos y útiles. Gran ayuda para principiantes
Cliente Amazon –
I’ve not been crocheting very long, but I’ve picked up the basics. I wish I had bought this book sooner as the descriptions of how to work stitches (I think really intended as a reminder) are so clear that I think I could probably have learned from scratch with this book. Each design has a photograph of the finished piece, a set of written instructions and an instructional chart of symbols. I’m addition, there is a brief explanation of any slightly unusual stitch used. The instructions use the American terminology, but it’s easy enough to mentally convert to UK, especially as charts use internationally recognised crochet symbols. The charts have even been printed in contrasting colours to make them as easy to read as possible.
My fingers are itching to get my hooks and yarn out to get cracking on a new mofit. My only problem will be choosing where to start. . .
Oh, WOW! I was excited enough by the lovely motif designs and the way the designs have been made so accessible to a fairly new crocheter, but then I found the appendix. Edie Eckman has included graphs to enable the reader to design their own mofits! Whilst this may not appeal to everyone, personally I know that those graphs are going to get a lot of use. I can’t wait to get designing.
V. Schmidt –
Bought it used, It’s in very good condition and has beautiful patterns.
Juana Maria Collado Garcia –
Fácil de seguir
Amazon Customer –
This is a great crochet book. As an avid, experienced crocheter, most of the books I buy are so-so or plain awful. This book delivers.
PROS:
1) Easy to read and use. Clear large colorful photos (motifs made up in easy to see yarns) and large easy to read type on a spiral bound book, for flat, no flip pages. Large diagrams and well written instructions. Love having both to go by.
2) Creative and unusual. Lots and lots of new motifs here in all sorts of shapes, from the traditional square to decorative motifs, like the star fish. Well organized layout by shapes.
3) Nice introduction with hints for use, and even aids for making up your own motifs. Well done.
4) Thankfully, the first half of the book is not dedicated to learning how to crochet. Sorry beginners, but there are tons of learn how to crochet books, and I hate spending my money on a pattern book that spends more time showing me how then letting me get at it. Yes, there are charts and a few reminders, and even a glossary, but it’s not overdone.
CONS:
Okay not cons, I love this book, more like a wish list.
I wish there were more squares. I am in need of new motifs for things that must be square, (hint: Title “Beyond-the-Square”) and this book is chockfull of motifs, but fewer squares. There are a fair amount, but not as many as I would have liked.
I wish there were photos of projects. Yes, the book will inspire you, and there are a few pages with cutesy, colored ink drawings, but no actual photos of projects. Just for the sake of eye-candy, because the colored motifs are so striking, I would have loved to have drooled over a few photos of put together projects.
I wish the motifs had names, titles. It’s a trend in books to label patterns by number, but it is an art craft book, let’s have some names. I can remember names, but it’s hard for me to remember “Oh, yeah I want to make number 72 or was that 27?”
Summary: Great book, creative, colorful, fun, and well written. I have made up two motifs so far, and I am very pleased.
V. Schmidt –
This could be anyone’s bible of crochet motifs. As all such books do, this begins with a short course on how to crochet – I suppose it would not do to assume that anyone who buys such a book already knows the basics (better be safe than sorry) – but it is not only well done but also covers valuable information about guage in relation to yarn and hook size, so it does add to the value of the book. The motife patterns are separated into sections by shape, ending with some irregular ones, and also offers a number of practical ideas as to projects to make. IMHO the best part is there is basically one pattern per page and each pattern is rendered three ways – a just-about-life-size multicolor photograph, written instructions, and a round-by-round diagram for each piece. Each motif is created in at least two colors so that you can visually separate the stitches between rows. If the written directions get confusing, it is easy to parse out the diagram to determine what to do at any given point. Also it is simple to make your own modifications if needed. I am attaching a jpeg of the beginning of a project that shows a veritable sampler of motifs from this book along with a couple of my own creation. Together, between this book and its companion on joining motifs, I have everything I need.
Love The Colors and easy to use –
But that doesn’t affect the contents of the book. I’m still considered a novice to crocheting(when does that title wear off?) and actually have no idea how to do a granny square, but want to make some afgans for the back of my couch, among other things 😉
Pictures are very bright, the instructions seem clear enough, and it’ll be a great reason to practice reading patterns and diagrams together to produce something nice.
The only thing I don’t particularly care for is the covering on the spiral binding- it makes it a bit too tight, and I already heard a small tear or two when trying to lay the book flat to look at some of the motifs in the back.
Overall, I’m satisfied with my purchase, although we drove an hour to go to a craft supply store and it was on sale for 30% off there, which put that price at 8.00 versus the 16 that I paid. But if you don’t have sales near you, the price isn’t bad for the overal quality.
EH-C –
Meine Erwartungen wurden mit diesem Buch übertroffen. =D Es hat eine liebevolle Aufmachung, die sich mit durchgängigen Farbabbildungen durch das gesamte Werk zieht. Der Ringbucheinband ist hervorragend, das Buch bleibt beim Arbeiten geöffnet neben einem liegen. Die Anleitungen sind sowohl sprachlich ausformuliert, als auch in internationaler Häkelschrift (Symbolen) dargestellt. Es ist für Anfänger als auch Fortgeschrittene gleichermaßen geeignet. Die Häkelschrift ist für Anfänger zweifarbig gestaltet und das Buch enthält mehrere Workshops zu den Themen: Erlernen der Grundmaschen, Lesen der internationalen Häkelschrift, Runden anfangen/beenden, Hinweise zu Farben, Grundlagen der Planheit mit Problemlösungen, Versäubern von Kanten und häkeln von Borten sowie Arrangieren und Zusammenfügen der Squares. Und nach meiner Meinung sind durchschnittliche Englischkenntnisse zum Lesen dieses Werkes ausreichend, wenn man internationale Häkelschrift kann braucht man eigentlich gar keine.
Zum Abschluss sei noch gesagt, dass Edie Eckman eines in seinem Buch immer wieder deutlich macht, nämlich, dass es um den Spaß an der Sache geht und nicht darum, Vorschriften über Farben und Formen zu machen. Der Nutzer des Buches wird angeleitet seine Fantasie und Vorstellungskraft zu gebrauchen, um das zu machen, was er möchte. Dieses Buch ist für mich definitiv “Mehr als nur Quadrate”, es hat Suchtpotential, weil man tausend Sachen machen will. =D
Riversong –
Questo libro è fatto veramente bene! Le spiegazioni sono chiare, le Illustrazioni altrettanto, la struttura ad anelli lo rende comodo da sfogliare e tenere aperto… Sarebbe bellissimo se ci fosse un’edizione italiana per tutti coloro che magari alle prime armi potrebbero fare fatica a capire le spiegazioni in inglese…
Ma se non avete problemi di lingua questo libro è una miniera di spunti!