Interlocking Crochet: 80 Original Stitch Patterns Plus Techniques and Projects [Paperback]

I only recently purchased this book, but as an avid knitter and crocheter I have already made several blocks from the patterns just trying each one out. This technique is much like Double Knitting in that 2 separate pieces are done simultaneously yet interwoven for a nice thick fabric. Two big differences from double knitting are that the A color is always worked only on the A color and B is always only worked on B. Therefore, the patterns are NOT simply mirror images on front and back as with knitting. The patterns are created by working behind and in front of the other color (not around the other color, which is a tricky part and unlike other 2 color crocheting).
I did find a typo in the first section where the basic directions of the technique are located. On page 12, for Step 3: The end of that paragraph should read the B color is on the "bottom" (is says on top, but the previous sentence tells you that A is on top, and looking at the accompanying graphic shows A on top and B on bottom or underneath). I'm surprised that this particular typo didn't get picked up editorially because those are the basic foundation instructions for the whole book. However, I have made several of the different patterns and have not yet come across any other mistakes - or at least my blocks look like theirs, so I am assuming no mistakes.
I would not recommend this book for a beginning crocheter. You should have mastery of following patterns and the concepts of crochet in front and back of stitches, and front and back post. The crochet stitch from the back is a little awkward because you are pulling the yarn through the fabric from front to back which is opposite of regular crochet.
Once you get the basic 4 interlocking stitches, the possibilities are endless. Several actual project patterns are also given: two scarves, 4 reversible handbags, 2 baby blankets, and 2 afghans, including the cover project.
Another thing I liked is that the projects use yarn recommendations that are common, easy to find yarns. The afghans are made with Caron's Simply Soft and Lion Brand's Vannah's choice, making substituting yarns very easy, unlike some of the "fashion" knitting books.
You can also use almost any of the 35 stitch patterns to make into scarves, or make blocks for a sampler afghan, or in bands like the afghan on the cover. The cover afghan is made of 8 or 10 bands, each using a different stitch motif and different width.

I was very excited about this technique and so pre-ordered the book. What a waste of money! I should have waited for the reviews.

Interlocking crochet involves working in two colors at a time, alternating one color at a time. At no time is color A woven onto color B, or color B onto color A. This understanding is absolutely CRITICAL. Mostly a sort of filet crochet type mesh is created in one color, and interwoven with the other color, creating a neat pattern.

There are NO youtube videos of this technique, and all I could find of it is one blogger who indicated that she knew how to use this technique in the round, but provided no explanations, patterns or pictures. Because of this, I bought the book. I wanted to learn the technique, and the cover afghan looks very pretty.

This book DOES NOT explain in any kind of useful detail how to do this technique. The pictures are substandard and unhelpful, and the explanations barely four sentences for the crux of the technique.

Here's the breakdown:

Step 1: Filet mesh foundation; four paragraphs. Simple enough.
Step 2: Layering; one sentence. Picture provided. Okay.
Step 3: The first row; five paragraphs. Basically you make a filet mesh in each color, and stagger the colors (ie in the space created by the filet mesh window of color A, you place the post of color B).
Step 4: Turning and continuing; one long paragraph. Two pictures. Okay, but sucky pictures. Basically you flip your piece over and try to remember which yarn will be in front and which in back. The pattern reminds you of this anyway.
Step 5: Finishing your design panels; three paragraphs. Basically, because the work is staggered, it needs some cleanup filet mesh at the end to make the design look even.
Step 6: Adding borders and uniting the two layers. Basically, because the work is staggered, you need a single crochet border to make your piece not look wonky.
Half the page is then "Points to Remember". These are super super important, and really should have been placed in the instructions, with pictures and troubleshooting, and explained again. This is the little bulleted list you will turn to when your piece does not look like Ms. Galik's pictures.

Next section: The stitches.
1. Filet mesh (easy enough, one picture, short explanation)
2) Double crochet in back. Foundation of this technique. Three pictures, all horrid. Three sentences of explanation. Personally, when my trial piece didn't work out, and reading and rereading these three lines did not help me, I just did a little trial and error and finally figured it out. Ms. Galik should make a video of this because the book explanation really sucks.
3) Double crochet in front. Three pictures, six sentences. Also unhelpful and horrid. You need to know double crochet in front and double crochet in back to do the fist patterned stitch, the zig zag stitch. These explanation do not cut it.
4) Combined explanation for front post double crochet in front and back post double crochet in back. Two pictures with captions (one sentence apiece) and three short one sentence paragraphs as explanation. I did not graduate to this explanation, as I am still stuck on the zig zag stitch.

Next section: Uniting border stitch.
There is a full page with four pictures on how to single crochet the two colored meshes together. Interesting that this section on single crocheting two pieces of fabric together is longer and more detailed than the sections on the four stitch techniques that are the foundation of the whole book.

Next section: one page on yarn and crochet abbreviations. Standard.
Next section: one page on yarn weight guidelines. Standard.

The above is the first 8 pages of the book. The next portion of the book is the stitch library. Very attractive patterns, one a page, written instructions only (which get more complicated as the complexity of stitches increases). Nice, and would have been adequate if the introductory section on how to do the technique was well written and illustrated.

This is NOT a book for the beginning crocheter.
This is a tricky book for the advanced crocheter (which I consider myself, as I have done scarves, hats, sweaters, socks, afghans, dishcloths, stoles, toys, etc all in crochet).
This might be okay for the intermediate crocheter (which I am not). But you'd have to do a lot of guesswork to fill in the blanks for the instructions Ms. Galik leaves out, so I'm not sure it's worth buying this book.

All in all, this is a terrible crochet book. If you want to admire Ms. Galik's patterns and swatches, and not learn to make them, buy this book. If you want to learn the interlocking crochet technique, skip this book. Or at least, don't pay for it. Check it out of your local library.

The book offers many different stitch patterns, but there are no adequate illistrations provided for any of the stitches, only written instructions. This book is not for a beginning user.