Learn the history of heritage crochet techniques, and how to use them to enrich any crochet project. Clear instructions from master teacher Rita de Maintenon, plus 160 photos and online videos, take intermediate-level crochet skills to the next level, allowing you to learn to crochet broomstick lace, hairpin lace, Tunisian lace, Aran cables, and thread lace such as filet crochet, Irish crochet, bullions, and picots. After mastering the basics of these often undervalued traditional skills, learn how to move between them, combine them, and--most importantly--move from pattern dependency to "pattern independence." Readers are guided in how to create their own designer projects without the need of commercial patterns. Original-design examples are featured throughout. This book belongs in every fiber lover’s library as a constant resource of information and inspiration.