Reversible Crochet Sweaters by Ana-Maria Babanica Review and Giveaway

Reversible Crochet Sweaters by Ana-Maria Babanica is a fabulous new book that features interlocking crochet in sweaters and accessories! With two-sided designs in XS to 5X, you'll want to take a peek inside below, and then enter to win your own copy, right here on Moogly!

Disclaimer: I was given a copy of this book for review; all opinions are my own. This post includes affiliate links. 

Reversible Crochet Sweaters Review

A Bit About the Author - Our Interview

Author Ana-Maria Babanica is all about "writing ultra-detailed patterns" and size inclusivity! Here's her author blurb:

"Ana-Maria Babanica is an independent crochet designer and creator of Crochet Highway. She is renowned for her innovative reversible crochet patterns featuring bold, high-contrast color combinations. She lives in Romania." In addition to her site, she runs the Crochet Highway Etsy shop!

I got a chance to ask her a few questions, too! Here's what she had to say:

Moogly: As a designer, creating beautiful wearables is always a challenge, but making them interlocking and reversible is advanced stuff! What first inspired you to explore interlocking crochet for fully reversible garments?

Ana-Maria: I’ve always been fascinated by crochet techniques that let you play with color without the headache of juggling multiple yarn strands at once. For me, the joy of colorwork is in the visual impact, not in babysitting a bunch of tangled yarn balls on the sofa! That’s why techniques like tapestry crochet or intarsia never felt quite right for me, because I find that they demand so much focus on managing your tension on the floats, stitching over inactive yarn, or worrying about the “back side” of the work looking messy. Of course, there’s a time and a place for everything, and if you love those techniques, more power to you! I’d just rather be creating, not untangling. I accidentally discovered interlocking crochet one day and had this total “where have you been all my life?” moment. ONE yarn at a time. Bold, striking colorwork. No floats, no tangles, no headaches. It fit my personal crochet style so perfectly that I immediately started imagining how I could push it further, not just in flat blankets or squares, but in wearable art. And the best part? The fabric is completely reversible. Each side tells its own story, and that’s a dream when you’re thinking about clothing, because you basically get two sweaters in one.

Moogly: Can you tell me more about these seven “mini collections”? 

Ana-Maria: Mini collections are my thing! There’s something deeply satisfying about a perfectly coordinated set, and my audience is obsessed with them too. Picture this: You finish a gorgeous sweater (huge accomplishment!), then whip up a matching cowl or mittens using the same colors and pattern. Suddenly you’ve got this killer handmade outfit that no fast fashion brand could ever replicate. It’s like wearing your own personal art collection. Plus, let’s be real, starting with a whole sweater can be intimidating. But a hat? That’s totally doable. These accessories are perfect for testing the waters with interlocking crochet. You learn the technique, build confidence, and end up with something you’ll actually wear. Everyone wins!

Moogly: Why was size-inclusivity (XS to 5X) important to you, and what design challenges did that pose?

Ana-Maria: Because crochet is for EVERY body. Period. Making patterns that only fit a narrow range of sizes? Not interested. My patterns go from XS to at least 5X, plus I throw in customization notes so you can tweak things for YOUR specific body. The math behind size-inclusive designs can sometimes get pretty intense (trust me, there’s a LOT of calculating happening behind the scenes, especially for seamless designs). But when someone messages me saying they finally found a pattern that fits them beautifully? Worth every spreadsheet.

Moogly: Your book includes detailed swatch instructions and photo tutorials. Is that teaching approach reflected in the rest of your work? 

Ana-Maria: Absolutely! The patterns in the book are really just building and improving upon the way I’ve always written patterns. I want my instructions to be as clear and as detailed as possible; so, even if the pattern is, say, advanced level, and you know you’re more of an intermediate crocheter, you could still follow them if you’re willing to put in the time, mental effort, and take it slow. And while words are great, sometimes you need to SEE what “yarn over and pull through” actually looks like in that specific moment. That’s why I pack my patterns with photos. Plus, a good photo tutorial speaks all languages, which is super helpful when your patterns reach crocheters around the world!

Moogly: Which mini-collection from the book was the most challenging or creatively rewarding for you—and why? 

Ana-Maria: Honestly? I got a kick out of mixing up the construction methods. Drop-shoulders, dolmans, circular yokes, raglans… each one was its own puzzle to solve. I could’ve played it safe and stuck with one formula, but where’s the fun in that? Instead, you get bishop sleeves here, faux i-cord edging there, top-down versus bottom-up sweaters, working both flat and in the round, some clever shaping tricks throughout. Each collection stretched my creativity in a different direction, which kept things exciting for me (and hopefully for you too!).

Moogly: In your experience, what are the biggest challenges for crocheters learning to create advanced reversible and interlocking techniques? 

Ana-Maria: The hardest part is unlearning assumptions. Interlocking crochet isn’t mosaic crochet, rather it’s two interwoven layers of mesh fabric, so the stitches interact in a different way. Beginners often trip up by thinking they “know what’s coming” and skipping ahead. My advice? Slow down, trust the pattern, and follow the step-by-step photos religiously, even if you think you’ve got it. The “aha!” moment usually hits when you realize how the layers lock together. Suddenly, the fabric makes sense in your hands. And after that, it’s smooth sailing.

Moogly: What are your top tips for crocheters to get started with reversible designs or interlocking crochet?

Ana-Maria: Here’s the beautiful truth: if you can double crochet and chain, you’re basically ready. No fancy hooks, no special yarn required. Really, it’s that simple! I will say that color contrast is key, though. Pair two highly contrasting yarns so the colorwork pattern pops. I love mixing solids or semi-solids with hand-dyed variegated colorways, but I avoid using two variegated yarns together (trust me, it’s a muddy mess). For practice, I recommend starting small. Like I said before, start with accessories from the book. They’re quick wins that teach you the technique without the commitment of a full sweater. They’re such quick, useful, and confidence-building projects!

Moogly: Looking ahead, do you have plans for future books or projects building on reversible/interlocking crochet?

Ana-Maria: rubs hands together excitedly My second book manuscript is already in! Can’t spill all the tea yet, but it’s 100% interlocking crochet. There’s so much more coming: new projects, collabs, ideas I’m dying to share. Hit follow on my Instagram and sign up for my newsletter on my website. Trust me, you don’t want to miss what’s brewing!

My Peek Inside Reversible Crochet Sweaters

There are 16 total patterns inside Reversible Crochet Sweaters, but of course, there's an intro section first - and you don't want to skip past it! Interlocking crochet is a unique technique. While the stitches themselves are simple, it's the way that comes together that makes the magic.

And it can take a minute to get your head around it. But Ana-Maria has included great tutorials with clear close-up photos, including info on color changes, increases, and decreases. And there's a section on Sweater Construction that's super educational, even beyond this book!

Of course, turning these patterns into garments is a challenge - and Ana-Maria has done it! Inside Reversible Crochet Sweaters are patterns that will keep you entertained, challenged, and excited. There are tons of high quality photos accompanying each design. There are tips, tricks, and every measurement you could ask for to help you make your own gorgeous pieces!

Get your own copy of Reversible Crochet Sweaters today!

Purchase your own copy of this book on Amazon, or ask for it at your local bookseller!

The Reversible Crochet Sweaters Giveaway

The Reversible Crochet Sweaters Giveaway is open in the US and Canada. The giveaway ends November 25, 2025, at 12:15am Central US time. To enter, use the Kingsumo form below. Only the email option is mandatory – all other tasks are optional, for bonus entries only.

One winner will receive a paperback copy of Reversible Crochet Sweaters, courtesy of  Page Street Publishing. They will be notified by email. If the form below does not load properly, please CLICK HERE to enter.

GOOD LUCK ALL!

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