Book Review: Kyuuto! Japanese Crafts Amigurumi

Takamori Tomoko, Chronicle Books

I've had Kyuuto! Japanese Crafts Amigurumi sitting around for a while. I think it was a present. Then again, I may have impulse bought it. If so it's one of my better impulse buys. It's written by Tomoko Takamori, a researcher of knitting and crochet who started her career in amigurami creation in 1993.

There are several cute little amigurami creatures to make including teddy bears, sheep, tigers, kittens and jackrabbits. I decided to have a go with the little teddy pattern.

The pattern was really easy to use. The author provides a page describing the symbols and stitches used in the book which was great. I'm rubbish at following printed instructions and even I managed to follow these. I even referred back to this book whilst following someone else's pattern. The only criticism I have is that how to start crocheting was not made clear. I had to look that up somewhere else. 

Here is the teddy I made:

He needs a ribbon or something because fool that I am I stitched his head on with thread instead of the wool. He looks a little like he has terrible scarring around his neck. I think with finer wool this would look even cuter. I only have chunky cheap wool though. I will buy better wool - one day when I've finished the cheap stuff.

All in all a very excellent book. I recommend it whole-heartedly! I haven't put it away yet because I want to try more patterns from it. That's the sign of a good craft book.

Book Review: Creepy Cute Crochet by Christen Haden

This, as the title suggests, is a very cute book. It provides patterns for making a variety of amigurumi creatures. Amigurami is Japanese art where you make small stuffed animals or creatures using knitting or crochet. This book is all crochet.

The creatures within the book are all very imaginative and fun. You can make a vampire, a ninja, a zombie, a Spartan and many others. The photographs in the book of the creatures are all adorable and inspiring.

Haden provides clear lists of material needed to make each creature. My only criticism of this book is that it can be difficult to follow the instructions. This is not a book for those who are new to crochet. Also, you really should invest in some crochet markers (like pins to mark your place in the crochet) because I kept losing how many stitches I'd done.

Skeleton bride and groom from Creepy Cute Crochet

I made the above skeletal bride and groom from the book as a wedding gift for a friend. Well, I made the bride and my mother helped me keep to time restraints by making the groom. The stitching on the groom was not pulled quite so tight which is why he is far larger than the bride. This was no veiled comment on the groom himself. It was a little difficult to get started but once started easy to complete.

This is a fun book and I recommend it. It is available on Amazon and probably other bookshops.