Amigurumi Animals: 15 Patterns and Dozens of Techniques for Creating Cute Crochet Creatures

by Annie Obaachan

Amigurumi is the Japanese art of making knitted or crocheted stuffed animals, and it is taking the world by storm. These toys can be a simple or as complex as the maker likes--ranging from a tiny fluffy chick to an elaborate textured elephant. This book provides all the information you need to get started, with tips on choosing yarns and needles, and instruction in core techniques. All of the animal characters can be created using key shapes such as spheres, eggs, cylinders, and flat circles, which are quick and easy to stitch and put together. Includes clear step-by-step instructions for making 15 adorable animals, including a frog with webbed feet, a lion with a crocheted mane, and a cuddly mohair rabbit, plus ideas for creating your own unique designs.

Genres: Crochet, Nonfiction, Crafts, Knitting, Reference

128 pages, Paperback

First published March 4, 2008

Reviews

[Marie Segares · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amigurumi Animals is an interesting book. It doesn't have the greatest amigurumi patterns (my current favorites in that department are Crocheted Softies: 18 Adorable Animals from Around the World and Amigurumi!: Super Happy Crochet Cute). It doesn't have all of the tips and tricks for making your amigurumi look "polished" (that would be The Complete Idiot's Guide to Amigurumi (Complete Idiot's Guides)). So why then does it get 4 stars? Because this is the best book I've seen for providing an understanding of how to design your own amigurumi.

Annie Obaachan opens with a history of amigurumi and Japanese doll making. The book then reviews the standard beginner information (supplies, techniques, etc.).

The real value of this book is in the next 12 pages, in the section called Design Your Own, which includes information about how to design your own animals from sketches, how to create different shapes with crochet, and how to add finishing touches, especially facial expressions and eyes.This section uses a combination of sketches/illustrations and text to describe the techniques required for shaping, construction, and finishing amigurumi.

Obaachan then includes 15 patterns. Each pattern is written with both US pattern abbreviations and international stitch symbols. While the patterns are a mixed bag (and none are in the overly cutesy, yet extremely popular, style of enormous heads and tiny bodies), each project includes an illustration demonstrating how the various pieces join together to create the finished creature. These illustrations really reinforces the lessons from the Design Your Own section.

Finally, Obaachan ends with a gallery of amigurumi from various bloggers and Etsy sellers. It is kind of interesting to check this book out now (it was published in 2008), since many of those designers have since taken off quite a bit.

While I haven't been motivated to make any of the patterns in this book, it is the only amigurumi book I've seen that really explains the creative and technical process. Most other amigurumi books just have you repeating the author's patterns or focusing on tips for executing their patterns well. If you'd like to pick up the hook and design your own amigurumi, this is the book for you.

[Robin Hall · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book teaches you the basics and confidence to create your own creatures. Most books don't teach you "how to fish" only to use their patterns. I like sausage dog pg.78 the best. Also, she has a great gallery at the end that shows you lots of internet sites that have patterns for amigurumi.

[Penny · Rating 4 out of 5]

The patterns can be a bit confussing at first, but it is a very inpiring book that encourages you to alter the patterns and make other creations from it. So far I have made a couple of owls, the cat, the tamki and made my own creation: a grey wolf.

[Mathilda Craft]

These little critters are addictive. I hope I can eventually work up to this.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun patterns

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

I heart heart heart the photographs in this book, and I think it is cool that at its core it wants to help you create your own little guys.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great basic tutorial and introduction into Amigurumi crochet.

[Judi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some cute patterns and instructions o design your own.

[Mary Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute crochet toys. Even teaches how to make up your own toys.

[Colette]

This looks good because it teaches you how to make your own patterns.