Crochet Monsters
The latest from the Crafty Intentions blogger is a “quirky guide,” per PW’s review, to crocheting “uniformly cute” creatures with mix-and-match attributes. “Many of the parts are drawn from nature, such as the spider legs, axolotl head flaps, rabbit ears, and walrus tusks,” while others include “a dragon tail and bulbous clawed limbs that call to mind Maurice Sendak’s wild things.”
Cross-Stitch in the Forest
This collection introduces the fundamentals of cross-stich before detailing its 25 projects. Pigeon, a wildlife biologist, includes notes about the flora and fauna that inspired each pattern, such as eagles, moose, bluejays, and the world’s tallest tree, a coast redwood named Hyperion whose “exact location remains secret in order to protect the giant tree and its surrounding habitat.”
In Stitches
Housley’s Coral & Tusk studio specializes in animal- and nature-themed embroideries for a variety of household goods—pillows, tissue box covers, advent calendars, and more. Her anthropomorphic menagerie of bison-riding racoons, camping foxes, and owls in patterned pajamas are borne of her outdoor explorations. “Throughout the year I observe animal footprints and traces of their habitats, and when I am lucky the animals themselves,” she writes. “I relish these glimpses of them and their secret lives.”
Knit a Mini Woodland
Ishii left behind a Wall Street career for a life of crafting; her newest knitting book includes patterns for a bestiary of 20 tiny forest creatures, including fawns, hedgehogs, and brown bears. “These animals seem to converse with each other, as if they lived in their own little fairy tale world,” she writes. The versatile critters can “accompany bedtime stories for children” or simply “sit on your desk or perch by the window” as a reminder of the wide world beyond.
Needlepainted Woodland Animals
“I am endlessly fascinated and touched by the fragility of our wildlife here in Britain,” embroidery artist Giordano writes, “and I have spent countless hours studying, drawing and embroidering these animals.” In what’s more an art book than an instructional, she leads readers from initial design idea through to completion, taking into account color palettes, composition, design transfer, and display. Throughout, she advocates for freedom from constraints—her process is “freehand, following the flow of the subject and making decisions as I go.”
