Sweet and Simple Amigurumi Friends: A Step-by-Step Guide to Crocheting 15 Charming Animals from One Base Pattern

Making her English-language debut, crochet artist Sonnenschein presents an adorable manual on creating amigurumi, small stuffed creatures made of yarn. Her go-to supplies include sport weight cotton yarn and a 2.5 mm hook, but she encourages readers to experiment with different types of yarn and hook sizes. Although there’s no review of basic crochet stitches, she offers detailed instructions and step-by-step photos of important techniques, such as creating seamless edges and embroidering eyes. Projects include “Naomi the Rabbit,” “Vincent the Donkey,” “Caroline the Pig,” and “Samuel the Dragon.” The bodies of each creature are identical, which permits crocheters to mix and match their clothes and color schemes. For instance, readers can swap out the dress and head bow for “Ella the Deer” with the ruffled-collar pajamas and nightcap from “Valdemar the Bear.” Similarly, the earflap cap found in the “Erik the Duck” pattern could make a wonderful addition to “Pilou the Hedgehog,” who sports long overalls. The instructions are easy to follow for those familiar with crochet patterns. Experienced amigurumi makers and confident beginners will want to add this to their libraries. (June)