Review of The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Amigurumi

The Complete Idiot's Guide to AmigurumiI know, your first thought was probably “what the heck is amigurumi and how do you pronounce it?” Amigurumi is pronounced ah-mee-goo-roo-mee and it is Japanese for crochet (or knit) a stuffed toy.

Chances are you’ve probably seen some of these little stuffed toys somewhere, at craft shows or in your friend’s house. My daughter’s friend crocheted a bunny for her. I had no idea there was a Japanese name for this new crafty craze that has teens and tweens crocheting.

My mother taught me how to crochet when I was little. It’s one of the only domestic crafts I know how to do. Eventually I hope to learn how to sew and knit. It’s been awhile since I picked up a crochet needle but this book has inspired me to see if I can still hook and stitch.

The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Amigurumi is very easy to read and understand, complete with detailed instructions that show you step by step what to do to create your amigurumi.

My daughter is nuts over the hamsters and is giving it a try. I love the little holiday guys pictured in the middle of the book in the color insert. There are snowman, elves and reindeer too. They’re too cute and so perfect for the upcoming holidays. Next year I’d like to stitch a witch and black cat for Halloween. Those are pictured in the middle of the book in the full color insert along with many other ideas.

The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Amigurumi will start you out with basic crochet tools and instructions then you’ll get into amigurumi creation from designing to crochet stitching. You’ll learn how to make amigurumi that are poseable and amigurumi that are fuzzy. You’ll get step by step tutorials and patterns for making hamsters, toadstools, mushrooms and a boy and a girl amigurumi along with basic ideas and directions for several other designs.

The only thing I didn’t like about the book is that it didn’t offer more detailed patterns and step by step tutorials. It does give you a good solid foundation for staring to crochet amigurumi though. If you’ve never done it before you’ll be a pro by the time you finish this book. I was so excited I went in search of more amigurumi patterns and found these great (and free) holiday patterns online: snowmen, turkey, and a whole lot of other Christmas designs. To get many of the free patterns you have to sign up at Lion Brandbut it’s a free membership. It’s well worth it as there are hundreds and hundreds of free craft, crochet and knitting patterns.

I’m am so excited that this book opened my eyes to a whole new world of crafts that I can make. Check it out, you might “hook your way to a new hobby” too.

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