Book Review: Crocheted Softies
Today I have an adorable book for you by Stacey Trock.
Crocheted Softies
has 18 adorable animal toy projects from around the world. You can see a few of my favorites to the side here. Maple the Moose, Hootie the Owl, and Milton the Slowpoke Snail.Now if you are like me, I read through all the beginning material and then browse through the patterns. I love seeing how other designers describe anything from basics to more challenging techniques. For instance, I was really interested to find out why all the projects are crocheted in the back loop only. Was it a cultural thing? A technique? Just the way she does it? Stuff like that is really interesting to me. Turns out that she says that there are less holes for the stuffing to pop out that way, neat. Besides those kinds of tips she goes into detail on how to sew all the pieces together to get the exact look in the book. The other neat thing is her yarn choice. She uses local yarn store yarns sure; but she has chosen to feature companies that have an eco presence. Whether they are eco-friendly, or give back to the community in some way. Of course, you can use any yarn you want to crochet animals. I usually use acrylic for babies, in case they have a wool allergy that we do not know about. But that's the great thing about toys, you can substitute easily and yours just might end up being a bit smaller or larger then the books. But its a toy, so who cares, right?
One thing to watch out for is the written directions. For those of you familiar with Crochet Today or Interweave Patterns, it will take your brain a while to read her patterns. Especially if you are dyslexic like me. Instead of having the # of sts you need to crochet before the abbreviation it is after, in the European style. Meaning 2 single crochets in the next stitch is written "Sc 2 in next st" instead of "2 sc in next st". It is a simple thing, but it can easily get transposed to "sc in next 2 sts" in your mind when you are used to US pattern style. I just wanted to let you know so you can remind yourself.
Now for the good news, I have 2 copies to giveaway! Leave a comment here on the blog (or email me) your favorite animal from the book. You can see them all on ravelry. I will let CJ pick out her favorite and pick from those entries to win a copy. You have to Dec 17 at midnight (EST) to enter. Don't forget to make sure there is a way for me to contact you once you win. Good Luck!
25 comments:
There are so many to choose from it's difficult. I would have to say that as it's Christmas my favorite would have to be the reindeer :-)
too cute... and what a great tip about the blo! I love the jellyfish and crab; they'd fit right into my daughters 'under the sea' bedroom theme.
They all have such personality, but I would have to say my favorite is Maple the Moose. This seems to be moose weather.
"A favorite" implies one project tickles our fancy more than the others. Have you seen the pictures (oh, well of course you have). I just went to Ravelry and was delighted by something in each and every project!
I ADORE the ruffle on Gordon (Sting the Jellyfish). Mike and Mac (Microbe and Macrobe) are fluffy GOODNESS. Mr. Crabby makes me giggle he's way too CUTE to be moody. Oh, and I'm drooling over the yarns used on Sherwin the Alpaca - the white ones are FANTASTIC!.
If hard pressed to choose a favorite, I would say Stretch the Giraffe is my top pick. The outstretched arms beckon for a hug and the checkerboard spots give it a touch of whimsy. It is cuddly goodness.
Love it!
PS: Thanks for the awesome review of the book. It looks delightful. The extra tips on why to use back loop only and details on sewing placement are awesome. Both thorough and thoughtful!
You've done a great job of highlighting some of the standout things about this fun crochet book.
What a wonderful giveaway and such cute softies! I think all of the softies are adorable but if I just had to pick one I would pick salty the crocodile because he is just so cute.
I am expecting my first child in April and would love to win this book so I can make some of these animals for our nursery as I think we have settled on some type of jungle/animal theme for either a boy or girl!
Thanks for the giveaway and awesome review... very informative :)
I love Milton the slowpoke snail. He is such a cutie. I would love to make a variety of Miltons in different sizes and possibly colours as well. As a side point, did you know that a garden snails can travel at a top speed of 0.1 Km per hour? That means that in 10 hours they could travel a whole kilometer. (http://www.speedofanimals.com/animals/garden_snail) That seems like a long way for such a small creature! Thank you for the review and the giveaway!
I also wondered why some crocheters worked in the backloops when making amigurumi - now I know.
Having to choose just one I think I will go with Stretch the Giraffe.
It has to be Stretch the Giraffe for me too. I love the idea of working in the back loops only, I must try it, it'd be easier than dying stuffing to match the yarn(i know it's crazy but it drives me dotty when I can see the stuffing). I read in a crochet book recently that crochet used to only be worked in one loop and that's why work had a clear back and front but now people usually work through both loops.
I would like to make all of them, but since you asked me to pick just one, I would have to say Hootie the Owl.
I would have to pick Maple the Moose, there is just something about him! Thanks for the chance to win, this seems like a great book!
These animals are cute. The owl is adorable. I found your review helpful. I didn't know crocheting in the back loop was good for the stuffing part. Thanks for the info and the opportunity to win this book!
It's so tough to choose but I think I would have to go with the Alpaca's.
I can't stand it, they're so cute! I think I like the snail the best. Or, maybe, the alien.
I love Zork the Alien! I also think the Alpaca is terrific, and the snail has an amazing amount of detail! I am definitely putting this on my book list for next year.
Oh, they are all so cute, but I am loving that slowpoke snail. The snake rates up there, too, though.
What fun crocheted toys! My favorite is Milton the Slowpoke Snail.
kacyrellis (at) gmail [dot] com
I am catching up on your blog tonight - so excited to find this review! I decided this week to make a stuffed toy for my sister's soon-to-be-here baby, and Maple the Moose is perfect. So adorable!
I'm a biologist and am loving the diversity of crocheted life I see in the pictures. Microbes, invertebrates, and vertebrates! The kids out there need these and I think I could make some!
These are adorable! I can't choose between Stretch and Sherwin :o) And my little princess loves the crab!
I love crochet, and thank you for this give away, and I have to say the owl is my favorite. He caught my eye right off the bat when I first saw this book online. My 9 month old granddaughter, Amelia, has owls as her bedroom theme and this so matches.
Can hardly wait to try the Amelia cardigan when your book comes out!!
Merry Christmas!
My sister would immediately want me to make her the giraffe, but my personal favorite is Maple the Moose
They are all cute, especially the Moose, Giraffe, and Owl. But the Alpaca is my favorite. My Mom, Aunt and I have recently discovered alpaca yarn and love the local alpaca ranch. I am actually wearing alpaca socks right now. I really need to make this one.
Hello Faye, I'm fairly new to crocheting I did find a teddy bear head that I crocheted for Christmas ornaments, after giving one to sister, she wanted the rest of the bear, well,this can be difficult to do. That is when I found the softy owl off your web site and would like the cost and degree of easy to hard for a beginner?
Thanks for your web site.
Renee
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