CRAFTY: "Creepy Crawly Crochet" by Megan Kreiner (Craft Book: Crochet)

Creepy Crawly Crochet: 17 Creatures That Go Bump in the Night by Megan Kreiner
	Publisher: Dover Publications Genre: Craft, Crochet Publication Date: September 21st 2016
Other Books by Megan Kreiner
Description from Publisher:
They're creepy but they're cute and cuddly, too! Inspired by classic literature, film, and folklore, these 17 crochet monsters will delight everyone with a taste for old-fashioned thrillers and modern tales of horror. Detailed instructions include assembly diagrams for ease of construction along with full-color photos. The patterns are suitable for beginners, but advanced crocheters will find them irresistible as well. These fetching fiends include Boo Boo the Voodoo Doll; Jack, the Headless Horseman, and his horse, Nightmare; Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde; Carl of the Dead and Daisy, his Zombie Dog; and other sinister characters. In addition to their value as handmade keepsake treasures, these characters also make great gifts for fans of horror and science fiction.
My Rating:
My Musings:
The moment I saw the Cthulhu on the cover of this, I knew I had to have it! And it did not disappoint! I've been crocheting for almost 8 years now and consider myself to be fairly advanced and to have seen my fair share of books and patterns. So when I say that this book has some well-written and obviously well-tested patterns, I mean it! That said, this is a book that is probably best suited for someone who is at least moderately skilled at making amigurumi, considering some of the stitches and techniques used. The photos in this were also pretty darn fantastic and were accurate representations of what the creatures would look like when finished! (Nothing worse than an AmigurumiFail! right? ;) ). The variety in this was also nice, with a good sprinkling of "creepy" creatures, most of which weren't overly "cute" and would be nice gifts for older kids (or, y'know, "kids" ;) ).
My Source: I received a digital ARC from the publisher to voluntarily review. This in no way influenced my review. My opinion is unbiased and my 100% own.

🌟REVIEW: "Crochet Stories: Grimms' Fairy Tales" by Vanessa Putt (Dover Publishing) (Crochet, Craft, Childrens Books)

	Crochet Stories: Grimms' Fairy Tales by Vanessa Putt, Brothers Grimm Publisher: Dover Publications Genre: Crochet, Craft, Childrens Books, Childrens Toys Publication Date: January 14, 2016 (Affiliate links)
Description from Publisher: Practitioners of amigurumi, the Japanese art of crocheting stuffed dolls, will adore this collection of sixteen playful patterns for fairy tale figures. Projects include the witch and the gingerbread house as well as the hero and heroine of "Hansel and Gretel"; the giant and the golden goose's eggs of "Jack and the Beanstalk," in addition to the beanstalk and Jack himself; the long-haired captive of "Rapunzel," her lonely tower, and her rescuer, the prince; the animals of "The Hare and the Hedgehog" plus a juicy carrot; and the wee subject of "Tom Thumb" and his cow. Clear instructions for creating the characters are accompanied by color photos of the finished products along with charming retellings of all five fairy tales. An introductory chapter offers general notes and tips, including pointers on working in the round, stuffing, measurements, and finishing.
My Rating:
I received a digital ARC from the publisher through NetGalley.com for an honest, unbiased review. My opinion is my own. I received a digital ARC from the publisher through NetGalley.com for an honest, unbiased review. My opinion is my own. This book is so cute! I had thought before opening it that it would just be patterns and hadn't realized it has the stories the characters are from as well! What a fantastic idea! The patterns are written clearly and should be easy for even a novice to follow (I would consider myself to be advanced, having written my own patterns and crocheting for 8 years now, just to give an idea of where I'm coming from. :) ). I've made almost the complete set of Jack & the Beanstalk toys and it's so much reading the story to my 3-year-old son and having the toys to play with at the same time.