Samples were provided to facilitate this review; however, all opinions are my own.

These crochet kits make perfect gifts! Whether your recipient has been crocheting for decades or just a few days, there’s a pattern in every book that’s right for them.  Plus, they come complete with nearly everything a crocheter needs to complete 2-3 of the project included with simple things like scissors they’ll need to own already. While the included tools and yarn are not top-of-the-line, they’re adequate for getting started, and it makes these the perfect kits for traveling or trying out amigurumi creations or for those new to the craft. It’ll give you a taste of what you can do once you upgrade your equipment and yarn for the rest of the patterns, then you’ll find them even more fun!

Each kit includes at least twelve patterns, many with photographic, step-by-step instructions, and introduction to standard crocheting techniques to get you started. Many also include alternate ideas for the pattern and of course, you can create them with your own yarn and color choices to make them truly unique!  You can make these amigurumi cuties as big or small as you like. Use thicker yarn and a larger hook to make them bigger and thinner yarn and a smaller hook to make them more petite. Use the gauge provided for the pattern and do a sample swatch to see how big or small your finished product will be!

Crochet Characters Pattern Kits

Crochet Characters Soft & Snuggly Cacti: 12 Succulent Designs

Crochet Characters Soft & Snuggly Cacti: 12 Succulent Designs

I love these patterns! I completed the two projects included with the pattern book and loved them both. The results were cute little plants that I turned into dog toys for my pups – they adored them! One has lasted more than a month, and they’re still carrying it around in their mouths – it’s too funny!  If you’re making these into dog toys, don’t use the “safety eyes.” They’re not safe for pets or children under 3-years of age.

The patterns are pretty easy to follow, but I’ve had amigurumi experience. You may want to start with one of the patterns marked beginner, to begin with until you understand the way the designer writes her patterns. Do it, and you’ll be rewarded with three- to five-inch little plants in adorable pots (though you could easily use a clay pot as well).

Project 12 (seen below), the large arrangement of cacti, is on my list of crochet projects to do. It’s adorable!

Crochet Characters Sweet & Tasty Treats: 12 Delectable Designs, Everything You Need to Make 2 Scrumptious Projects

Crochet Characters Sweet & Tasty Treats: 12 Delectable Designs, Everything You Need to Make 2 Scrumptious Projects

This was one of my favorite crochet pattern books from the newest releases with its patterns for tea with cookies, Donuts, Cupcakes, a hamburger and hot dog, Sushi rolls, Hard-boiled eggs, Two peas in a Pod, B.L.T sandwich and more. There are 12 in all.

I made the cupcake project with the supplies provided. This yarn was sports weight which is perfect for amigurumi. It wasn’t good quality yarn, but it was okay for the project. The directions were a bit confusing here and there. It’s obvious they’ve been edited for length which is a shame. Still, if you have some crochet experience, you’ll be able to figure it out (at least I did).

I made an error in my sample by adding too many rows to the cupcake wrapper, so mine was out of balance, but it was still adorable. I put the safety eyes in for photos but removed them before giving the cupcake to my dog as a toy. The safety eyes don’t really work for crochet projects unless you back them with a piece of fabric that’s sewn to the amigurumi to prevent them from being pulled through the yarn. It’s these plastic eyes that likely required the warning that these toys are for children ages 3+.

I suggest you stitch eyes on instead of using the safety eyes.  All you need is yarn and a needle to needlepoint an eye or use marking pen if necessary.

The completed crochet project is the perfect size for a small- to medium-sized dog toy.  I  purchased 1″ dog toy replacement squeakers and hid one inside while I added the filling. It’s been a huge hit.

Crochet Characters Winnie the Pooh: All Stuffed with Fluff! Everything You Need to Make Pooh and Piglet

Crochet Characters Winnie the Pooh: All Stuffed with Fluff! Everything You Need to Make Pooh and Piglet

Make a few friends from the Hundred-Acre Wood come to life! This crochet kit includes a pattern book and nearly everything you need to crochet Pooh and Piglet!

Patterns are included for amigurumi versions of Winnie the Pooh, Piglet, Eeyore, Tigger, Rabbit, Kanga, Roo, Owl, Gopher, and Christopher Robin plus Pooh’s Hunny Pot and a Little Black Rain Cloud Set to follow Eeyore around.

Also included are the supplies you need to get started right away including a crochet hook, a tapestry needle, six colors of yarn, embroidery floss, felt, and stuffing.

Crochet Characters Wild & Wooly Animals: 12 Darling Designs, Everything You Need to Make 2 Delightful Projects

Crochet Characters Wild & Wooly Animals: 12 Darling Designs, Everything You Need to Make 2 Delightful Projects

This kit includes crochet patterns for 12 woodland friends ( owl, fox, fawn, beaver, raccoon, squirrel, mouse, skunk, hedgehog, bunny, bird, and tortoise). Materials are provided to complete the fawn and fox.

Crochet Characters Fun & Furry Animals: 12 Charming Designs, Everything You Need to Make 2 Precious Projects

Crochet Characters Fun & Furry Animals: 12 Charming Designs, Everything You Need to Make 2 Precious Projects

This kit includes supplies to complete two of the twelve patterns included – a cuddly koala and a sweet bunny. Patterns range from easy to intermediate, and all projects take only a few hours to complete.

Crochet Characters Cute & Cuddly Animals: 12 Darling Designs, Everything You Need to Make 2 Adorable Projects

Crochet Characters Cute & Cuddly Animals: 12 Darling Designs, Everything You Need to Make 2 Adorable Projects

This kit includes the supplies to complete a plump tropical fish and a goofy beaver with a felted tail. I attempted the beaver but found the yarn incredibly difficult to work with. It’s a shame, but I didn’t complete it. I’ll try again with some better quality yarn that doesn’t split so much. Perhaps a better quality crochet hook would have done the trick. But the two together was a nightmare. I did finish the fish, and he’s adorable. The patterns also include an elephant, bumble bee, giraffe, eggy pig, and more. There are twelve crochet patterns in total.

Teeny Tiny Animal Crochet: 12 Supercute Creatures to Crochet and Cuddle

Teeny Tiny Animal Crochet: 12 Super-cute Creatures to Crochet and Cuddle

This kit has crochet patterns for a bear, cow, monkey, kitten, chick, lamb, bunny, pig, dog, koala, alpaca, and mouse. Materials are provided to complete the cuddly koala bear and the cute-as-a-button bunny.

Creature Crochet: 12 Adorable Animal Patterns

Creature Crochet: 12 Adorable Animal Patterns

This crochet pattern book includes patterns for a fish, beaver, bear pod, elephant, hedgehog, duck, eggy pig, giraffe, alley cats,  ladybug, momma and baby owl, and a bumblebee. If some of them look familiar, you’re right. Several can be found in her other crochet kits. Yarn and materials are included to create the duck and beaver (though you may remember the beaver is one I couldn’t finish in the previous book because of the poor quality of the yarn).

You can also use these patterns as a creative starting point. Make the heads into baby blankets by skipping the body and crocheting a blanket attached to it instead. Or put the head of the animal on one end of a child’s winter scarf and the animal’s bottom on the other half. Or do like I do and add a squeaker and make them dog toys!  Or mount a head on the wall like a crocheted animal trophy! There are so many fun things you can do once you get started!

The kits are suggested for people ages 14+, but I think this is an adult & me type of project book for any new crocheter, especially a young one.

Who’s on your list that would love a complete crochet kit with patterns for Christmas? What about Mother’s Day? A birthday? Or, just because it’s Monday? 🙂

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Becker & Mayer Books! is located in Bellevue, WA

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