Customer Reviews

Amigurumi Knits: Patterns for 20 Cute Mini Knits

5 star:		(24)
4 star:		(17)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

An amazing book of very complicated knitting patterns that use advanced techniques like short-rows. I can't imagine how a designer can visualize the complex 3 dimensional shaping done here via the short rows!

I am an advanced knitter and decided to take on the Jackalope pattern which has this complicated body shaping. I knit stuffed critters all the time including comparable patterns which also use short row shaping. The directions here were unclear in several places. First a note prior to row 35 that indicates that the openings for the legs will be knitted holes done by a series of bind offs followed by a series of cast ons. However, the actual directions for these pattern rows (35, 36) do not contain any bind offs. Instead, the stiches are left live on a holder and picked up later when you knit the leg separately. As written the directions for creating these openings seems to be in error with very comfusing turns for the cast on rows for the upper side of the openings.

This is a shame because if anything, this book has more detailed directions than most do with almost every individual row explicitly written out. (Which I really appreciate.) The directions for casting on and turning in the rows for these openings just doesn't make any sense to me. I did figure out how to get the openings correctly in place by using the loop cast on and knitting straight accross the row without the turning.

Later, when I finally got to the end of the first leg after picking up on the opening it was upside down with the pad for the foot ending up on the top instead of the bottom. Very explicit comments for these areas of the pattern would really improve it. There seems to be no comments at all about how knitting the second leg might be different due to the right/left orrientation.

I really like the projects in this book but it is rather ominous that the first pattern I tried had these problems. I was not able to find an errata page for the book or for the Jackalope pattern. I did find errata for other projects that are included in the book and I hope that the book contains the corrected versions of those patterns. (One of the other reviews indicates that many of the patterns were/are available for individual purchase.)

This book has incredible, detailed patterns. As others have said, it is not for the uninitiated, but is wonderfully challenging for those who are beyond scarves & hats.

If you want a quick gauge as to whether or not this is the book for you, the author has a free jellyfish pattern available on Craftzine (Hansigurumi Juvenile Sea Nettle).

I've knitted for years, but I've never knitted anything quite as unusual as these imaginative critters. Here's my take on this book:

PROS:

1. I have never seen such imagination at work. And when I think of the difficulty of putting these imaginative designs into patterns that ordinary knitters can follow, I am truly in awe of Hansi's skills.

2. There's plenty to learn in these patterns that even an experienced knitter will find helpful and challenging as well.

3. Hansi has included an excellent explanation of stitches and techniques in the front of the book. By all means, read this part before you begin.

CONS:
1. Hansi knits Continental style, so not all stitches will work for American style knitters. Because I'm not going to learn another style of knitting, I had to adjust certain increases to suit my knitting style.

2. Although these are marvelously detailed patterns, certain instructions are a bit too brief. I've had to learn to decode her particular style of instructions.

In all, a terrific book! These knit animals are suitable for a variety of ages and will entertain the knitter while producing adorable results (see my red anglerfish in images).

By the way, Hansi has a new pattern for chameleons. I haven't tried it yet, but it looks challenging.

Highly recommended!

These are a collection of some of Hansi Singh's popular patterns. You can see many pictures of her patterns or buy these patterns individually on etsy.com or ravelry.com. She uses a lot of short row shaping. Excellent patterns that are very true to life.

Hansi Singh has produced a remarkable book with wonderful, innovative patterns. The finished projects are delightfully unusual: a Loch Ness monster, starfish, clove of garlic, peas in a pod, and a kraken, to name a few.

Unfortunately, it appears this book did not go through a sufficient test knitting/editing process. I have made the Loch Ness monster and the angler fish; both have contained errors. Postings on an online knitting group I belong to list errors in other patterns as well. An experienced knitter will be able to spot & correct the mistakes while a beginner might run into trouble.

All in all, I am very happy that I bought the book & plan on making more of the projects.

Im a beginner and when I say beginner it means that the only thing I knitted so far is a scarf. And now I can add an aubergine a tomatoe and a carrot to that list. Or almost, I think there is an error in the pattern of the fronds but I'm not sure, it could be my lack of experience or my bad english. I love this book although I don't like the fact that it seems to hold some mistakes. But its definately a great motivation to pick up those knitting needles. Oh and I do have crochet experience so maybe I inderstand things faster than a 'regular' beginner.

Amigurumi are Japanese knitted novelties or toys; the name is a combination of "ami" meaning knitted or crocheted or knitted, and nuigurumi, which means a little stuffed toy. The toy can be a bear or doll, or even a crab, shrimp, lobster (lobstah to my friends in New England), or even a vegetable. (Hey, hey, vegan stuffed animals!)

The patterns in this book include a bouquet garni of vegetables, including a very cute peas-in-pod, some sea creatures including jellyfish and a totally adorable hermit crab in a shell, a snail, a redoubtable lady angler fish with optional parasite male attached, and a beautiful praying mantis. I love praying mantis, and it's always a good day when I see one in my garden. The knitted one is pretty enough to be worn as an ornament.

That's the fun of these--yes, kids love them and Grammy can be making toys for her grandkids, but the avid knitter could also use them for package ornaments, Christmas tree ornaments, put them in wreaths, make hangings, put them on plain sweaters, you name it.

The only issue I have with knitting these is that the scale is small, and if you start the pattern in the round, it is very tough going until there is some fabric to grab onto. If you are slightly (or very) klutzy, this is probably enough to send you over the cliff. The instructions are not particularly clear if you don't "get" what is being done; a lot of the patterns have you draw up loops from knitted fabric and start knitting dimensional portions on top, for example, picking up loops from inside the peapod, a sort of flattish canoe shape, and making the peas rise up from loops you pick up inside the pod.

In short, not for the knit-neophyte, probably. If you are adventuresome and don't mind banging your head against the desk and ripping out things until you get it the right way, go for it. A lot of fun, once the initial confusion is past.

These instructions are so easy to follow. Each pattern has a difficulty level, but they are so clear that even beginners can quickly learn the skills to make the advance patterns. I have years of knitting experience, but have made almost only square products like scarves and blankets. This book was my first attempt at making any kind of toy or super shaped object. The first pattern I tried was the Kracken (giant squid). It's rated at intermediate/advanced level, and I flew through the pattern.
The glossary is easy to find and read, and the pictured instructions at the book clearly teach you every skill you need to know to complete all of the patterns in the book.
My only wish is that there were some more typically "cute" patterns like mammals, instead of all vegetables, insects, sea creatures and the few cryptozoological animals (although those are my favorites). Despite that wish, this book has quickly become a treasure to me!

I bought the Kindle version to use on my Motorola Xoom tablet. The table of contents does not come up, the photos are in black and white, it is difficult to search for a pattern, and the book crashes often. The book is great so far, it's just impossible to use the electronic version.

This is a great book! I only began knitting this past summer and I found the patterns challenging but fun. I don't think that new knitter's should be intimidated by these projects. With the instructions and the detailed pictures it was easy to follow. My son absolutely loves the things I make from Hansi's patterns. If you like the toys on the cover, then go for it!