Customer Reviews

Amigurumi!: Super Happy Crochet Cute

5 star:		(23)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Amigurumi, the Japanese art of making cute crochet animals, has been popular in Asian countries for years and in the past, it has amazed me that there weren't more books containing this style of crochet available in English. However, it seems that the Western countries have finally caught on to this craze and "Amigurumi!" is one of the books on this topic. In fact, "Amigurumi!" is, without a doubt, my favourite of the amigurumi books that have surfaced in the last year or so.

"Amigurumi!" contains 14 patterns divided into three sections: crocheted food (including a hamburger, cupcakes, cookies and a fish bone), crocheted animals (including a weiner dog, a fawn, a piglet and a mouse), and those four humanoid animals that you can see on the cover of the book. Unlike some of the other amigurumi books that I have seen, where the patterns are incredibly amateurish, made up of a series of balls sewn together, the patterns in this book are well thought-out works of art which would hold their own in a boutique toy store.

Although, I would not recommend that a beginner make one of the humanoid animals as a first project, many of the patterns in this book would be appropriate for beginners (especially the food patterns) and all of the basic stitch techniques are explained in detail at the front of the book. The patterns are all designed to be made with the brightly colored acrylic yarn, which is cheaper than wool and which I have never had any difficulties in obtaining (I buy mine from my local department store).

To use the cliche, if you only buy one amigurumi book, this is the one to buy.

I got this book for my 14 year old daughter who has already made lots of amigurumi from Japanese books. She found it too simplified for HER (oh the teenagerness of it all!) but to ME it is perfect! The only thing we cringed over is the originality of a crochet cheeseburger - as we have seen it done many times in the Japanese books, as purses and tawashi and yes, stuffed toys! This book does a great job of enlightening people about this fantastic craft - new to many, but not to the Japanese!

I have a few Japanese Amigurumi books and was hoping this book will help me decipher those but it is written only in words and not in the Japanese style of a chart with long list of rows with number of stitches. But as a crochet doll book, it is a winner and probably a lot easier to use too. I'm not excited about doing carrots
and not even the cookies thrill me, but the 8 animals and humanoid dolls are terrific. Since I'm doing this for a little child, I have to change certain things like the eyes. Personally, I prefer crocheting dolls to knitting them and there are a lot less crochet toy books than knitting ones. The difference is that knitting makes a flat piece you have to sew up but with this crochet you work around and get body forms and this type of crochet is meant to make oval shapes which can be easily joined to each other. I'm very happy with this book and plan on making several and then hopefully figuring out my own Amigurumi dolls.

The cuteness of this book is what gave it 3 stars. The instructions however would have given it a 1 or 2.... In a well written book a pattern would be completely written out such as "increase 6 times evenly by working *Sc in next st, 2 sc in next st.* Repeat from * to * around - 18 sc."

HOWEVER. In this book it's written as " inc 6 sc evenly space(18 sc)...

which isn't nearly as clear... (another example here)

Rounds 8-13 of the pig are written " inc 3 sc evenly spaced(42 sc at the end of rnd 13)" NOT VERY CLEAR!.

In buying a pattern book, I expect patterns to be written out completely! Not done halfway!. Had I bought this in a book store I would return it. But sense I got it off of amazon. It'll collect dust. I want a pattern book I don't have to do much thinking with... Just look at the pattern and go... Now if your good at breaking down patterns, than you'll be just fine. I'll stick to internet patterns sense those seem to be written a lot clearer!

This is a great first book for amigurumi in America, but gives plenty of information to help you take it to the next level. Yes, amigurumi has been in Japan forever, but most people need a little introduction to it here. So of course the book needs to have some beginner projects. There are 14 projects in this book. It is broken into smallish food type projects, medium animals, and then the larger Humaniods. While the food may be the sort of thing that is seen in Japanese amigurumi books, the other projects have a little more care and detail put into them to make them several steps above the rest.
Once you learn how to construct the body of the humaniods by following her great directions, she encourages you to use your imagination to come up with your own details ( while providing some great ones if you don't feel creative) to make your creation one of a kind. While this book is about crochet, if you look on her website, you can see that she is using knitting to make many parts of her creations now like clothes and hair. So there is lots of inspiration there. This book seems well written and I can't wait to see what comes next from this wonderfully talented artist!

First let me say that I am not an Amigurumi person at all so when this one reached me for review I thought UUUGGGHHH But I am pleasantly surprised. I really like the projects including the cupcakes and hamburger. And the humor sprinkled throughout this book puts me in a wonderful mood, it really is funny. I think if it can make a non amigurumi person rethink trying this art then it might reel you in to.

I bought three books on amigurumi. This is the third one and I'm more pleased with this one than the others. First, the author is very conversational which makes the reading enjoyable. The patterns move from easy to difficult and the reader is highly encouraged to progress from the front to the back in order to add skills as they go. There are some silly items like crocheted hamburgers and fruits and vegetables, but the rest of the designs are absolutely adorable. Rather than sticking with small animals with huge heads, like the Kyuuto book (which is a great book, nonetheless), and rather than all of her designs having the same basic look, like Amigurumi World (which I love, by the way), the author has put together a varied collection of patterns that not only challenge, but appeal to all types of different people. The humanoids are, in a word, awesome, and they open the door for all would-be designers to go beyond "cuteness" and into other realms of 3-dimensional crochet.

I'm a long time knitter, but a very beginning crocheter, and contrary to some of the other reviews, I thought the directions were extremely clear. I learned quite a lot about crochet just from the text. The only thing I would add would be charts rather than strictly text directions, but that's a personal preference.

Have I said that the patterns are amazing? I went to Flickr and Etsy and looked at some of the pictures of what people have made by adapting the designs in this book and it's truly astounding what a single pattern can spark. I also looked at the author's own pictures on the internet and she is more brilliant than her pattern book. It looks as if her well of creativity is far from dry, so I'll be looking for another book from this author. I'll buy it!

As a knitter and crocheter, I usually make afghans, sweaters, hats, and other "adult things." And, usually, I'm not sure for whom I'm making what I'm making. I've been making things for over 30 for the sake of making them.

But, during the California Wildfires, with the air quality too poor to work, jog or visit friends, I needed to really get creative.

The day before the fires, I had just visited a friend who makes small things, with the purpose of seeing a finished product quickly.

I had no idea that that visit would influence my time during and after the fires. Her influence led me to knit many cotton dishcloths, which then led to my curiosity about Amigurumi dolls.

And so, at the end of the fires, "Amigurumi!: Super Happy Crochet Cute" arrived at my door steps.

Who could help not wanting to bring to life these adorable stuffed dolls?

With an open mind and heart, I looked this book over, then couldn't help to read it, because it is conversational, funny, witty and engaging.

The patterns are also easy to follow, because the author anticipates questions that crocheters at various levels may have, before making each project.

The only thing that I disagree with in this book is the skill level designations. Looking at the advanced level dolls, I'd say that because of the directions in this book, if a beginner crocheter wanted to create an advanced level doll, based upon the methodical details in this book, that should be no problem. This, of course, comes down to whether or not you see yourself doing this.

Imagine what great gifts these make for anyone - they inspire joy.

This book is a blast! I already own lots of Japanese amigurumi books, but this book stands out by itself with its funky/cute dolls and excellent sense of humor. I love the vivid pictures too. One thing I need to point out is that some projects are too easy for an experienced crocheter, although this book will definitely suit a beginner. I hope Beth's next book will have more intermediate-level projects.

I had little experience with crocheting when I purchased this. The instructions are easy to read and not intimidating. The dolls turn out so cute your friends will ask you to make more. Some typos in the book were frustrating as they led to my having to remake things but all in all a good book.