Customer Reviews

Family Circle Easy Toys: 25 Delightful Creations to Knit and Crochet

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

 

 

I bought this book because I am a new knitter and an experienced crocheter. I was looking for some patterns for crochet toys or easy knits. This has neither.

That said, there are some very cute and fun patterns. While the fair isle for the ears is a bit complicated (and not at all easy) for the newish knitter, the pig on the cover of the book is a fast project and worth the effort! I am in the middle of the dinosaur for my daughter and am looking forward to making the adorable penguins and polar bear.

If you are an experienced knitter, this is a nice book for making special and unique gifts. If you are looking for crochet patterns, keep looking.

I am a creative knitter, I love these patterns. I don't worry about using the yarn the author used, I pick a yarn of the same gauge that I like and go for it. My oopsy daisy dolls are turning out wonderful (one pink and one blue) and the yarn I purchased for the little pig is going to be adorable. When you knit you should put yourself into the design not just copy the author. Go for it and have fun, with these little animals you can.

I am so sick of publishers putting out books that say "Knit and crochet" then throw in very little (and very stupid) crochet patterns! This "And crochet" is TWO patterns. And they are just crocheted yo-yo's put together to make a snake and a clown. If you don't knit, don't buy this at all!!!!!!!!!!!

I can't say that these patterns are necessarily easy, but I did learn a lot by making them.

The hand puppets shown in the back have been a big hit with everyone, and I have made 6 of them. I also figured out how to make them with circular needles so I could avoid seaming.

The pig was fun to do. The instartia is challenging, especially since the needle size is so small.

But I did! And a bunny! I don't consider myself a great knitter by any means, but the instructions were very easy to follow and my pig actually looked like a pig. Same with the bunny. No, it didn't look like a pig. But you could actually tell what they were!

What a fun book! And I felt such a sense of accomplishment when they were completed.

All the patterns look fun to make. And each pattern recommends the type and color of yarn to use.

I can't wait to start my next project. Those penguins look awfully cute.

Patterns were easy to follow and quick to put together. Cute to make for my Grandchildren. Nice gifts for any occasion. Baby shower, birth, birthday, Christmas or to make a little one smile.

If this book had been titled, Family Circle Easy Toys:23 delightful creations to knit, and two lame yoyo dolls to crochet -

I would have given it 5 starts. The knit projects are varied and cute. Unfortunately, I don't knit well enough to make any of them. If the patterns had included diagrams, or mid-step photos, I may have been able to adapt some of the knit projects to crochet (but no such luck).

The crochet patterns were hideous. I was never a fan of the stacked yoyo dolls, anyway (Popular in the 50's and 60's, usually made with fabric circles, strung together to make critters and people with arms and legs that look like a stack of pancakes), but these were the worst of the worst. Completely cliche - not even a touch of creativity or smidgen of originality. The ubiquitous yoyo clown - and (perhaps something original? Oh, no) a CATERPILLAR. Yep, just string together a couple dozen crochet disks and attack a round head!

If the two crochet patterns had been as "delightful" as the knit projects, I would have been merely disappointed. But I found the disparity between quality, variety, creativity, personality and creative pazazz of the knit projects, and the completely lackluster, unoriginal crochet projects - not just disappointing but offensive.

The two crochet patterns are so similar, they shouldn't even be considered two patterns. The caterpillar appears to be the clown without his hat and limbs. The pattern is so simple, that even many beginning crocheters wouldn't need a pattern. If you've ever made a flat circle or a round ball - you've got the pattern. Just make one ball, and lots of circles - string them together.

If you knit, you may enjoy this book. But if you crochet, don't bother. Even if you love yoyo dolls, you can find much more unique examples free online.

My daughter loved the book. She has started making her second item. The animals are very cute.

I am an experienced knitter, and am not pleased with the book. There are two items I was interested in making, the pig and the large teddy bear. The yarn requirement for the pig was off -- it called for one skein of the main color, but really needed 1 skein plus a couple yards. The yarn recommended for the large bear is a discontinued color. While it is possible to use a different yarn with the same gauge, it will not be the bear in the photo. I am very hesitant to try any other patterns in the book.