Tomorrow is World Animal Day. To celebrate I am sharing a book to knit adorable stuffed animals. This way you can make an animal or two for your child to play with or for you to cuddle! The book is Adorable Knitted Animals: Cute Stuffed Toys to Knit the Japanese Way by Hiroko Ibuki.
From the Publisher:
Sweet and soft animal friends made with popular Japanese knitting techniques.This collection of 25 cuddly toy animals includes everything from favorite pets to zoo animals. Made with soft materials and adorable expressions, these sweet companions make the perfect gift for newborns, grandchildren and animal lovers alike. While some fit in the palm of your hand, the largest is the huggable size of 16 inches (40 cm).
The knitted animal projects in this book include:
- Beatrix the Rabbit
- William the Penguin
- Mimi the Japanese Dormouse
- Winston the Sloth
- Frannie the Doe
- Harry the Hedgehog
- And many more!
Each animal is knitted in parts and then felted and sewn together. Detailed instructions and photos guide you through the key steps of construction, while a set of steps for executing specific stitches simplifies the process. Clear explanations of the knitting charts and symbols help you learn the basics of Japanese-style knitting. Projects should be knit with natural fibers that can be felted to achieve that perfectly cozy feel.
In creating these cute critters, author Hiroko Ibuki pored over the details of each animal—striving to make them cute, while also capturing their unique characteristics. The result is a collection of charming toys full of personality and room for creativity.
Toys with removable features are not recommended for infants.
From Me:
Sadly I have not been knitting or crafting much lately. Life has gotten too busy and when I do have time I tend to work on my diamond painting if I do anything, but even those are going slowly lately. However I have had this fun book sitting on my shelf and I wanted to share it with you. It is the perfect time to pick up the knitting needles and make an adorable animal for the holidays! There are twenty-five animals including two dogs and two cats, hedgehog, pig, lamb, rabbit, bear, seal, polar bear, penguin, doe, fox, dormouse, donkey, badger, leopard, lion, tiger, skunk, sloth, gibbon, elephant, and zebra. Which will you make first?
The book is set up with photos of the different projects. Then there is information about the tools, materials and instructions. Then they go through the entire tutorial for the first animal (Charles, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel). It includes instructions for stitching pieces together, making the head and finishing and stuffing. This project has more information and detail than the rest since it is sharing the "extra" instructions that will be used in each one. The rest of the patterns are black and white.
Japanese knitting is different than American or European knitting. The instructions are given differently but are easy enough to follow. The animals are fun and cute! Some are felted so you will want to knit with wool.
I hope you will check the book out. It is so fun!
