Review: After over 20 years when I was in highschool Im starting up crocheting again. I went to an event and vendors were selling these adorable little things which I later learned were called amigurumi, a Japanese art form of making crochet dolls and figures. They are the most adorable things ever in my opinion and make great gifts. So I’m really a serious beginner scouring utube. I’m learning the language and so far prior to receiving this book can tie a slip knot, chain, single stich and change colors fairly easily. I’m still working on counting my stiches and getting my tension just right. Basically with my current skills I can make a dish rag, blanket, scarf etc but no figures or clothing yet. This book does a great job explaining needed tools, stiches, abbreviations and various techniques. The patterns are clearly written and includes color pictures , a list of materials, abbreviations etc. Here’s where it’s not exactly a 5 star personally for me. The projects are not listed from easy to intermediate to more challenging therefore someone inexperienced must look through and try to determine where to start, hard to do as a beginner. I feel the blueberry or strawberry is a good first project for the absolute beginner and is where I will likely start. To the writer, first off thank you for the book, it is lovely. If you ever revise your book please included really basic step by step for an absolute beginner project ( maybe even a video). The instruction needs to be more written for a beginner not just listed stiches. It would be helpful to have a very detailed instruction written for one project to get going easier. Other than that when I figure out the stiches the pattern needs I feel the book will be really fun. Nothing seems very hard but learning everything at once is the hard part. Therefore, I feel an absolute beginner will likely need more then this book and will still need to watch tutorials on utube to get the basics down. The book does not claim to be a beginner book ( so I won’t minus a star) but it’s an instructional manual for crochet and making dolls. Someone who already knows how to crochet will find these project a breeze. I am pleased with the book and do recomend it. I am an artist and very good at crafting and creating things but I just personally needed more ( visual/written) instruction to get going with this. The book is a great resource and has already helped me understand what I need to understand/learn to begin creating amigurumi. It also really simplified using various needles and techniques to add facial features. I think one project should have included how to make and connect a crochet eye as opposed to always using a safety eye, especially since the author mentioned she uses that method for folks for babies/young children. It is also nice for those who want to achieve the look of 100% fabric dolls. Al in all, very nice book and I’m happy I got it. The stitched sample is me playing with blue Petite Silk Lame (gray lines) and a size 12 Kreinik Metallic (on 18-mesh). Just a friendly reminder from the last post about this layering, do not forget to slide the last stitch of (of the gray lines) UNDER the pre-existing stitch in the sequence. Just over 200 small stitches, including updated and sequenced diagrams from the #whimsicalwednesday blog and a cache of previously unpublished stitches from class projects and private lessons. This tall symmetry of this stitch also lends itself for elegant architectural applications, such as the columns of a fireplace mantle, or a door.It would make a fantastic roof, especially on the horizontal axis. For my first make from the book, I chose to crochet the Pie pattern, although I decided to change up the colors and turn it into a delicious yellow cake with vanilla frosting! The literal cherry on top was my favorite part! It added loads of personality to the cake.

Frankly, the first thing I thought of as I stitched it was how this stitch would make a fantastic cathedral window, or any large window that demands attention. I’m thinking the picture windows from Sandra Gilmore’s room canvases. I would use two metallics with the Upright Crosses in a slightly darker hue. It will make an interesting fence with two matte threads, such as Impressions or Elegance. It would be a great addition to any striped area, such as a wall, floor, roof, clothing…the list is really quite endless. Whimsical Stitches: A Modern Makers Book of Amigurumi Crochet Patterns Lauren Espy Audiobook Online You could alternate colors or finishes by column or within a column. Stitching every other pair of stitches within a column will accentuate the original directional flow I mentioned at the beginning of this blog. I think it would make an adorable sweater with two colors. Alternate matte overdyed floss with a solid floss for a floor or roof.It had been a long time since I had tried to crochet anything, but the clear directions and the charming photographs inspired me to try. I made the Tomato creature, using red sport yarn and a size C hook. It came out so cute, smaller than the pattern (only 2 ½ inches), because of the change in yarn and hook size. It was easy, I learned some new skills, and ended up with a darling finished product. This book will spark your creativity to craft your own unique creations. Beware of complex or confusing names: Complicated or ambiguous names may make it difficult for customers to understand what your business is about. BOOK WHIMSICAL STITCHES: A MODERN MAKERS BOOK OF AMIGURUMI CROCHET PATTERNS by LAUREN ESPY OVERVIEW ] Review: Bought for my sister as a gift and I’d almost like to take up crochet to make the things in this beautiful book Amigurumi is a Japanese art of crocheting, or sometimes knitting, small stuffed yarn creatures. In Whimsical Stitches, author Lauren Espy shares patterns for a number of super cute, easy to make creations. She organizes her book into sections such as In the Garden, At the Aquarium, Down on the Farm, At the Bakery, and At the Market. Beginning with the basics of specific materials needed, basic stitches, and adding features to finished projects, Espy combines photographs and clear explanations to guide the novice or the expert. Her unique way of starting a “Magic Ring” to begin a project is so easy and works beautifully, creating a smooth flat surface. She even shares her technique for changing yarn colors to create a single color stitch while crocheting in continuous rounds. Each project begins with a comprehensive list of materials, finished size measurements, stitches used and pattern notes. Saguaro Cactus, Octopus, Bunny with Carrot, Mug and Donut, and Cupcakes are just some of the amigurumi creatures included in this wonderful book.

By (sometimes) including this step in my own process, I find I am now integrating much longer stitches than I ever thought I would. I used to think a stitch six rows long was super big. I have very much changed my tune, which has helped me expand my creativity, especially for large-space stitches. With Olympic diver and British sports personality Tom Daley about to publish his debut book Made with Love it’s got us thinking about other must-read crochet books every crochet crafter needs on their bookshelf.Remember, your business name is an opportunity to make a memorable first impression. Be creative, think long-term, and choose a name that sparks interest, reflects your passion, and resonates with your target audience. Choosing a name for your crochet business is an exciting step in creating your brand identity. Here are some key do's and don'ts to consider when selecting the perfect name: Do's: Review: I got this book for my 11 year old. It has a list of yarn size, hook size, & recommended colors & amounts of yarn for each design. My kid is having a blast changing the color combinations. Guidance on overall stitch planning with detailed insight on selecting the right small stitches for your project. I hope you have the perfect spot for this stitch! Please enjoy! Have a wonderful #whimsicalwednesday!

This is a great all-purpose small stitch, perfect for almost all clothing. I would love to see an overdyed wool and solid wool for a sweater or pants. I’m using this for some architectural accents (with two metallics) for Big Ben on a current project I’m working on. It will also make a cute little tree trunk with two shades of Vineyard Silk. The popular chapter and alphabetical indexes are included in Volume 4. Full-coverage stitches are called out in the indexes, making them easier to find. Mary’s Whimsical Stitches Volume 4 is coming in June! It’s filled with the content you love, with a specific focus on small stitches. Content includes: PDF / EPUB File Name: Whimsical_Stitches_-_Lauren_Espy_Novel.pdf, Whimsical_Stitches_-_Lauren_Espy_Novel.epub I love me my Pippin collage canvases. The colors and the themes just make me smile. They’re a (good) challenge because they use mostly small stitches. I wanted to do something new (for me), but I thought I was tapped out until I remembered I’ve been able to transform favorite stitches by simply skipping a row. And, voila, we have a “new” stitch.If you like what you see on this blog, there's more. Mary’s Whimsical Stitches is a series of four books offering contemporary how-to collections of more than 200 stitches (in each volume) for all stitchers, regardless of skill level. All books include updated and sequenced diagrams from this blog, plus a collection of all-new stitches from private lessons and other class projects. Visit here to find a needlepoint retailer that carries my books. Whimsical Stitches is an absolute joy for amigurumi enthusiasts! Through her incredible patterns, Lauren was able to take us inside her own endless imagination and share her unique, wonderful perspective on amigurumi design. Whimsical Stitches is easy to follow for the beginner, and delightful for the master. A must-have for every crocheterʼs book collection."

I embroidered the eyes onto my cake because that’s just me, but she would have looked just as cute with safety eyes. I also used DK weight ( Paintbox Yarns Cotton DK) and a 2.75mm C crochet hook to make my cake smaller. One thing I love about Lauren’s patterns is how fast they work up! I crocheted all the pieces in one sitting and embroidered and attached everything in a second sitting. So simple!

Reflect your brand: Choose a name that aligns with your brand's values, style, and target audience. Frankly, the Cross Stitch accent is completely optional, so the stitch could also enhance any beautiful painting.This would be wonderful as a field of grass, on either the horizontal or vertical axis.Keeping the Cross Stitch intact, this would make an intriguing tree trunk. Any wool or cotton floss would work for the turquoise lines. Have fun with the Cross Stitch here. Use Rainbow LInen or Straw Silk, as thought-starters. As you are auditioning stitches (from any stitch source), count the number of canvas threads on the diagram that match your mesh size. And there you have what an inch of the stitch will look like. Evaluate that against the area where you plan to use the stitch and make your final decision. If you start integrating this step into your stitch selection process, you may be surprised at how many stitches you think are large are much smaller than you realize.