Lauren Espy of A Menagerie of Stitches fame has released her first – very cute – book of amigurumi patterns called Whimsical Stitches! The book is packed with a broad array of patterns, grouped into fun themes. From the bakery to the farm, you’re sure to find a pattern for you.
Note: I was provided a copy of “Whimsical Stitches” for review. All opinions are my own! Also, some of the links in this post are affiliate links meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase. Thank you for your support!
The book itself is lovely – it has a nice smooth hardcover and the layout is clear and neat. Lauren did all of the photography for the book herself (wow!) and it is bright and beautiful. I don’t know about you, but book design is very important to me! It makes working on a pattern even more enjoyable.
Whimsical Stitches is an excellent amigurumi book for all skill levels, but I think it’s especially great for new makers with its stitch tutorials and beginner friendly patterns. The patterns are small and work up quickly making it a great collection of patterns to make as gifts (I’m thinking a donut ornament perhaps!!) And the book includes a little something for everyone with its variety of themes.
Whimsical Stitches includes the following patterns:
In the Garden: Saguaro Cactus, Succulent Planter, Sunflower, Tulip
At the Aquarium: Jellyfish, Octopus, Turtle, Whale
Down on the Farm: Bunny, Cow, Duck, Eggs, Pig
At the Bakery: Cookies, Cupcakes, Macarons, Mug & Donut, Pie
At the Market: Bell Pepper, Berries, Eggplant, Onion, Peach, Pineapple, Tomato
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.
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!
As a crochet and amigurumi designer, I have found when I crochet a pattern by another designer, I ALWAYS learn something new. It helps expand my designing muscle and adds new techniques and tricks to my toolbelt. I’ve never crochet a food item before, so I really enjoyed the challenge of crocheting and assembling flat pieces and using cardboard inside to hold the shape.
Order Whimsical Stitches on Amazon here! You can also find Lauren on Instagram @amenaerieofstitches and Etsy!
coll and cute 😀