No comments about Knitted Toys.

No comments about Plush-O-Rama Book & Kit: Curious Creatures for Immature Adults.

2 comments about Making and Dressing Miniature Teddy Bears.

1. This is a delightfully, wonderful book on how to make various sizes of miniature bears, from 1 3/4 " to 5" bears! The author, Julie Owen, does an outstanding job in instructing the reader in the creation of these precious bears. One can't but help to fall in love and want to create each and every one! Ms. Owen presents a bear to create for each month of the year, in addition to a Sailor Bear, a Polar Bear, and a Baby Bear! Included also are the instructions for the basic 10 bears, on which all of the monthly bears are based on. Other women from around the world have created several of the bears and there is a short credit and story of these bears along with the instructions! Clothes patterns are also included with those bears sporting garments!

   What I especially love about this book, in addition to the precise and accurate directions, are the incredible pictures and the tips for construction. Nothing seems to have been left out of this book! The author is based in the UK, so the supply list reflects that origin, but most of the supplies can be gathered from your local craft or sewing store in the US.

   As an avid sewer, I read this book from a sewer's point of view, and found myself constructing the bears along with the directions, and noting that nothing seemed to have been left out by the author. In addition to the construction tips, the reader will find great embellishment tips, to make their bears unique.

   Ms. Owen has been making bears for quite a long time and also teaches bear workshops. This book reflects her expertise and her love of the bears. This is one of THE BEST craft/sewing books I have seen in a long time. This is a book in which everything you see, you can make! The author also includes a sample birth certificate for your creation!

   If you are interested in making your own miniature bears, I highly recommend this excellent book!!




2. The patterns and instructions are easy to follow each bear you make comes with patterns for their outfit very good book to start making miniature bears

2 comments about Teddy Bears With a Past.

1. I have always wanted to make a bear out of recycled fur. Well this is the book that will teach you how. It is only for the person who is willing to be a patient sewer, but then aren't all teddy bear makers? A very exciting book, with beautiful photos and Nancy Tillburg is sharing everything with the teddy bear world. I highly recommend this book.



2. What a great book for those wanting the special instructions needed for working with reclaimed fur coats. This book deals mainly with real fur and how it is treated differently than mohair. However mohair directions are also included. If you buy this book and Nancy's other book "101 Bears to Make" you will have all the information you need on bear making.----------------------Pam

1 comments about Adorable Sock Dolls to Make & Love.

1. I checked this book out from the library and within 2 days have decided to purchase it. This book is beautifully illustrated with color photos and has large print, easy to read instructions. (I do agree that the projects seem to run together.) The term "dolls" is misleading, as they include everything from zoo/farm animals to clowns and snowmen. The book offers baby-friendly instructions, but I am disappointed that most of the photos only show the dolls with "over 3 years" eyes and noses. I do appreciate the tips, stitching illustrations (although some of these are confusing for a true beginner), and the essential/important information underlined for clarity.

   I have to admit that I have not actually tried any of the projects, but I have already made a shopping list for 6 of them. I think those with a crafty streak will find that these sock dolls give store-bought beany babies a run for their money! I look forward to giving them as gifts.

2 comments about The Knitted Teddy Bear.

1. I was given this book last Christmas, and I'm slowly working my way through all the patterns. The instructions are straightforward and practical, and the bears are easy to make and don't take a long time; they all turn out beautfully. You can make them with or without clothes - the clothes take a little bit of time and can be a bit fiddly, but the bears look fine just dressed with a ribbon. There are big and small bears, and many of them can be made up from odds and ends of wool left over from other projects. For a particular project eg. one of the larger bears, I'll buy wool specially. They make great presents, and this book would make an excellent gift for anyone that likes knitting, even those I'd say without too much experience. One of the best Christmas presents I've had for a long time!



2. This book has the most beautiful patterns. The bears are adorable and fairly easy to put together. These make great gift for showers and birthdays. They truely are heirloom peices.

2 comments about Cats, Rats & Other Creatures: 15 Patterns & Design Techniques.

1. This is an awesome book. I am an artist and the stuffed animals in this book are original, fun and very charming. The book shows you many ideas to alter the original pattern to individualize your animal. Great pictures, easy instructions and very very entertaining. Great value, one of the best book on the market, treat yourself right with this book!



2. This is a fantastic book. The patterns are whimsical, funny, creative and beautiful. I have been making stuffed critters for ages and just love the designs in this book. I really can't say enough about it. Instructions and patterns are very well written. The pictures are eye-candy inspiration. I love it.

No comments about Teach Yourself Teddy Bear Making: Simple Techniques and Patterns for Teddy Bears and Their Clothing.

1 comments about The Best from Gooseberry Hill: Patterns for Stuffed Animals and Dolls.

1. You definitely can't go wrong with a Gooseberry Book! They are fun to collect and to give for gifts. This book in particular is a gift in itself or has great patterns to make a give as gifts!

5 comments about Knit a Square/Make a Toy (Home Library Craftbooks).

1. I learned to knit 3 weeks ago and only learned to knit straight things. (blankets, scarfs, pot holders). This book has been so much fun because I can easily start to make adorable gifts for my nephew, friends, and family with just these basic skills. The instructions are easy to follow, and the pictures are wonderful and very colorful. The patterns are also flexible- you can double the dimensions to make larger animals or halve them to make tinier ones. You can also stuff the animals with whatever you want- some ideas I have include potpurri to make sachet animals or catnip to make cat toys. I've only just begun working with this book but can't wait to make a whole knitting menagerie! I really enjoy this book because it is very easy to follow and other craft books I have seen can be complicated.



2. I just got a knitting machine a couple of weeks ago and this book is wonderful.I don't have to be an expert to understand the directions and there are no abbreviations like most knitting patterns. The toys are so cute and they look as though you really know what you are doing when they are done. I think I am a accomplishing something great when I make the toys. The toys are very quick(on a machine or by hand) to make because they are all made from squares or rectangles. The toys would be great made with left over yarns , and you can get creative by adding your own touches and using different colors. They toys are safe for kids since they don't have buttons or anything that could choke a child and if they do, you can leave them off the toy. The toys are a good size at 12 inches or bigger. My favorite is the mermaid and the sitting dog.



3. This is an excellent book. I use it when I teach children to knit. They are so excited because they can make these adorable toys just by knitting squares in garter stitch. The patterns and instructions are VERY clear. They show you pictorally the color and size of each square and how many you need of each one. Gauge doesn't even matter because you're just knitting squares and rectangles. You are only limited by your imagination with this treasure trove of ideas! Sewing up the toys is very easy as well, and there are step by step instructions. The front 2 pages of the book have a color photo index of each toy so you can see all of them at once while you try to decide which to make first!! I can't say enough good things about this book....



4. I made the snake in lime green with maroon rings between the pieces as requested by my six year old grandson. It was about seven feet long. It turned out very good. I put small beads between two plastic spoons (the cup part) taped together in the tail to make it rattle. He loved it.
   
   I found the instructions were very good. I didn't worry about needle size or gauge. It's a toy snake. It doesn't matter.
   
   I purchased the yarn to make the monkey and now have lost my book. I haven't been able to find another. I'm still looking but don't think I want to pay $39.94 for it. Maybe it will turn up somewhere.



5. I was excited to find this book because I needed something quick and easy to work on while holding cats and watching DVDs in the evening. The knitting part is perfect for this and I enjoyed knitting away on my squares and rectangles. (I did reduce the size by 1/2, as I know enough about dolls to know I don't like big ones. I also figured that the larger sizes would look more "loving hands at home" than smaller versions.)
   
   However, I'm still bogged down with stuffing and assembling. I knitted up pieces for 3 animals - the camel, the horse, and the bird. I tried putting the bird together first, but realized I needed to do a couple of simpler assemblies first, it's more complicated. I'm still working on the camel and it isn't all together yet!
   
   I make cloth art dolls and I'm not a complete novice, but I must say that shaping the squares and rectangles into curves is not nearly as simple as you might think. I'm determined to finish my animals, but probably won't make new ones. Oh, and do add a neck to the poor horse! It really looks pathetic without one!
   
   It might have been easier if I'd made the squares and rectangles full size, but to my mind the finished animals were just too unwieldy at the larger size. However, I will admit that it's very soothing to knit the individual pieces. I could probably keep on doing that for months!