Vancouverscape, a Vancouver based blog covering travel, tech, and lifestyle

This summer, I picked up a fun new hobby: Amigurumi, Japanese for the art of crocheting stuffed yarn animals, dolls, and other cute objects (ami = crocheted or knitted; nuigurumi = stuffed doll).

I consider amigurumi to be a form of mindfulness. Your focus is on the yarn and hook as you create something with your hands. It’s focused, yet relaxed. IYKYK.

Crocheting is also a great way to stay present, as you regularly check your stitches, change yarn colours, and start to develop a shape from a small rounded series of stitches known as a magic ring or circle.

They’re super fun to make once you’ve gotten the hang of the basic stitches involved.

Patterns can be found online, in craft stores, and at maker events, however I’ve recently come across a series of easy-to-follow books by Search Press.

The UK publisher recently sent us several titles to check out, along with a kit from Danish/Swiss designer Sarah Abbondio.

Each book is between 46 to 48 pages and includes a list of materials and tools needed for the projects, pattern notes and UK/US equivalent crochet terms, plus two pages of crochet stitch techniques to get you started.

– Mini Amigurumi Animals £7.99/USD $11.95/CAD $13.95
– Mini Amigurumi Birds, Ocean, Nativity, Woodland Animals £7.99/USD $12.95/CAD $14.95

Animals, Birds, and Ocean are by Sarah Abbondio; Woodland is by Julia Chiang; Nativity is by Sarah-Jane Hicks.

Projects include colour photography of the finished piece alongside detailed instructions aka rounds of stitches, organized into body part sections.

I consider myself intermediate in the world of crochet, yet I learned several great new stitches. I also modified the elephant pattern by adding an extra row in the body and in both arms and legs for better balance on flat surfaces.

The Mini Amigurumi Animals Kit (£14.99/USD $19.95/CAD $24.95) makes a great stocking stuffer. Each kit contains everything you need (including a 2.5mm ergonomic aluminum hook) to make two animals (octopus and elephant).

There’s enough yarn and stuffing, however I was missing a couple of backs for the safety eyes. I did appreciate having a metal (2.5mm) hook included in this kit over a plastic one (which I have seen in other kits).

As for the cotton yarn, the orange was of poor quality. I had struggled a bit with the grey yarn while creating the elephant, however I couldn’t even finish the octopus, as the yarn kept splitting on me. I gave up about halfway, unfortunately, and will have to create the octopus pattern with another yarn at another time.

I loved the elephant pattern so much that I had to make more! The blue elephant was made using a 4mm hook and acrylic yarn.

We’ve got a sweet deal for our readers too! Use code VANCOUVER during online checkout for any of the amigurumi books and receive a 25% discount PLUS free shipping!

Visit Search Press online for additional crochet and craft books.