Knitted Toys: 21 Easy-To-Knit Patterns for Irresistible Soft Toys

I ordered this "used" book on April 2 and it arrived in excellent condition on April 7! I'm VERY pleased with my order!

These toys have real personality. The author has an artist's eye and a sculptor's touch. These patterns knit up into animals that people can't believe are hand-made. I have knitted several of them so far to RAVE REVIEWS, and not just from the adults. The kids adore them too. This book is perfect for me. I am an advanced beginner knitter and an advanced beginner sewer. I get bored easily. And I don't care for double pointed needles (though I wouldn't say "intimidated" is the right word"). So I LOVE making lots of little pieces and figuring out how to fit them together. I agree with the other reviewers that writing out the instructions row-by-row is helpful -- but so what? Is there a better way to get familiar with the pattern? And I'd rather see lots of good, clear photos than lengthy, roundabout, written sewing instructions. Sure, there's the occasional mistake (easily corrected by someone with a little bit of knitting experience) and the gauges aren't always exactly accurate. But, luckily, stuffed animals don't have to fit anyone, so if a bunny is a little shorter and fatter or a dog is a little longer and narrower, it doesn't matter. And since knitted work is elastic, two pieces are easy enough to fit together even if the gauge is a little off. If you are obsessive (like I am), you can always knit a swatch, measure it, and adjust the number of stitches or rows. And let's cut knitting authors a break for using brand names. Movie producers use product placements just to make a few more bucks on multi-million dollar films. Why shouldn't an author have a little sponsorship? Let's face it, these books aren't best sellers. The yarns recommended are very nice, and if you can't substitute one brown worsted for another you should be buying kits instead of books. Hooray for Fiona McTague!

the patterns in this book are just wonderful. Easy to read patterns and great pictures of the knitted items. A must have for any knitting book collection.

I just received this book as a gift and I can't wait to buy yarn to make some of the projects. The book begins with a general overview of basic knitting instructions, and then it is set up in 3 sections: Skill Level 1, Skill Level 2, & Skill Level 3. There are 21 projects (actually 30, if you count each different finger puppet separately as well as the 2 different bunnies). The projects are: Ball w/ Bell(5"), Penguin(9"), Duck(8 ½"), Bugs(2 ¼"), Farm Animal Finger Puppets(3"), Tropical Fish(9 ½"), Caterpillar Finger Puppets (with roll-brim hats)(3"), Fairy(10"), Turtle(9"), Princess(13"), Monkey(15"), Pig(6 ¼"), Zebra(12 ½"), two different size Teddy Bears(8" and 14"), Girl and Boy Rag Dolls (15" and 14"), Panda(13"), Rabbits(8" and 15 ½"), Clown(16"), and the project that I want to work on first is the Dog Door Draft Blocker(35 ½" long)...those long things you put in front of the door to block the draft from the outside. I think these projects are great as gifts...for babies, children, even adults. You can make the lamb finger puppet for a friend that knits and the ball with a bell can be given to a cat or dog (as long as your pet isn't too aggressive!). I was also thinking about possibly making the duck to put on the shelf in my bathroom. The projects require you use knitting needles between sizes 2 to 6 (US). Most of the projects seem like they would knit up real quick, so it would be great as a weekend project or to take with you on a trip. I can't wait to start!

Over twenty patterns for knitters produce fun toys and toy hangings in Fiona McTague's Knitted Toys: 21 Easy-to-Knit Patterns For Irresistible Soft Toys. Soft colorful yarns and a range of projects to suit mostly basic knitters are featured in Knitted Toys, but it's the color photos of completed projects which will grab the attention first. Rag dolls, pandas, teddy bears, and finger puppets: all are appealing and easy projects.