Crochet Activity Toys Amigurumi Patterns for Interactive Toys Book Review

Interactive crochet toys are a delightful way to spark creativity and fine motor skills in kids, and Crochet Activity Toys: Amigurumi Patterns for Interactive Toys by Svetlana Golova delivers exactly that. Packed with charming patterns for quiet books, rattles, stacking toys, and more, this book offers a diverse collection of crochet toy patterns featuring popular animal themes like farm animals, wild animals, and sea life. In this review, I’ll explore the patterns included, skill levels, materials needed, and more to help you decide if this book is the right fit for your crochet library.

Thanks to the publisher, I’m giving away a copy of this book to one lucky winner.  Keep reading to learn more about the book and how you can enter to win.

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Thanks to David & Charles for providing me with this book free of charge in exchange for my honest opinion. I do not guarantee a positive review of any product reviewed on my site.  All opinions shared here are my own. 

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About the Author

Svetlana Golova is a former software engineer turned full-time crochet designer. Her passion for creating interactive amigurumi toys shines through in every design. You can find her incredible work online under the name ZenKnitToys, where she continues to inspire the crochet community with her clever and engaging patterns.

Patterns Included Crochet Activity Toys

This book offers 11 detailed and creative crochet patterns for different kinds of activity toys:

•    Farmyard Activity Cube
•    Monkey Shape Sorter
•    Elephant Stacking Toy
•    T-Rex Stacking Toy
•    Giraffe Threading Toy
•    Octopus Threading Toy
•    Dinosaurs Quiet Book
•    Sea Life Quiet Book
•    Duckling & Lion Rattles
•    Lacing Shapes

Each crochet pattern is thoughtfully designed with step-by-step instructions to guide you through the process, including photo tutorial support. I found the patterns to be clear and straightforward. If you’re unfamiliar with the author’s style or reading crochet pattern, the “How to Read the Patterns” section on page 10 is incredibly helpful, especially for left-handed crocheters navigating colorwork instructions.

However, because many toys involve assembling multiple pieces, I would have appreciated more guidance on gauge and troubleshooting pieces that may not fit perfectly due to tension changes. Due to the level of work. involved for each toy and the length of time it would take to produce, odds are that some folks will experiences tension changes so having this info could’ve save those folks some headache.

Skill Level

The skill level for each pattern is visually marked using a circle divided into four segments, with darkened sections indicating the difficulty. The book offers projects ranging from confident beginner to challenging:

•   Confident Beginner: 2 patterns
  
  
•   Intermediate: 3 patterns
  
  
•   Advanced to Challenging: The majority of the designs

This range makes the book best suited for intermediate and advanced crocheters. Beginners can still find inspiration but may need to build their skills before tackling some of these projects.

Supports Included for Makers in Crochet Activity Toys

At the beinning of the book you find a breakdown of materials, skill ratings, and helpful tips on page 10. The section on “How to Read Patterns” covers yarn over vs. yarn under, and safety warnings for toy-making are included—a thoughtful addition for parents and gift makers.

In the back of the book (starting on page 114), you’ll find an invaluable collection of tutorials featuring step-by-step instructions and photos for the stitches and techniques used in the patterns. I particularly enjoyed the section on finishing, which offers clear photo tutorials for seaming and embroidering, helping you make your toys look polished and professional.

Supplies Needed

The patterns in this book primarily call for sport-weight cotton yarn (like YarnArt Jeans) and smaller crochet hooks (2mm and 3mm). Additional supplies include:

•   Toy stuffing
  
  
•   Sewing and tapestry needles
  
  
•   Tweezers or chopsticks for stuffing small areas
  
  
•   Spandex thread
  
  
•   Stitch markers
  
  
•   Scissors
  
  
•   Measuring tape
  
  
•   Sewing pins
  
  
•   Rattles and toy squeakers

Many of these supplies are standard for amigurumi projects, so experienced crocheters likely have many of these items on hand.

Overall

This book is a fun collection of crochet toy patterns that allows you to create interactive activity toys for children to practice their fine motor skills. Each design is playful and functional, making it a great choice for gift-making or adding unique toys to your repertoire. While it’s not ideal for absolute beginners, intermediate and advanced crocheters will find plenty of rewarding projects to enjoy and gift to the children in their lives.

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• Crochet Flowers & Squares Book
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• Crochet Furry Friends – My new amigurumi book!
• Check out all my crochet book reviews here.

Crochet Activity Toys Book Giveaway

Thanks to David & Charles Publishing, I have a copy of Crochet Activity Toys to giveaway!

This giveaway on The Loopy Lamb is open to worldwide participants (except where void by law and void in Quebec). Giveaway ends Friday, March 14, 2025, at 11:45pm Eastern Standard time.

To enter, use the King Sumo form below. If you are on mobile and have difficulty entering, please use a desktop computer to enter. Only the email address and name options are mandatory. All other tasks (like following social media platforms) are optional, for bonus entries only.

Can’t see the entry form below? Click here: https://kingsumo.com/g/3lpng0m/crochet-animal-toys-book-giveaway