If you’ve been curious about Crochet Fairy Tales Cottage Stories by Kerry Lord and wondering whether it’s actually worth adding to your crochet library, this review will help you decide. At first glance, it looks like a whimsical collection of crochet fairy tales inspired by beloved childhood tales. But after flipping through the pages, I quickly realized this book is doing something very different from most amigurumi books on the market.
From cozy cottage settings, iconic characters to detailed crochet patterns to create scene-setting props, this book blends storytelling and crochet in a genuinely unique way.
I’m sharing my honest thoughts on the patterns, the skill level, the supports included for makers, and who I genuinely think this book is best suited for.
Plus, thanks to the publisher, I’ll also be giving away a copy of the book so be sure to enter before you leave!
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Thanks to David & Charles Publishing for providing me with a copy of the 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. This post may contain affiliate links, which means that I may earn a small commission from purchases made through these links at no cost to you.
Table of contents
- About the Author
- Patterns Included in Crochet Fairy Tales: Cottage Stories
- What Are the Patterns Like to Work With?
- How Big are the Toys in Crochet Fairy Tales Cottage Stories?
- See a Quick Flip-Through of Crochet Fairy Tales Cottage Stories by Kerry Lord
- Crochet Terminology
- Skill Level
- Supports Included for Makers
- Supplies Needed
- Where to Buy
- Overall
About the Author
Kerry Lord is the founder of the British luxury yarn brand TOFT, a family business known for its beautiful wool yarns and the TOFT Alpaca Stud Farm. She is also the author of numerous books focused on amigurumi and crochet animals, many of which have become incredibly recognizable within the crochet community.
Some of Kerry’s previous titles include (Click to view my reviews of those titles):
- How to Crochet Animals – Wild
- How to Crochet Animals – Pets
- How to Crochet Animals – Ocean
- How to Crochet Animals – Farm
- Edward’s Imaginarium
- Edward’s Menagerie
- Edward’s Crochet Imaginarium
- Edward’s Crochet Doll Emporium
- Edward’s Menagerie Dogs
- Edward’s Menagerie Birds – new edition
I actually had the chance to meet author Kerry Lord during a recent trip to the H+H Americas tradeshow, where she signed a copy of this book for me, which made this review extra special to put together.
Patterns Included in Crochet Fairy Tales: Cottage Stories
All of the patterns in this book are designed to recreate scenes from classic fairy tales. Each chapter begins with a retelling of the fairy tale followed by all of the crochet patterns needed to recreate the scene.
The stories and patterns included are:
Red Riding Hood
- Red Riding Hood
- Basket of Cake & Wine
- Wolf
- Posy of Flowers
- Grandmother’s Nightwear
Thumbelina
- Tulip
- Thumbelina
- Lily Pad
- Toadstools
- Swallow
- Wedding Outfit & Wings
Jack & The Beanstalk
- Jack
- The Beanstalk & Seedling
- Giant’s Chicken
- Golden Harp & Golden Egg
- Axe & Rucksack
Snow White
- Snow White
- Pickaxe
- Seven Dwarves
- Poisoned Apple
- Roses
Hansel & Gretel
- Hansel & Gretel
- Fire
- Crab & Bone
- Duck
- Fir Tree
Elves & the Shoemaker
- Elder Elf
- Younger Elf
- Gifted Clothes
- Hammer
One of the things that immediately stood out to me is how much this book leans into the joy of fairy tales and storytelling. The off-white pages and hardcover design genuinely remind me of an old storybook. It feels very intentional and adds a lot to the reading experience.
I also really liked that each chapter includes a full fairy tale retelling before the crochet patterns begin. That unique retelling approach makes this feel different from a traditional crochet pattern book. It almost feels like a display-worthy coffee table book that just happens to include crochet patterns too.
There are some especially charming details throughout the book, including the tiny magic of Thumbelina, the towering beanstalk Jack climbs, Red Riding Hood’s cunning wolf, and the beautifully styled cozy cottage settings that help bring the stories to life.
What Are the Patterns Like to Work With?
Of all the Kerry Lord books that I’ve received over the years, I actually found the patterns in this book to be the easiest to understand.
There is a “Reading a Pattern” section beginning on page 26 that I think will be especially helpful for makers who are newer to amigurumi pattern structure or who may be reading Kerry’s patterns for the first time.
The patterns themselves are well organized and include:
- yarn color names
- yarn amounts
- supply details
- story-specific material lists
I especially appreciated that each fairy tale section includes a “To Create the Full Story You Will Need” section before the patterns begin. That makes planning much easier if you want to recreate an entire scene rather than making individual pieces.
That said, these are still highly detailed crochet patterns. Many of the characters include shaping, sewing, embroidery, accessories, or finer finishing work that will likely feel overwhelming for someone attempting amigurumi for the first time.
How Big are the Toys in Crochet Fairy Tales Cottage Stories?
While not listed with the actual patterns, but hidden in the Yarn & Tools section, the size given for the human characters in the book (before working any hair) is 7.5″ tall. No gauge information is provided to ensure the toys turn out to be that size so treat this as just an estimate.
See a Quick Flip-Through of Crochet Fairy Tales Cottage Stories by Kerry Lord
Crochet Terminology
This book uses UK crochet terminology with a UK to US terminology conversion chart included on page 10 in the “How to Use This Book” section, which will definitely help makers who are more familiar with US terms.
Abbreviations are also explained on page 146 of the book.
Skill Level
I could not find a formal skill level listed anywhere in the book, but based on my experience as both an amigurumi designer and crochet instructor, I would personally place most of these patterns at an intermediate skill level.
There are a few simpler projects included, like the Golden Egg from Jack & The Beanstalk, but overall this is not a book I would recommend to brand new crocheters.
I think confident beginners with some amigurumi experience may still enjoy certain patterns if they’re willing to work slowly and carefully follow step-by-step instructions, but overall I believe intermediate makers will have the best experience with this title.
Supports Included for Makers
The book includes support sections in both the Prologue and Epilogue.
At the front of the book, you’ll find:
- How to Use This Book
- Yarn & Tools
- Characterization
- Stuffing & Sewing Up
- Reading a Pattern
Even experienced amigurumi makers may want to skim through these sections because there are some genuinely helpful little tips hidden throughout.
At the back of the book, the Epilogue includes:
- Abbreviations
- The Stitches
- Finishing Techniques
- Embroidery
Most of these support sections use black-and-white illustrations alongside the written instructions. I found many of the explanations clear and easy to understand, particularly for makers already familiar with amigurumi construction. That said, there were a few areas where I could see some crocheters getting hung up or confused. Some illustrations attempt to highlight details using shades of grey that are difficult to see clearly on the page and incredibly easy to miss.
I do think additional supportive photographic techniques or step-by-step techniques would have strengthened some of the more technical sections.
Supplies Needed
The book primarily uses TOFT Pure Wool DK yarn in the following colors:
- Peony
- Lime
- Yellow
- Sage
- Chive
- Orange
- Hyacinth
- Green
- Ruby
- Sapphire
- Kale
- Beetroot
Additional supplies include:
- 3 mm crochet hook (or size needed for the yarn you choose to create a dense, amigurumi fabric)
- Stitch markers
- Scissors
- Toy stuffing
- Sewing needle
- Embroidery thread, contrasting yarn, or safety eyes
- Sewing pins
- Dowels or twigs
- Modelling wire
- Glasses for toys
Where to Buy
If you’d like to pick up a copy of Crochet Fairy Tales Cottage Stories by Kerry Lord for yourself, you can usually find it through:
Overall
This is honestly one of the most unique crochet books I’ve come across in quite a while. It feels less like a standard pattern collection and more like a celebration of classic tales brought to life through crochet. Between the storytelling elements, adorable patterns, and highly styled photography, it’s a genuinely beautiful book.
Personally, I can’t see myself recreating full fairy tale scenes, but I absolutely understand the appeal for makers who love immersive storytelling projects, classroom displays, or decorative seasonal displays.
I can especially see this book appealing to:
- intermediate amigurumi makers
- teachers
- librarians
- parents who love classic fairytales (Note: take a read through the stories on your own before reading it to children, as some may find them scary)
- crocheters who enjoy display pieces and storytelling projects
Just keep in mind that many of these patterns are detailed and fairly involved. If you’re completely new to amigurumi, this probably isn’t the first crochet adventure I’d recommend starting with. Intermediate level crocheters and experienced amigurumi makers will likely have minimal issues with this title, and this book offers something genuinely memorable and unlike most other crochet titles currently available.
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Want Your Own Copy? Enter the Giveaway Below!
Thanks to the publisher, I’m giving away a copy of Crochet Fairy Tales Cottage Stories by Kerry Lord!
This giveaway on The Loopy Lamb is open to worldwide participants (except where void by law). Giveaway ends Saturday, June 20th, 2026, at 11:45pm Eastern Standard time.
To enter, simply use the King Sumo form below. If you’re on mobile and run into any trouble, try switching to a desktop computer. Only your email and name are required to enter – everything else, like following on social media, is optional and just for bonus entries!
Can’t see the entry form below? Click here: Giveaway Form
