Are you ready for a whole lot of fuzziness and adorable dogs? Today I’m reviewing Crochet Your Own Dog by Mieko Shindo: 14 life-size amigurumi pups to make and love and I’m going to share with you everything you need to know about this book to help you decide if this is the book for you to help you make your own furry friend.
Win a copy of Crochet Your Own Dog! Thanks to Zakka Workshop, I have a copy of this book to giveaway to 1 lucky winner. Keep reading to learn how you can enter to win.
Thanks to the publisher, Zakka Workshop 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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10 different crochet patterns make up each of the 14 dogs in Crochet Your Own dog. Some of the toys use the same patterns but where and how you sew on the hind legs and front legs is what makes them different.
I have noted in the list of what sorts of breeds you’ll find in the book below as well as which patterns have these different stances.
Dog Breeds Included in Crochet Your Own Dog:
- Toy Poodle (sitting)
- Toy Poodle (standing)
- Papillon
- Long Haired Chihuahua (laying down)
- Long Haired Chihuahua (sitting)
- Pomeranian (sitting)
- Pomeranian (standing)
- Daschund (laying down)
- Daschund (standing)
- Maltese
- Miniature Schnauzer
- Shih Tzu
- Yorkshire Terrier
- Bichon Frise
The little dachshund that uses just one main body colour could also be used for folks looking to make a puppy version of blond golden retrievers. Although I am personally a daschund owner (standard wirehaired, not the long hair minis shown in the book), I cannot resist the papillon in this book. It is just too cute!
Tools & Materials
After 30 pages of beautiful images of each amigurumi dog pattern in the book, the content starts on page 42 where they cover Tools & Materals.
You’ll use the standard crochet tools (crochet hooks (5mm – 10 mm crochet hook sizes), scissors, safety eyes and a safety nose for each dog, yarn needle / wool needle, stitch markers) as well as some specialty tools like,a slicker brush, craft glue and tools used in needle felting. Toy stuffing is also needed but is not listed.
The type of yarn used (like the yarn brand) and exact colors aren’t listed anywhere in the book, which is likely because the author is from Japan and the North American market likely doesn’t have access to those materials.
However, it would have been great to have at least a list of yarn substitutions to give makers a place to start in order to nail each individual breed’s colouring.
Crochet Your Own Dog Pattern Info
Each dog amigurumi pattern in the book is written in the US terminology, with a US to UK conversion chart being found on page 45. Each pattern includes a stitch chart that has a colour-coded description to assist with where to place which yarn colors when grafting the fur (more on this in a minute).
No skill level is listed for the patterns but based on my experience, I’d say these patterns are at an intermediate to advanced skill level due to the amount of detail needed for each toy.
Included Supports for Makers
Stitch Tutorials and Instructions begin on page 45. Instead of separating this section by techniques and naming the techniques they break it down into photo tutorials showing different dog body parts.
You’ll find a tutorial on how to do the magic ring here but the rest of the stitches are explained on the last page of the book with small illustrations and lack their given abbreviations.
The photo tutorial on page 53 showing how to assemble the body parts is helpful for visual learners that haven’t assembled an amigurumi toy before as it shows you where to stop stuffing some pieces and how to sew the pieces to your dog body.
Most toys are comprised of 8 – 10 pieces that are all sewn together. Each piece is made in a single colour as any needed colour changes are done using the grafted yarn.
TIP: If the color changes are a bit overwhelming to you but you don’t want to stick to making a single-coloured dog, try marking out the colour changes on your toy using a sharpie marker. The markings will eventually be covered up but it will help you visually see where to graft your fur.
This section discusses that based on your personal gauge, your toy may turn out a different size and you’ll need to make some adjustments to your limb placement.
However, no information about the pattern gauge is given or even what gauge/tension is so there is no way for makers to ensure they’re on the right track or to ensure your finished item turns out the right size.
Crochet Your Own Dog Video Review & Flip-Through
How the Fur Is Added
The fur texture on these toys is created by grafting yarn strands to the surface of your crochet fabric. While the result is undeniably worth it, particularly if you want a toy that looks like an actual dog, know that this is a time-consuming tedious process as each toy is a work of art.
Don’t skip the section on how to Graft the Fur on pages 56 – 60 which will also give you tips for finishing your canine companion’s facial features, how to make the dog’s ears and more and includes instruction images as support.
After attaching the “fur” you’ll brush it out and trim the fur. In some cases there are additional steps like needle felting required for features like eyebrows..Then you’ll trim up all that fur you added.
Want to grab a copy of Crochet Your Own Dog by Mieko Shindo for yourself? Grab a copy of the book HERE on Amazon.
Conclusions
Overall, Crochet Your Own Dog is a really cool book with some absolutely adorable crochet dog patterns in it. The author has captured the true character of each breed in yarn, enabling makers to create miniature canine works of art.
I would recommend this book for intermediate and advanced skill level crocheters that aren’t afraid of a challenge and are well-versed in amigurumi stitches and techniques and aren’t afraid to problem solve if needed.
While You’re Here, Check Out Some Of My Latest Crochet Book Reviews:
- Baby Beasts to Crochet by Meaghan Kreiner
- 100 Micro Amigurumi by Steffi Glaves
- Crochet Furry Friends – My faux fur yarn amigurumi book!
- Crochet Cute Forest Friends by Sarah Zimmerman
- Animal Amigurumi Adventures Vol. 2 by Lauren Espy
- Check out all my crochet book reviews here.
Win a Copy of Crochet Your Own Dog by Mieko Shindo
Thanks to Zakka Workshop, I have a copy of Crochet Your Own Dog by Mieko Shindo 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, May 10, 2024, 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 option is mandatory – all other tasks (like following social media platforms) are optional, for bonus entries only.
Thank you for this review. I respect and trust your opinion, so this is a great help for me when looking at news books!
nb: Can I ask a question? Is there a particular reason why the Province of Quebec is not included in the book giveway? As is this the first time I see a restriction especially for Quebec province, where I live. Usually, i see Except for Canada, because of the shipping cost, etc.. Thank You!
Thank you! I appreciate that!
Many giveaways are void in Quebec unfortunately, due to the stricter laws that govern giveaways in Quebec. Without getting into the nitty gritty of it (searching google for Why does it say void in quebec contest? will get you more in-depth information regarding the laws), there is a lot more paperwork, cost and legal restrictions when allowing Quebec in your giveaway. As much as I would love to include Quebec, I’m not a large creator nor do I make enough to cover all of the potential costs associated with including Quebec so I’m forced to exclude it unfortunately.