If you’ve been eyeing Kawaii Crochet Dolls by Elise Brocard and wondering whether it’s actually worth buying, this Kawaii Crochet Dolls review is here to help. From the adorable companion creatures to the incredibly detailed outfits, this book is packed with personality and irresistible cuteness… but are the patterns easy to use?
After taking a close look through the patterns, support sections, and more, I’m sharing my honest thoughts on who this collection is really best suited for, what worked well, and a few things I think crocheters should know before adding it to their shelves. If you love highly detailed amigurumi, expressive character design, and manga-inspired crochet patterns, there’s a good chance this book will catch your attention for all the right reasons.
Plus I’m giving away a copy of this book to one lucky winner. Keep reading to learn how to enter to win.
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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 Kawaii Crochet Dolls
- What Are the Crochet Patterns Like to Work With?
- Crochet Terminology Used
- Skill Level
- See a Quick Flip-Through of Kawaii Crochet Dolls
- Supports Included for Makers
- Supplies Needed
- Where to Buy Kawaii Crochet Dolls by Elise Brocard
- Overall Thoughts on this Amigurumi Doll Book
About the Author
French crochet artist Elise Brocard lives in the Haut-Doubs region of France with her husband and two children. Inspired by the manga universe and a love of bold outfits, she discovered crochet during her first pregnancy and eventually began designing her own dolls and themed accessories.
This is her first book, and her unique style really shines throughout the collection. The dolls are full of personality, expressive character design and tiny details that make them feel like miniature works of art.
You can find Elise on Instagram as @ptitepeste.amigurumi.
Patterns Included in Kawaii Crochet Dolls
This book includes 10 different kawaii crochet dolls, each paired with their own little companion toys. The companions can be made in small, medium, and large sizes. The doll patterns included are:
- Aya
- Tenshi
- Koneko
- Mini
- Akari
- Karin
- Takane
- Yuki
- Kitsune
- Mitsuki
What Are the Crochet Patterns Like to Work With?
Each pattern includes the yarn brand and specific color names used for the sample shown in the book, which I always appreciate because it makes recreating the exact look much easier.
The finished size for the dolls is included (approx. 8.25″ – 9.5″ tall), though I could not find gauge information anywhere in the book to ensure your toy turns out to be that size.
One thing I did really like was the amount of photo tutorial support included throughout the patterns. The photos are clearly labelled so it’s easy to match them to the written instructions, and I found them genuinely helpful while reading through the patterns to help fill in the blanks.
Overall, the patterns themselves are fairly clear and easy to follow for experienced amigurumi makers. Whenever I found myself questioning something in the written instructions, the support photos usually helped fill in the blanks.
Crochet Terminology Used
The patterns are written using US crochet terminology. One thing I found a little surprising was that I couldn’t find a US to UK terminology conversion chart or even a notation in the book clarifying that US terms were being used. Since this book will likely appeal to crocheters worldwide, including that information would have been a really helpful addition.
Skill Level
The skill levels in this book are marked using a 3-dot system.
- 2 dots = Intermediate
- 3 dots = Advanced
There are no beginner-level patterns included in this book.
Six of the dolls are labelled as intermediate and four are labelled as advanced, and honestly, I agree with those ratings. These patterns are extremely detailed and use very small hooks along with very thin yarns, which can be intimidating and difficult for newer crocheters to work with.
The companion patterns are grouped in with the dolls instead of being given their own individual skill ratings. Based on my experience, I would personally consider most of the companion patterns to be easy levelled projects.
This is definitely not the book I would recommend for someone making their first amigurumi doll or learning to crochet for the first time. The designs are beautiful, but they require patience, precision, and familiarity with a wide variety of amigurumi techniques.
See a Quick Flip-Through of Kawaii Crochet Dolls
Supports Included for Makers
All of the educational support sections are found at the front of the book starting on page 4.
The beginning of the book includes:
- A Basic Stitches section
- A Techniques section
- A Technical section with reusable pattern components
The Basic Stitches section includes step-by-step written instructions alongside clear illustrations with matching labels. I liked that the illustrations were labelled clearly to match the written instructions because it made the layout easier to follow. That said, I did find some of the written explanations lacked clarity or even steps in places. Newer crocheters may have some difficulty using certain techniques if they are relying solely on the written instructions. Makers who already have some experience troubleshooting from images or are well-experienced with amigurumi should be perfectly fine.
The Techniques section switches from illustrations to photo tutorials, which I thought worked well visually. The photos are clear, easy to see, and labelled to match the instructions. Again though, some of the wording lacks clarity in places and occasionally leaves you filling in gaps using the images rather than the written instructions themselves.
There is also a Technical section that contains standard reusable parts used throughout multiple patterns, such as shoe soles and companion bodies. While this helps reduce repetition in the book, it does mean you’ll occasionally find yourself flipping back and forth between the front of the book and the pattern you’re actively working on.
Supplies Needed
To make the dolls in this book, you’ll need quite a variety of supplies, including:
- 2 mm crochet hook (US 4)
- 1.75 mm crochet hook (US 4/0)
- Yarn and Colors Must-Have cotton yarn
- Furry and Flamour yarns in various colours
- Toy stuffing
- Embroidery floss
- Pipe cleaners/chenille stems
- Aluminum wire in 1.5 mm and 0.5 mm
- Small pliers
- Tapestry needle
- Scissors
- Pins
- Blush
- Toothpick
- 7 mm safety eyes
- Prym all-purpose glue
Because of the small hooks, thin yarn, and detailed finishing work involved, I do think this book is best suited to makers who already feel comfortable with detailed amigurumi construction techniques or substituting other materials they feel most comfortable with.
Where to Buy Kawaii Crochet Dolls by Elise Brocard
If you want to grab a copy of this new book, it’s available through Amazon and Bookshop.org via the links below.
Overall Thoughts on this Amigurumi Doll Book
This is a beautiful collection of amigurumi dolls with bold outfits and adorable little companion friends. I’d recommend this book to intermediate to advanced amigurumi makers who are well-versed in a wide variety of amigurumi techniques. That said, I would not personally recommend this title to beginners or someone looking to make their first amigurumi doll. While support photos are helpful, some of the written explanations lack the clarity I would want for newer crocheters. It is definitely a title to aspire to if you have the patience needed to create one of these mini works of art.
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Want Your Own Copy? Enter the Giveaway Below!
Thanks to the publisher, I’m giving away a copy of Kawaii Crochet Dolls by Elise Brocard.
This giveaway on The Loopy Lamb is open to worldwide participants (except where void by law). Giveaway ends Saturday, June 6th, 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
