I have another amigurumi crochet pattern book to share with you all today: Mabel Bunny & Co.: 15 loveable animals to crochet using chunky yarn by Claire Gelder. I love amigurumi projects so I couldn’t wait to dig into this book and see what it’s all about. Thanks to Search Press, they have provided us with a copy of the book to giveaway to one lucky winner so keep reading to learn you you can possibly win a copy for yourself.
This book was provided to me free of charge in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
Pin this Mabel Bunny & Co Review for later SAVE
So what’s unique about this amigurumi project book is that the main projects are made with chunky weight yarn and they’re all jumbo sized. The toys in this book are 27 1/2″ or 70 cm tall with the patterns for a smaller sized 12″ toy also included with some of the patterns. These toys are the ultimate in cuddle-sized toys. Thankfully they are made with the chunky weight yarn so they won’t take you weeks to complete.
The patterns in Mabel Bunny & Co. include:
- A bunny
- Polar Bear
- Elephant
- Sloth
- Dragon
- Koala
- Lamb
- Octopus
- and more!
My personal favourites in the book are Ruby Elephant and Oliver Octopus (who also comes with a baby). The toys are very cute. None of the patterns require the use of safety eyes so the materials needed to get started are relatively simple. To get started with a project in the book, you’ll need yarn, stuffing, a crochet hook, scissors and a tapestry needle. The recommended yarns in the book are easily substituted with some bulky weight yarn in your stash. So you can get started with the patterns in this book relatively quickly.
Mable Bunny & Co, is written in the U.S. terminology with notes throughout the book converting the pattern terminology to the UK terms. So rather than using a chart that one may need to flip back to refer to, they’ve provided the information in the patterns to prevent that. I thought that was handy for those that may not be accustomed to the translations however, it does crowd up the patterns visually a bit which could be confusing if you’re rushing or not paying attention. I personally would’ve preferred the chart since the instructions for assembling your toy make you flip back to the reference section anyways but that’s my personal preference.
A fun little touch is that each doll has a mini heart crocheted and sewn to the toy’s bottom. This seems to be the designer’s little signature on each piece and I thought it was a sweet addition to the doll. It also serves as a reminder to the recipient that their toy was made with love.
The resource section is thorough and clear and includes lots of photos. Photos and well-done instructions are included for getting a clean finish, joining the head and parts to your toy and making the eyes and nose.
Check out the video version of this review:
The patterns themselves are most appropriate for an intermediate/experienced crocheter that has experience with amigurumi projects written in different styles. Some of the patterns could have been clearer and I felt that the addition of a step or some images would have made the pattern clearer without the reader having to attempt to fill in that blank themselves. I was able to figure out what needed to happen in the pattern I was trying but a beginner would have likely been lost and frustrated. Further to that, not all the stitch abbreviations used in the book are listed or explained consistently. The resource section shows you how to do a single crochet decrease stitch and calls it in the resource section “decreasing in single crochet”. But in the patterns, the abbreviation of SC2TOG is used and I could not find that explained anywhere in the book. It’s for these reasons I think that the book is best suited for a seasoned crocheter and not suitable for a beginner.
If you’re a seasoned amigurumi maker and are looking for a resource that will provide you with a set of jumbo-sized friends to make, this may be the book for you. If you’re just starting out with amigurumi projects or even just learning reading crochet patterns, I’d recommend getting more experience under your belt or trying a different resource to get you started before moving onto this one.
If you’re interested in purchasing a copy of Mabel Bunny & Co. you can find it HERE.
If you enjoy crochet pattern books, you can check out some more of my crochet book reviews on my blog:
- Fairytale Blankets to Crochet by Lynne Rowe
- Two-by-Two Crochet by Bendy Carter
- Fair Isle Crochet Workshop by Nastasja Vreeswijk
- Beginner’s Guide to Tunisian Crochet by Emma Guess
- You can find all my crochet book reviews HERE.
Giveaway!
Thanks to Search Press, I have a copy of the book Mabel Bunny & Co. by Claire Gelder to giveaway to one lucky winner!
The Mabel Bunny & Co. Giveaway on The Loopy Lamb is open to participants in the U.S., Canada and U.K. and ends Friday, September 18th, 2020 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 option is mandatory – all other tasks are optional, for bonus entries only. Please note that by entering your email below, you are subscribing to The Loopy Lamb email list. We will not send you spam, just notifications about new free crochet patterns, news and giveaways.
