Toys are fun for everyone, no matter their age. Knitted toys are like that, too—they're interesting for every knitter, no matter their skill level. Check out these books for patterns that inspire your imagination, amuse (and amaze) your friends and help you learn new techniques.
Chicagoan Anna Hrachovec combines her whimsical knitted characters with fantastical tales in her new book, Adventures in Mochi-Mochi Land. The sweet stories of this alternate universe will inspire daydreams in crafters and non-crafters alike, and knitters can create their own adventures using the patterns featured in the book. Hrachovec always includes helpful photos to explain toy knitting fundamentals, making her books great for beginners.
Rebecca Danger, a household name among toy knitters, specializes in scare-you-silly designs. Start with The Big Book of Knitted Monsters for an introduction to her trademark softies, or if you have scraps to use up, try 50 Yards of Fun, which builds on basic body shapes to create small creatures. Love the fox and owl trends? Find patterns to make your own in this book! Or use one of the basic shapes to customize the toy of your dreams.
Interested in more realistic creatures? The Knit Your Own series has something for everyone—and it offers ideas for adjusting your yarn choices and tweaking pattern to create personalized toys. Check out Knit your Own Dog or Knit your Own Cat to knit a replica of your own pet or to memorialize a lost animal. Need a zookeeper to keep track of your menagerie? Design one using Knit your Own Boyfriend. Subtitled "Create the Man You've Been Yarning for," this book keeps it light and fun, but it also delivers tips and diagrams for finishing and stuffing your toys.
Amigurumi Knits takes realism in knitting to a whole new level. From the ant to the octopus, these well-researched designs bring the wow factor. I’m still floored that a designer could capture these likenesses in a pattern—and that we crafters can knit them to life! Many of these patterns require a bit more patience to get the details right, but this book boasts a help section that's a good resource for all knitters, whatever they're making.
Clearly, your imagination's the only limit to toy knitting! What toy would you knit?
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