Hello Everyone!
As some of you may already know, if you follow me on Instagram, I have been thoroughly enjoying working through some of the patterns from this lovely little crochet book by Yan Schenkel, Animal Friends of Pica Pau by Yan Schenkel and I have to say, I am absolutely in LOVE!!
Animal Friends of Pica Pau retails for USD $21.95. With 20 colourful little amigurumi characters to choose from, this works out at about USD $1.09 per pattern...I think this makes the book a little bit of a bargain!
Yan's designs are very unique and whimsical. Her attention to detail is incredible. With accessories like little bobble hats, arm floats and removable pants and skirts, these little characters would be a great addition to anyone's amigurumi toy collection - be it a big kid or small. Â Each animal also has a name and a cute little blurb about its personality which just adds another layer of charm in my opinion!
The book is well written, with gorgeous photography that supports the written patterns quite well. Â The patterns are easy to understand and many of the photos really help you through some of the trickier construction elements of each character. The only thing I will say, is that in some of the patterns, the photos contradict the written pattern. I don't think this is a huge deal, but if you are using the photos of the finished item to help you with the construction, this can be a little confusing. I ended up going with what the pattern instructed and was not disappointed.
If you are new to amigurumi, the book covers everything from tools and supplies, to how to hold your crochet hook, to different crochet stitches and techniques that are used in amigurumi. Despite knowing a lot about amigurumi and crochet in general, I still learnt a few things from Yan.
Although Yan does discuss different yarn types in the book and gives the yarn weight to use, she doesn't actually mention a specific brand of yarn to use. I chose to use one of my all time favourite yarns - Scheepjes Catona - and I really love how they turned out.
Round-up:
So, it's now time for a round up of the pros and cons of Yan Schenkel's Animal Friends Of Pica Pau and whether or not I would recommend you add this book to your crochet library....
Let's start with the pros:
The book delivers on what the cover promises - with beautiful photography, helpful techniques, how to's and step-by-step photos, with very well written pattern instructions. This makes it perfect for even the more beginner crocheter.
The characters are unique and gorgeous. Yan's style is charming and whimsical with superb attention to detail.
With 20 adorable characters to make, this book is an absolute steal. What a bargain!
Now for the cons:
There are only two for me:
Sometimes the pictures did not match up with the written pattern which was a little confusing. Though, in the end I went with what the pattern stated and was happy with the end result.
Yan does not list the actual yarn and colours she used for each character. For anyone who is new to amigurumi and not familiar with how different types of yarn work up, or for those who want to replicate the character exactly, this could be seen as a negative. As I mentioned, I used Scheepjes Catona yarns which is available in 109 different colours in 10g, 25g and 50g balls, which in my humble opinion, makes it the perfect yarn for amigurumi projects.
So, in conclusion, if you have been sitting on the fence about this one, do yourself a favour and buy it - I promise you will not be disappointed!
Rating 9.6 out of 10
I hope you enjoyed reading my first book review.
Now, before I go I have to say that despite my absolute adoration, I promise this is my completely unbiased opinion of the book and whether I think it is worth the investment or not. DISCLAIMER: This is my own honest review. I have not been paid to write this, nor was I gifted the book. It was purchased with my very own hard earnt money.Â
I hope you have a lovely day and happy crocheting!
(* This post contains affiliate links. You can learn more about affiliate links on my blog by reading this post.)
Share This Post