Little Crocheted Monsters Book Review with Hogaraga amigurumi pattern

Do you love to crochet little amigurumi creatures? Today, I’m sharing my review of a book of crochet amigurumi monster patterns. My review also includes an excerpted crochet pattern for a creature called Hogaraga, so read on for details!

This post contains affiliate links. I may receive compensation (at no added cost to you) if you make a purchase using these links. GMC Publications provided me with a free review copy of Little Crocheted Monsters: 12 Mini Mutants to Make by Lan-Anh Bui and Josephine Wan. Although I accept free products for review, I do not accept additional compensation, nor do I guarantee a positive review. My reviews are based entirely on my honest opinions.

Book Review

Little Crocheted Monsters: 12 Mini Mutants to Make by Lan-Anh Bui and Josephine Wan is a crochet pattern booklet filled with adorable and not-too-scary amigurumi monsters. Each pattern includes a list of materials, instructions written in UK pattern abbreviations and charts that list each round with the number of repeats and color changes for each part. If you’re already comfortable with the basics of amigurumi, you’ll find that these charts provide a great short cut through each pattern. Most of the patterns are embellished with buttons and embroidery, but some use felt pieces. Each of the twelve patterns also includes multiple large photos against a white background, so you can really make out the details of each creature.

After the patterns, you can find the Background section. This includes…

What is Amigurumi, a 2-page section with an introduction to the techniques used and information on making hook and yarn choices;
Other Materials, a 1-page section that reviews the basics of notions, stuffing, and embellishments;
Crochet Techniques, an 8-page section including written and illustrated instructions for the chain, double crochet (US single crochet), color changes, increasing and decreasing, and crocheting in unjoined spirals; and
Finishing, which shares great tips for making hair, hiding holes in the fabric, weaving in yarn tails, basic embroidery with the running stitch and the blanket stitch, seaming, and a “translation” chart of US to UK abbreviations, hook sizes, and yarn weights.

Overall, this is a really cute pattern book for any crocheter who is comfortable with the basic stitches and is looking for some fun amigurumi projects to make.

Hogaraga

Crochet Pattern by Lan-Anh Bui and Josephine Wan

Published in Little Crocheted Monsters: 12 Mini Mutants to Make.

Text © Lan-Ahn Bui and Josephine Wan, 2011. Copyright in the Work © GMC Publications Ltd. 2018. Shared with permission from GMC Publications.

Notes from Underground Crafter

This pattern uses UK pattern abbreviations. You can find a list of the differences between UK and US pattern abbreviations here.
Oombawka Design has a helpful magic circle tutorial here.
Whistle and Ivy has a helpful sc2tog (UK dc2tog as used in this pattern) tutorial here.

You will need

Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran 55% merino wool, 33% microfibre, 12% cashmere (98yd/90m per 50g): 50g blue, 10g red, 10g orange, 10g yellow, 10g green, 10g pink
3.5mm (UK9:USE/4) crochet hook
2 blue buttons (for eyes)
Small pieces of felt (light pink for face and dark pink for mouth)
Embroidery thread (blue for face, white for toes)
Polyester stuffing

Body

Use blue
Round 1: Using magic circle technique, work 5 dc. (5 sts).
Round 2: 2dc into each st. (10 sts).
Round 3: (2dc in next dc, dc in next dc) to end. (15 sts).
Round 4: (2dc in next dc, dc in next 2 dc) to end. (20 sts).
Round 5: (2dc in next dc, dc in next 3 dc) to end. (25 sts).
Round 6: (2dc in next dc, dc in next 4 dc) to end. (30 sts).
Round 7: (2dc in next dc, dc in next 5 dc) to end. (35 sts).
Round 8: (2dc in next dc, dc in next 6 dc) to end. (40 sts).
Round 9: Dc to end. (40 sts).
Round 10: (2dc in next dc, dc in next 9 dc) to end. (44 sts).
Round 11: Dc to end. (44 sts).
Round 12: (2dc in next dc, dc in next 10 dc) to end. (48 sts).
Rounds 13–21: Dc to end. (48 sts).
Round 22: (Dc in next 22 dc, dc2tog) to end. (46 sts).
Round 23: Dc to end. (46 sts).
Round 24: Dc2tog once, then to end. (45 sts).
Round 25: (Dc in next 7 dc, dc2tog) to end. (40 sts).
Round 26: (Dc in next 3 dc, dc2tog) to end. (32 sts).
Break off the yarn. Fasten off the work, leaving a tail for sewing. Sew on the eyes with blue embroidery thread and embroider the face and mouth using darned lines.
Stuff the body firmly.
Round 27: (Dc in next 2dc, dc2tog) to end. (24 sts).
Round 28: (Dc in next 2dc, dc2tog) to end. (18 sts).
Round 29: (Dc2tog) to end. (9 sts).
Round 30: Dc in first st, then (dc2tog) to end. (5 sts).
Close the hole and hide the tail of the yarn.

Legs

(make 2 alike)
Note: Stuff the leg lightly as it is formed.
Start with blue
Round 1: Using magic circle technique, work 4 dc. (4 sts).
Round 2: 2dc into each st. (8 sts).
Round 3: (2dc in next dc, dc in next dc) to end. (12 sts).
Round 4: (2dc in next dc, dc in next 5 dc) to end. (14 sts).
Rounds 5–6: Dc to end. (14 sts).
Round 7: (Dc in next 5dc, dc2tog) to end. (12 sts).
Round 8: (Dc in next 4dc, dc2tog) to end. (10 sts).
Round 9: Dc to end. (10 sts).
Round 10: (Dc in next 3 dc, dc2tog) to end. (8 sts).
Embroider on the toes with white embroidery thread using darned lines.
Stuff the piece and continue to stuff as the leg lengthens.
Rounds 11–13: (Dc to end) in red.
Rounds 14–16: (Dc to end) in orange.
Rounds 17–19: (Dc to end) in yellow.
Rounds 20–22: (Dc to end) in green.
Rounds 23–25: (Dc to end) in blue.
Once the blue rounds have been worked, fasten off and sew to the base of the body.

Arms

(make 2 alike)
Note: Stuff the arm lightly as it is formed.
Start with pink
Round 1: Using magic circle technique, work 4 dc. (4 sts).
Round 2: 2dc into each st. (8 sts).
Rounds 3–6: Dc to end. (8 sts).
Change to blue
Rounds 7–20: Dc to end. (8 sts).
Break off the yarn. Fasten off the work, leaving a tail for sewing. Sew the arms in place on the body.

Making up

Sew in any loose ends.