Who doesn’t love cuddling up with an adorable crochet creature? I’m sharing a book review for a crochet pattern book filled with cute, huggable animals, along with the pattern for Nelly the Hippo and your chance to win a copy of the book, 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. A free review copy of Cuddly Animals to Crochet: 28 Cute Toys to Make and Love by Lucia Forthmann was provided to me by Search Press North America. 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

Cuddly Animals to Crochet: 28 Cute Toys to Make and Love by Lucia Forthmann is a crochet pattern book including large, huggable crochet critters. The book opens with an introduction from Lucia, where she explains how the crochet characters in this book can “accompany little people on dangerous, imaginary adventures, protect them against monsters in the night and are always on hand to comfort them.” As someone who grew up with my grandmother’s adorable crochet bears, I have to agree with Lucia.

After the Table of Contents, the Techniques chapter includes written and illustrated instructions for the magic ring, 3 basic stitches (single crochet, half double crochet, double crochet), increasing and decreasing, 3 stitches for seaming and embellishment (mattress stitch, whip stitch, and French knot), 4 additional stitches used in the patterns (tulip stitch, raised or post stitches, spike stitch, and bobble), and changing colors. There is also a key to the U.S. pattern abbreviations used in this book (with U.K. terms in parenthesis).

The patterns in the book are arranged by locale, with chapters for Forest (5 animals), Farm (5 animals), Africa (5 animals), Asia (3 animals), Australia (3 animals), South America (3 animals), and Water (4 animals).

Each pattern starts with a background story for the animal and a full page image of the animal that is styled to match the story. For example, Priscilla the Pig loves to dance so there are illustrated dancing steps and ballet shoes in the background of her picture. The patterns start by listing the height of the finished animal. The patterns in this book measure from 8.25” (21 cm) to 19.5” (49.5 cm), but most are in the 12” (30.5 cm) to 17” (43 cm) range.  The patterns also include a materials list with the yarn listed by brand name with fiber content, weight in grams, and yardage/meterage listed. The instructions are then written out in U.S. terms (with U.K. terms in parenthesis). There are several additional pictures included with each pattern. Some include close up details or profile images. Throughout the book, there are images of children holding the animals, so you can get a better idea of the scale.

As noted in her introduction, Lucia uses higher end yarns for these projects. Most patterns are made with Merino wool or organic yarns. As the book was originally published in Europe, some of the yarns are not easily purchased in the U.S. Lucia does include a short note encouraging readers to substitute yarns of a similar weight and yardage if necessary, but more details on the yarn thickness (for example, medium/aran weight) would have made substitutions easier.

What I liked about this book are that there are several different sizes and styles of animals available. Most have lanky limbs or wide torsos to make them easy for small hands to carry. The patterns don’t include difficulty level, but most are very beginner friendly, though there may be patience required for assembly. New crocheters (or those new to crocheting amigurumi) might find it helpful to watch a video on assembling amigurumi as the finishing instructions assume some level of comfort with seaming and assembly.

Cuddly Animals to Crochet: 28 Cute Toys to Make and Love is filled with fun project ideas and the background stories provide a nice launch into story time for the children that will receive the finished projects. I would recommend this book to beginner and intermediate crocheters who like to make projects for kids, or those who enjoy making softies.

Nelly the Hippo

Crochet Pattern by Lucia Forthmann

Published in Cuddly Animals to Crochet: 28 Cute Toys to Make and Love

Pattern and Photos © 2018 Edition Michael Fischer GmbH. English Translation by Burravoe Translation Services. Shared with permission from Search Press North America.

Notes from Underground Crafter:

• This pattern uses U.S. pattern abbreviations. The Craft Yarn Council has a full list of abbreviations here.
• This pattern uses sc2tog as the decrease (listed as dec 1 st). New Stitch a Day has a helpful video tutorial for this stitch here.
• You can find helpful magic ring tutorials by Oombawka Design here (photo tutorial) and here (video tutorial).

It‘s a well-known fact that hippos are great at baking. And Nelly loves spending her days kneading dough, cutting out cookies – and licking the bowl when she‘s finished. After all, what‘s the harm in carrying a few extra pounds?

Height

• Approx. 13in (33cm)

Materials

• Lang Yarns Merino 120 (100% Merino wool) 2 balls Mint 0174 and 1 ball Rosa 0019; 50g/131yd/120m
• Austermann Merino 160 (100% Merino wool) scraps of Black 202 and White 201; 50g/174yd/160m
• 2.5mm (B-1/UK 13) crochet hook
• Stuffing (fibrefill)
• Tapestry needle

Muzzle

• Work in rounds. At the end of each round, work 1 sl st into first st in round, 1 ch and turn.
• Round 1: Using Mint work 9 ch, 1 sc into second ch from hook, 1 sc into each of next 6 ch, 3 sc into last ch. Continue working on the other side of the length of ch: 6 sc, 2 sc into ch with first st in (18 sts).
• Round 2: Inc 1 st, 6 sc, inc 1 st three times, 6 sc, inc 1 st twice (24 sts).
• Round 3: 1 sc, inc 1 st, 7 sc, inc 1 st, 1 sc, inc 1 st, 1 sc, inc 1 st, 7 sc, inc 1 st, 1 sc, inc 1 st (30 sts).
• Round 4: 2 sc, inc 1 st, 8 sc, inc 1 st, 2 sc, inc 1 st, 2 sc, inc 1 st, 8 sc, inc 1 st, 2 sc, inc 1 st (36 sts).
• Round 5: 3 sc, inc 1 st, 9 sc, inc 1 st, 3 sc, inc 1 st, 3 sc, inc 1 st, 9 sc, inc 1 st, 3 sc, inc 1 st (42 sts).
• Round 6: 4 sc, inc 1 st, 10 sc, inc 1 st, 4 sc, inc 1 st, 4 sc, inc 1 st, 10 sc, inc 1 st, 4 sc, inc 1 st (48 sts).
• Round 7: 5 sc, inc 1 st, 11 sc, inc 1 st, 5 sc, inc 1 st, 5 sc, inc 1 st, 11 sc, inc 1 st, 5 sc, inc 1 st (54 sts).
• Round 8: 6 sc, inc 1 st, 12 sc, inc 1 st, sc, inc 1 st, 6 sc, inc 1 st, 12 sc, inc 1 st, 6 sc, inc 1 st (60 sts).
• Round 9: 7 sc, inc 1 st, 13 sc, inc 1 st, 7 sc, inc 1 st, 7 sc, inc 1 st, 13 sc, inc 1 st, 7 sc, inc 1 st (66 sts).
• Round 10: 8 sc, inc 1 st, 14 sc, inc 1 st, 8 sc, inc 1 st, 8 sc, inc 1 st, 14 sc, inc 1 st, 8 sc, inc 1 st (72 sts).
• Round 11: 9 sc, inc 1 st, 15 sc, inc 1 st, 9 sc , inc 1 st, 9 sc , inc 1 st, 15 sc (dc), inc 1 st, 9 sc, inc 1 st (78 sts).
• Round 12: 10 sc , inc 1 st, 16 sc, inc 1 st, 10 sc, inc 1 st, 10 sc, inc 1 st, 16 sc, inc 1 st, 10 sc, inc 1 st (84 sts).
• Rounds 13-38: 1 sc into each st of previous round (84 sts).
• Round 39: *12 sc, dec 1 st*, rep from * to * five more times (78 sts).
• Round 40: *11 sc, dec 1 st*, rep from * to * five more times (72 sts).
• Round 41: *10 sc, dec 1 st*, rep from * to * five more times (66 sts).
• Round 42: *9 sc, dec 1 st*, rep from * to * five more times (60 sts).
• Stuff the muzzle.
• Round 43: *8 sc, dec 1 st*, rep from * to * five more times (54 sts).
• Round 44: *7 sc, dec 1 st*, rep from * to * five more times (48 sts).
• Round 45: *6 sc, dec 1 st*, rep from * to * five more times (42 sts).
• Round 46: *5 sc, dec 1 st*, rep from * to * five more times (36 sts).
• Round 47: *4 sc, dec 1 st*, rep from * to * five more times (30 sts).
• Round 48: *3 sc, dec 1 st*, rep from * to * five more times (24 sts).
• Round 49: *2 sc, dec 1 st*, rep from * to * five more times (18 sts).
• Round 50: *1 sc, dec 1 st*, rep from * to * five more times (12 sts).
• Round 51: Dec 1 st six times (6 sts).
• Round 52: *Miss 1 st, 1 sl st*, rep from * to * twice more (3 sts).
• Secure the yarn and fasten off.

Top of head

• Work in rounds. At the end of each round, work 1 sl st into first st in round, 1 ch and turn.
• Round 1: Using Mint work 17 ch, 1 sc into second ch from hook, 1 sc into each of next 14 ch, 3 sc into last ch. Continue working on the other side of the length of ch: 14 sc, 2 sc into ch with first st in (34 sts).
• Round 2: Inc 1 st, 14 sc, inc 1 st three times, 14 sc, inc 1 st twice (40 sts).
• Round 3: 1 sc, inc 1 st, 15 sc, inc 1 st, 1 sc, inc 1 st, 1 sc, inc 1 st, 15 sc, inc 1 st, 1 sc, inc 1 st (46 sts).
• Round 4: 2 sc, inc 1 st, 16 sc, inc 1 st, 2 sc, inc 1 st, 2 sc, inc 1 st, 16 sc, inc 1 st, 2 sc, inc 1 st (52 sts).
• Round 5: 3 sc, inc 1 st, 17 sc, inc 1 st, 3 sc, inc 1 st, 3 sc, inc 1 st, 17 sc, inc 1 st, 3 sc, inc 1 st (58 sts).
• Round 6: 4 sc, inc 1 st, 18 sc, inc 1 st, 4 sc, inc 1 st, 4 sc, inc 1 st, 18 sc, inc 1 st, 4 sc, inc 1 st (64 sts).
• Rounds 7-15: 1 sc into each st of previous round (64 sts).
• Secure yarn and fasten off.

Body

• Work in rounds. At the end of each round, work 1 sl st into first st in round, 1 ch and turn.
• Round 1: Using Mint crochet 6 sc in a magic ring (6 sts).
• Round 2: Inc 1 st six times (12 sts).
• Round 3: *1 sc, inc 1 st*, rep from * to * five more times (18 sts).
• Round 4: *2 sc, inc 1 st*, rep from * to * five more times (24 sts).
• Round 5: *3 sc, inc 1 st*, rep from * to * five more times (30 sts).
• Round 6: *4 sc, inc 1 st*, rep from * to * five more times (36 sts).
• Round 7: *5 sc, inc 1 st*, rep from * to * five more times (42 sts).
• Round 8: *6 sc, inc 1 st*, rep from * to * five more times (48 sts).
• Round 9: *7 sc, inc 1 st*, rep from * to * five more times (54 sts).
• Round 10: *8 sc, inc 1 st*, rep from * to * five more times (60 sts).
• Round 11: *9 sc, inc 1 st*, rep from * to * five more times (66 sts).
• Round 12: *10 sc, inc 1 st*, rep from * to * five more times (72 sts).
• Rounds 13-16: 1 sc into each st of previous round (72 sts).
• Round 17: *11 sc, inc 1 st*, rep from * to * five more times (78 sts).
• Rounds 18-32: 1 sc into each st of previous round (78 sts).
• Round 33: *11 sc, dec 1 st*, rep from * to * five more times (72 sts).
• Round 34: * 10 sc, dec 1 st *, rep from * to * 5 more times (66 st).
• Round 35: *9 sc, dec 1 st*, rep from * to * five more times (60 sts).
• Round 36: *8 sc, dec 1 st*, rep from * to * five more times (54 sts).
• Round 37: *7 sc, dec 1 st*, rep from * to * five more times (48 sts).
• Round 38: *6 sc, dec 1 st*, rep from * to * five more times (42 sts).
• Round 39: *5 sc, dec 1 st*, rep from * to * five more times (36 sts).
• Secure yarn and fasten off. Stuff the body.

Legs (make 2)

• Work in rounds. At the end of each round, work 1 sl st into first st in round, 1 ch and turn.
• Round 1: Using Rosa crochet 6 sc in a magic ring (6 sts).
• Round 2: Inc 1 st six times (12 st).
• Change col to Mint.
• Rounds 3-12: 1 sc into each st of previous round (12 sts).
• Secure yarn and fasten off. Stuff the leg.

Arms (make 2)

• Crochet the arms following the pattern for the leg, working two additional rounds of round 12.

Ears (make 2 in Rosa, 2 in Mint)

• Work in rounds. At the end of each round, work 1 sl st into first st in round, 1 ch and turn.
• Round 1: Work 5 ch, 1 sc into second ch from hook, 1 sc into each of next 2 ch, 3 sc into last ch. Continue working on the other side of the length of ch: 2 sc, 2 sc  into ch with first st in (10 sts).
• Row 2: 4 sc, inc 1 st, 4 sc, inc 1 st (12 sts).
• Secure yarn and fasten off.
• Place one Rosa and one Mint ear together, and work 1 round sc around to join. Hold so that you are looking at the mint ear.

Nostrils (make 2)

• Round 1: Using Rosa crochet 6 sc in a magic ring (6 sts).
• Round 2: Inc 1 st six times (12 sts).
• Secure the yarn and fasten off.

Finishing off

• Sew the last round of the top of the head to the muzzle, working from the middle to the edge. When finished, the first round of the muzzle should be facing forward, and the first round of the top of the head facing up. Sew the last round of the body to the underside of the head using mattress stitch. Sew the last round of the arms to the sides of the body using whipstitch. Sew the last round of the legs to the underside of the body using whipstitch. Sew an ear to each side of the top of the head. Position the eyes 10 st apart above the muzzle, and sew to the top of the head. With White sew two French knots onto the Black pupils of each eye, and sew two lashes to the side of each eye using Black. Sew a nostril to each side of the muzzle.

Giveaway

Now that you’ve read my review of Cuddly Animals to Crochet: 28 Cute Toys to Make and Love by Lucia Forthmann and tried out the Nelly the Hippo pattern, you probably want to get your hands on the book. Well, the nice folks at Search Press North America have set aside a copy for one lucky winner!

This giveaway is open to readers with mailing addresses in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, or other parts of Europe, except where prohibited by law. Enter by 11:59 p.m. Eastern on Friday, November 23, 2018. One winner will be chosen at random from the entries submitted via the Rafflecopter widget. The winner will receive 1 copy of Cuddly Animals to Crochet, courtesy of Search Press North America. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway