Are you on the hunt for cute, little Christmas gifts and ornaments to knit? Then you’ll want to check out my review of a knitting pattern collection by Sachiyo Ishii, along with an excerpted pattern for the adorable amigurumi Gingerbread Man!

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 Twenty to Knit: Tiny Christmas Toys to Knit by Sachiyo Ishii 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

Twenty to Knit: Tiny Christmas Toys to Knit by Sachiyo Ishii is a knitting pattern collection of 20 adorable little projects that measure from 2.25” (5.5 cm) through 7” (18 cm) in length. Sachiyo opens the book with an introduction where she shares her delight in making little Christmas toys for decoration and gifting. She mentions that the toys can easily be adjusted in size by using thicker or thinner yarns with appropriately sized needles. The samples in this book are primarily made in DK/light worsted/8-ply yarn (#3 or light yarn in the U.S.).

The book moves on to Knitting Know-How, which includes information about yarn, needles, and other tools; sewing pieces together; and basic knitting and embroidery stitches used in the projects. This section also includes a list of knitting abbreviations.

The next section is the patterns. Each pattern includes a materials list with yarns listed by color and meterage/yardage. The patterns do not listed a needle; however, in Knitting Know-How, the author mentions that all the samples are made with U.S. Size 2 (2.75 mm/U.K. Size 12) double pointed needles unless otherwise mentioned. Each pattern includes instructions for each piece written in pattern abbreviations and a “To make up” section with assembly instructions. The patterns also include a full page picture and at least one additional, smaller detail picture.

Tiny Christmas Toys to Knit assumes that you have knowledge of knitting basics, though there is some guidance on terminology (like the differences between garter and stockinette stitches) provided in the Knitting Know-How section. The book is small – at about the size of a folded piece of letter paper, it’s very portable. Like the other books in this series, it’s designed to make it easy to knit on the go. If you’re an advanced beginner or intermediate knitter and enjoy knitting toys and especially Christmas projects, you will find many cute projects included.

Gingerbread Man

Knitting Pattern by Sachiyo Ishii

Published in Twenty to Knit: Tiny Christmas Toys to Knit

Text © 2018 Sachiyo Ishii. Photographs and design  © 2018 Search Press Ltd. Shared with permission from Search Press North America.

Notes from Underground Crafter:

• This pattern uses pattern abbreviations. The Craft Yarn Council has a full list of abbreviations here.
• The sample was made using U.S. Size 2 (2.75 mm/U.K. Size 12) double pointed needles. Gauge is not important for this pattern, but stitches should be small so that stuffing doesn’t show through.
• This pattern uses k2tog as the decrease. Purl SoHo has a helpful video tutorial for this stitch here.
• You can find helpful video tutorials for the embroidery stitches (chain stitch, backstitch, and French knot) used in this pattern at the end of this blog post.

Materials:

• 10g of DK (light worsted/8-ply) yarn in brown (A) and small amounts of red (C) and lime green (D)
• Small amounts of 4-ply (fingering) yarn in white (B)
• Stuffing
• Hemp cord for hanging loop

Additional Equipment:

• A stitch holder or a spare needle

Size:

• 8cm (3in) tall

Instructions:

Front panel, first leg

• Using yarn A, cast on 7 sts.
• Rows 1-5: beginning with a p WS row, work 5 rows in st st.
• Break yarn, place sts on a holder.

Second leg

• Work as for first leg but do not break yarn.
• Row 6 (joining row): K7, then k across held 7 sts of first leg(14 sts).
• Rows 7-15: beg with a p WS row, work 9 rows in st st.
• Row 16: cast on 5 sts, k to end (19 sts).
• Row 17: cast on 5 sts, p to end (24 sts).
• Rows 18-23: beginning with a k RS row, work 6 rows in stst.
• Row 24: cast off 7 sts, k to end (17 sts).
• Row 25: cast off 7 sts, p to end (10 sts).
• Row 26: cast on 5 sts, k to end (15 sts).
• Row 27: cast on 5 sts, p to end (20 sts).
• Rows 28-33: beginning with a k RS row, work 6 rows in st st.
• Row 34: (k2, k2tog) to end (15 sts).
• Row 35: (p1, p2tog) to end (10 sts).
• Break yarn, thread through all sts and pull tightly. Fasten off.

Back panel

• Work as given for Front panel to row 15.
• Row 16: k to end.
• Row 17: cast on 5 sts, p to end (19 sts).
• Row 18: cast on 5 sts, k to end (24 sts).
• Rows 19-24: beginning with a p WS row, work 6 rows in st st.
• Cast off.

To make up

• With fastened-off yarn end of Front panel, sew the back seam of the head down to the neck. Sew all side seams and lightly stuff. Using yarn B, embroider chain stitches on the front panel at the hands and feet, and make backstitches for the mouth. Using two strands of yarn C held together, work a French knot for each eye. Using yarn C, French knot three buttons on the body. Using yarn D, embroider a bow tie at the neck with long horizontal backstitches, gathered with a short vertical stitch. Attach hanging loop if desired.

Giveaway

Now that you’ve read my review of Twenty to Knit: Tiny Christmas Toys to Knit by Sachiyo Ishii and tried the Gingerbread Man pattern, you may be ready 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, December 7, 2018. One winner will be chosen at random from the entries submitted via the Rafflecopter widget. The winner will receive 1 copy of Tiny Christmas Toys to Knit, courtesy of Search Press North America. Good luck!

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