Book Review: Cuddly Crochet
By Rachel Choi – 10 Comments| Recently I received Stacey Trock’s Cuddly Crochet book in the mail for review. As much as I like to talk about fluffy rainbows and sunshines, below is my complete and honest review of the book, telling you the good, the bad, and the ugly.
I have to say that the Cuddly Crochet book has one of the most unique concepts for baby crochet patterns. The book features 10 baby toys, with each toy having either a blanket, hat, or bib to match! That’s a total of 20 crochet patterns. The book is themed around cute stuffed animals: teddy bear, pig, mouse, bunny, and penguin, to name a few. At the end of the book there’s mysterious toy truck. Maybe this is for all the boy babies? |
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My favorite part has to be the beginning of the book, before the crochet patterns even start. Stacey provides a lot of useful crochet information and techniques, from how to work the stitches needed in the patterns, to stuffing your toys and sewing the parts together. These resources can be used far beyond just the patterns in the book. Make sure you read this section before starting your crochet patterns, even if you are an advanced crocheter.
The patterns themselves are clearly written for those who have experience reading crochet patterns. I wouldn’t recommend this book for beginners, although there are a couple of beginner level patterns. Beginners will probably have a hard time deciphering the crochet pattern instructions.
It is also interesting to note that most of the patterns in the book require you to use a US H (5.00 mm) crochet hook and to crochet in the back loops only. I’m not a true fan of working in the back loops only for everything. Yes, it does give you a different textured look, but I don’t think it looks great on every single crochet pattern. You can be the judge! As for the 5.00 mm hook, it’s a great size for when you’re crocheting blankets, hats, and bibs, but you might want to use a smaller hook that is traditionally used when you crochet toys that contain stuffing in them, such as a 3.75 mm or 4.00 mm hook. Smaller hooks will make your work tighter so that your stuffing won’t show through. Play around with it to find what works for you.
Despite the minor flaws that I poke at, Cuddly Crochet is a fun book with a ton of adorable crochet patterns. In my opinion, this book is worth the asking price if you’re looking for a bunch of cute baby patterns.
If you would like to take a peak into the Cuddly Crochet book yourself and to see items made from the patterns click here. The link will take you to Amazon where you can click the book’s image to see the first few pages of the book. Under the book’s cover, there are some pictures you can scroll through. My favorite is the mouse bib!
What do you think of Cuddly Crochet?
This is such a cute book! I’m going to have to buy myself a copy.
P.S. thanks for giving such as honest review of the book. Way too often I read reviews that are a bunch of “fluff”.
I don’t really make toys though perhaps the hats and blankets might appeal to me. I was thinking maybe the author’s crochet tension is tight which is why she uses an H hook. I don’t know, just a guess. I know my daughter crochets tightly and always has to use a hook a couple sizes larger than recommended. It looks like the truck might go on a bib – there is one pictured at Amazon. Cute book if you do that kind of thing.
You shouldn’t use the same hook for both toys and hat, blankets or bibs. But I agree with you Rachel that you can just change it up if you need.
I’ll be buying this book soon 😀
I think the patterns are still great!
I was at the book store over the weekend and saw this book, I had already decided that I need to add it to my collection of pattern books. Just waiting for payday. Thanks for the review, just makes me want the book even more.
I’m just looking for more patterns for boys, from baby age through teen. They’re so hard to find, especially after toddler ages. A friend of mine, who heads up one of the crochet groups I attend, is expecting a boy. There are so many more patterns for girls than for boys. Perhaps I’ll find one in this book.
I also use whatever hook makes sense for the pattern, not necessarily the one the pattern recommends. I’ve been paying more attention to the hook size suggested on the yarn wrapper and crocheting to the size wanted, rather than worrying so much about scale.
Has some pretty cute patterns, but I have found cuter ones either free or on Etsy. I don’t think I would buy it. I love making stuffed toys, and I agree that I have to use either a C or D hook to get it tight enough that the stuffing doesn’t show through…but I always do crochet loosely. I also agree that the absolute cutest thing in that book is the mouse bib! Sooo cute! …but you know, if you really understand crochet, you could easily produce that by just looking at the picture…is really very simple, but so effective! I frequently do that…just copy on color printer and figure it out and make it. Guess that’s not so good for the author, but when there’s only one pattern in a whole book or web page you really like…I do it. My bad!
Doesn’t using a smaller hook make the toy smaller. The little blue bird is very cute.
I love them all but if I had to pick just one, it would be the pig…its so cute! The firetruck is pretty nice too, and my nephew would like that one, since his Daddy’s a fireman!! So hard to choose just one!
I love the little mouse bib what an adorable way to cover up a plain shirt.
The bluebird, pig and penguin and bib are just too cute. As a teacher they’d be great gifts when students increase their reading fluency rate per minute