Mega Yummy Crochet by Miya Book Review and Giveaway

Disclaimer:  I received a sample copy of the book on which this review is based. However I have not been financially compensated by the supplier, book company or the designer to write this review. All opinions expressed are my own and based on my own experiences of using the book / pattern. This post does contain affiliate links which means that I may earn commissions from qualifying purchases made through these links at no cost to you.

Today I’m sharing a look at a crochet book that’s a little bit different and a whole lot of fun. Mega Yummy Crochet by Miya, published by Zakka Workshop, is packed full of bold, playful amigurumi projects inspired by food – and not just any food, but gloriously oversized, joyful, huggable versions of it. If you enjoy crochet that makes you smile as you stitch, this is definitely a book worth taking a closer look at.

📌 Pin for Later

A child admires a large, colourful crochet cake display made of yarn, featuring vibrant decorations. The background includes paper decorations and a patterned tablecloth. The image also showcases a crochet book titled 'Mega Yummy Crochet' with various amigurumi food items, along with a review label from KCACO.UK.

✍🏼 A bit about the author:

Miya has been crafting amigurumi since 2001. As well as being an author of multiple books published in Japan, she’s a practicing clinical psychologist who truly appreciates the positive effects that creative handiwork can have on our wellbeing. You can find Miya’s work on Instagram via @miya_amigurumi.

📖 What’s Inside the Book?

From donuts and macarons to hotdogs and hamburgers, and even some traditional Japanese sweet treats, there’s something to satisfy every appetite. With over 26 unique patterns to explore, there’s plenty to keep your hooks busy. The book includes patterns for:

  • French Cruller (White Chocolate)
  • French Cruller (Strawberry Chocolate)
  • Donut (Strawberry)
  • Donut (Mint Chocolate)
  • Donut (Banana Chocolate)
  • Macaron (Mint x Blueberry)
  • Macaron (Strawberry x Cherry)
  • Macaron (Lemon x Lime)
  • Ice Cream Cone (Strawberry Single Scoop)
  • Ice Cream Cone (Lime & Orange Double Scoop)
  • Lollipop
  • Polka Dot Candy
  • Striped Candy
  • Burger
  • Hot Dog
  • Egg on Toast
  • Naked Cake
  • Strawberry Cupcake
  • Chocolate Roll Cake
  • Strawberry Shortcake
  • Fruit Tarte
  • Mousse au Citron
  • Charlotte Cake
  • Custard
  • Pancakes
  • Cream Soda
  • Nerikiri / Chrysanthemum
  • Nerikiri / Clematis
  • Sakura Mochi
  • Taiyaki
A colourful crochet ice cream cone project featured in a book alongside a smiling child holding large crocheted ice cream cones, with a cup and decorative items in the background.

💡 Who Is This Book For?

If you love playful crochet projects, enjoy working with amigurumi, or want something that’s a little out of the ordinary, this book would make a wonderful addition to your craft library. These oversized amigurumi make playful pillows and cushions, huggable toys, or decorative objects perfect for kids, pets, and the young at heart. I know my teenager would just love the burger cushion for her room, and my youngest would probably love all of them to fill her room, but I think she’d especially like the strawberry donut!

The book uses U.S. crochet terminology, if you are not sure about the differences then you might find my blog post British vs. American Crochet Terms: What’s the Difference? helpful.

A colourful children's book page featuring a large knitted burger with two children playfully posed on top, surrounded by photos of kids with hot dog-themed toys and a dog resembling a hot dog.

📖 Review

I really liked the mix of fun food items; I had no idea what a cruller was before reading this book (though now I very much want to try one!), and it’s a lovely touch that Miya has included Japanese treats she would be familiar with, as it adds a lovely cultural flavour to the collection. I love the variety of food designs included, from sweet treats to more savoury options, which keeps things interesting and fun to try.

There are several things I really love about this book, starting with the clear and easy-to-follow instructions. The book includes the patterns, charts and helpful illustrations. There are also some step by step photos, but not for every project. One thing I did notice was there is no gauge information, so your finished project size may vary depending on personal tension.

An open crochet book displaying a step-by-step tutorial on double crochet techniques, featuring images of hands using a crochet hook with yarn.

One thing to note is that the book doesn’t specify skill levels for each project, so some patterns will naturally be easier than others. While many of the designs are still approachable, I’d say this book is really well suited to intermediate crocheters. Projects like the macarons or small pastries could be tackled by confident beginners, but the larger, more intricate items, like the burgers or layered cakes, might require a bit more experience and patience.

Obviously one of the most unique things about this book is the scale of the projects – the projects range in size from 12cm (5″) tall to 69cm (27)″ long. The amigurumi are deliberately oversized, making them incredibly playful, satisfying to make, and perfect for statement pieces or gifts. The book calls for yarn held double to achieve the oversized amigurumi, but you could easily use the same patterns with a single strand (or thinner yarn) to make smaller versions too.

🧶Helpful Supplies

A colourful display of crocheted candy items, including lollipops and donuts, on a light blue background. The image features a crochet instruction book open to pages showing candy patterns and instructions.

🛍️ Where to Get Your Copy

You can pick up your own copy of Mega Yummy Crochet by Miya from Amazon.

🎁 Giveaway Time!

The lovely publishers from Zakka Workshop have kindly supplied TWO copies of Mega Yummy Crochet by Miya for a giveaway! There are therefore two chances to enter, either here on the blog or on Instagram.

All you need to do to enter the giveaway is either leave a comment on the bottom of this blog post (or on my Instagram post about the giveaway) about which food item you would like to make first and why.

A colourful crochet book titled 'Mega Yummy Crochet' featuring a child holding oversized crocheted desserts. The book is placed on a light wooden surface alongside a mug of coffee, scissors, a notebook, and crafting tools.

I’d like to say a big thank you again to Zakka Workshop for offering this special deal to my lovely KCACO.UK readers! Good Luck everyone!

🌐Stay connected

I’d love to stay connected with you so please do sign up to blog (below) and / or my mailing list to get a reminder when new blog posts, giveaways, special offers or new pattern releases are available.

Until next time; keep calm and crochet on my friends xx

An image showing a festive crochet project, featuring a Peanuts-themed box with yarn and patterns in a cozy setting.

🔔 Subscribe to the blog

Simply Crochet Magazine | Zuri the Zebra

One of this years trending style is Neon! Have you considered giving it a try to bring an electrified pop to your next amigurumi project?

Giant neon crocheted amigurumi zebra sitting on a white chair, with a hot pink blanket draped on the back, in a colourful child's room setting.
© Our Media Ltd 2024 – Simply Crochet Issue 148

As well as the Bear Pocket organiser (that I talked about here) I also have another pattern in issue 148 of Simply Crochet Magazine. Allow me to introduce Zuri the Zebra, a jumbo colourful amigurumi project.

Neon colours have been making a splash in the world of fashion and design, and now they’re taking the crochet world by storm. With their bold, vivid hues, neon yarns add an instant dose of excitement and energy to any project. And what better way to showcase this trend than with a larger-than-life crochet creation like Zuri the Zebra!

Close up of all the wonderful neon colours included in the mane of Zuri crocheted amigurumi zebra - available in Simply Crochet Magazine issue 148
© Our Media Ltd 2024 – Simply Crochet Issue 148

 Zuri is not your average amigurumi! Standing tall and proud, at 50cm (20 inches) tall when sitting, this neon giant zebra is sure to make a statement in any room. With her striking neon stripes, she exudes a playful charm that’s impossible to resist.

Whether you’re an experienced crocheter looking for a new challenge or a beginner eager to try something bold, Zuri is the perfect project to unleash your creativity.

A collection of Scheepjes yarn is shown on a desk. A hand holds up some highlighter yellow coloured yarn and we can also see green and pink neon yarn alongside light grey and cream.

To create Zuri I used two types of Aran weight yarn for this jumbo project. The main bod colour was made from Scheepjes Truly Scrumptious Aran in Buttercream Icing, which is and 50% Polyester 50% Acrylic blended yarn available in 100g (108m) balls. It was my first time using this yarn and I was curious about it as the polyester part is made from recycled plastic bottles. I have to say I was impressed, it’s still fairly soft and there is over 80 shades to choose from, I’ll certainly be considering it for other projects.

For the bright neon accents I used Scheepjes Chunky Monkey in Hot Pink, Neon Green, Yellow and Smoke (for the hooves). I’ve used Chunky Monkey in lots of projects in the past, it’s a really versatile 100% acrylic yarn Aran weight yarn 100g (116m) balls.

The giant neon crocheted Zuri the Amigurumi Zebra is shown sitting in a grey arm chair. Pattern is available in issue 148 of Simply Crochet magazine.

Then the only other things you will need are a 5.5 (US size H/8), a pair of 24mm black safety eyes, some stitch markers, some toy filler (at least 1kg / 2lbs), pins and a yarn needle to sew all the pieces together. And if you are looking for a large project bag to keep all that I can certainly recommend my Dear Ewe Large Project or Tote bags that hold 8 or more balls of yarn comfortably.

❤️ SAVE ZURI THE ZEBRA ON RAVELRY ❤️

Not only is Zuri a delightful addition to any crochet collection, but she also makes a wonderful gift for friends and loved ones. Imagine the joy on someone’s face when they unwrap their very own giant neon giant – it’s sure to be a gift they’ll treasure for years to come.

Issue 148 of Simply Crochet Magazine is on sale from 16 April 2024 and is available to order online or download as a digital issue now.

Front cover of issue 148 of Simply Crochet Magazine showing the 'Pet Special' supplement and the cover gifts of hooks with cat or enamel topper.
© Our Media Ltd 2024 – Simply Crochet Issue 148

No child’s bedroom is complete without a cuddly buddy, so make this delightfully unique safari animal for a little one you love!

If you make up Zuri the Amigurumi Zebra I hope you’ll share any finished photos with me on social media (facebooktwitter or instagram) or as a project on Ravelry – I love to see what you make! And finally you may wish to make sure you are signed up to blog (below) and / or my mailing list to get a reminder when new blog posts, discounts or new pattern releases are available.

Until next time folks! Happy hooking and keep calm and crochet on my friends xx

Wordpress-Signature

Subscribe to the blog:

Please note that some of the links in my blog are affiliate links. I may earn a small commission if you purchase via these links, but the price you pay is not affectedthank you for your support.