Disclaimer: This book / pattern is one I have purchased (or used) for my own benefit. I have not been financially compensated by the 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.
Shopping for crochet books? I do so love a good crochet book and certainly have LOADS on my shelves so I thought I would share my recommendations for crochet lovers out there.
I decided that my first review would be about the new crochet book / kit that arrived for me to play with on Bank Holiday weekend (well actually I brought more than one but that’s another story).
Last year I wanted to make a couple of Darth Vader‘s for my nephews for Christmas, I’d had a pattern, by the extremely talented British Crochet Designer Lucy Ravenscar (aka. Lucy Collin), saved for awhile on Ravelry but then when I came to buy it there was a message on the pattern to say that it was no longer available for sale! In Yoda-speak ‘devastated was I’ but all was well as Lucy was just putting all her awesome Star Wars amigurumi’s together into a book. So stalking her (in a nice way) I have been waiting for the book to be published since last year and now it’s HERE! If you LOVE Star Wars then this is definitely the book you are looking for! It’s AMAZING! Seriously! And the author’s passion for designing these Star Wars character’s definitely shines through.
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Lets start off with the kit first, well the price you pay for the kit and book is worth it for the book alone so don’t let my next paragraph put you off…
Unfortunately I found the kit itself not as good as perhaps it could have been though the idea for the kit and contents are a brilliant concept. In the kit you get yarn enough to make an amigurumi Yoda and a Stormtrooper. You get 2 pairs of safety eyes, a metal yarn needle, a basic aluminium 3.5mm (US E/4) hook and I was rather impressed that the kit also contained some stuffing – so literally everything you might need aside from some stitch markers and pins (which aren’t included). However I found yarn was a bit on the thin side for me (think a light DK / sport weight #2 or #3) and I found that it split easily. The safety eyes were just AWFUL; both me and my husband struggled with trying to put them on as the washers were an odd shape and seemed too small. The hook was servicable and the needle / stuffing both fine, but I have spoilt myself using Clover Amour hooks so in the end I gave in and used my own stash and accessories and then I had no issues.
In the end I chose some yarn from my stash; Stylecraft Special Aran (Worsted weight #4) Meadow, Dark Brown and Camel for Master Yoda with a 4mm hook (US G) and some 9mm eyes. This made my Yoda about 5 inches / 12.5 cm high.
https://instagram.com/p/3GE4ImOngN/?taken-by=kcaco.uk
The book includes instructions for 12 Star Wars figures: Yoda, Stormtrooper, C-3PO, Princess Leia, Wicket the Ewok, Luke Skywalker, R2-D2, Han Solo, Chewbacca, Darth Vader, Boba Fett, and Jabba the Hutt.
I wouldn’t say that the book is geared for a beginner crocheter though it does contain some basic how-to-guidance at the front of the book. It’s perfect for someone who has been crocheting for awhile that already has a gist of crochet stitches and techniques.
The book is written in US Crochet Terminology (though there is a conversion guide supplied in the front of the book) and as a whole the book is well illustrated throughout with photographs not only from the pattern but from the film (which is a nice touch) and each pattern has clear instructions.
As you can see my Yoda turned out AWESOMELY and I can’t wait to make some of the other characters. My recommendation? The force is strong with this one! Buy this book! You won’t regret it!
