Crochet Furry Friends

Introduction 
Tools and materials
Guide to buying fur yarn
Stitch abbreviations and conversions
Techniques
Crochet stitches
Colour
Tension
Finishing your toys
Tips and tricks for working with fur yarn

Projects
Sherman Sheep, Barrington Bear, Elliot Elephant, Abbey Axolotl, Sid the Sloth, Lucy Unicorn, Beatrice Bunny, Pierre Penguin, Ollie Owl, Patty Panda, Bella Bat, Sammy Skunk

About Ashley Parker

Ashley Parker is a crochet designer and crochet blogger living near Toronto, Ontario Canada with her husband and two children. Ashley has always been crafty but found a passion for crochet as an adult, after the birth of her children. Soon after learning to crochet, she was hooked, and she hasn’t stopped since. Her love of crochet lead her to leave the corporate world to pursue working as a crochet designer and blogger full-time. In addition to independently publishing her crochet patterns, Ashley has written many patterns and tutorials for magazines, yarn companies, tool and craft companies and more. This is her first book with Search Press. You can find more about Ashley and her designs at theloopylamb.com

Elise Rose Crochet You Tube

Elise Rose Crochet
Every time I look at these patterns I squeal with delight! (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-8V21RpOLA)

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Library Journal

LIBRARY JOURNAL
Designer Parkers debut book features 12 amigurumi animalsa bear, a bunny, an owl, and morethat range in size from 7 to 21 inches. These designs range from easy to intermediate skill levels and are intended mainly for fur yarn, which requires a relatively tense technique. Some patterns also use worsted- or aran-weight yarn for attachments, such as ears and feet. The author provides a guide for purchasing and managing fur yarn; evaluating its construction, weight, and style; and trimming it for specific projects. Fur yarn is both unforgiving (crocheters must rely on feel as stitches are obscured) and forgiving (furry stitches hide imperfections), but the book includes tips and tricks for crocheters to adjust and keep track of stitches as they work. The book contains several pages of stitching techniques with easy-to-follow images; each pattern includes detailed instructions on finishing the piece, including stuffing, adding eyes, and sewing pieces together. The finished products are adorable stuffies with names such as Pierre Penguin and Abbey Axolotl.
VERDICT The inclusion of fur yarn for these patterns differentiates this resource from other amigurumi books. Great for experienced crocheters.

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Booklist

Booklist (Ameircan Library Assoc)
In her first book, amigurumi maker Parker presents 12 furry animals to crochet. An axolotl, skunk, and sheep are just a few of the cute animals on display. Most amigurumi pattern books are written for a medium (worsted) weight yarn, while Parkers patterns are for faux fur yarn. This yarn is notoriously difficult to work with, especially for three-dimensional objects like amigurumi. Parker gives best practices and also includes a guide to buying this novelty yarn. The 12 designs are basic, and some of them, like the bear and the elephant, share a similar body structure and design. Some, like the sloth and the owl, are updates of free patterns Parker already has on her blog. While the patterns are beginner-friendly, the assembly instructions add a level of difficulty. Parker does not include which rows to attach legs, arms, and other appendages, a standard practice in amigurumi patterns; instead, crafters have to rely on pictures of finished animals for appendage attachment. Still, not many crochet books feature crafting with furry yarn, so this is a good optional purchase to round out amigurumi collections. Lynnanne Pearson