Knit a Mini Farmyard

About Sachiyo Ishii

Sachiyo Ishii was born and raised in Japan. She was a money broker on Wall Street and in London before discovering the joy of handicraft after her second son was born. She learned dressmaking and Waldorf doll making and has been designing and creating dolls and toys ever since. She teaches knitting, doll making, wet and dry felting, sewing, crochet and spinning, among other crafts. She has authored a number of best-selling titles for Search Press, and has sold over 200,000 copies of her books to date. Her work also regularly appears in knitting magazines.

Sachiyo lives in Sussex, UK with her husband and two sons.

Visit her website at www.knitssachi.com and her Instagram: @knitsbysachi

Library Journal

Perfect for chilly fall evenings, these patterns have an autumnal feel and will inspire knitters to pick up their tiniest needles to plant the fibrous seeds for a vegetable patch replete with pumpkins and guarded by an adorable scarecrow. Growing up in Japan, Ishii was familiar with farms focused on cultivating rice and vegetables, leading her to view American farms with a bit of whimsy that is captured in these tiny creations. There are goats, sheep, and cows, as well as barn cats and a sheepdog, all designed either as stand-alone projects or part of a bigger farmhouse scene with a vegetable patch and pond. Knit with DK yarn on 2/75 mm. needles, these are tiny projects that may feel fussy to some, but for knitters who are comfortable making socks and other projects requiring double-pointed needles, these will knit up quickly. Plus, Ishii offers some well-illustrated tips and tricks to ensure that even novice knitters can create horse manes, pigtails, and much more.

VERDICT: From the field to the farmhouse, these patterns are homey and wholesome, and theyll be sure to delight crafters in search of harvest-themed projects.

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Blodwen from Half Yard Sewing Club

For big and little knitters!

This little book is so cute, there are 18 items for you to knit, which will make up a farmyard of animals, along with a vegetable patch and a field with a pond. Full instructions on what you will need, along with information on key techniques and embroidery stitches are included.

This little book will suit any age, a beginner or a grannie who wants to make a little farm for a grandchild, so much fun.

It is delightful and all for a wonderful price of £7.99. 

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Helen from Half Yard Sewing Club

Another brilliant toy knitting book from Sachiyo Ishii. For confident knitters (or those who are able to knit smaller items and know basic stitches) this book allows you to use up your leftover yarn to create mini farm animals and associated accessories. 

Knowledge of increasing, decreasing and basic knit and purl is crucial and working with such a small project can be a little tricky. However, these projects can be completed in a short space of time. I found I was able to complete the knit quickly but will take my time sewing up, stuffing and finishing.

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Jax from Half Yard Sewing Club

This is a lovely little hard back book containing the patterns to knit 20 cute little animals and accessories to make a play farmyard. The book is well illustrated so you can see how the animals are supposed to look. The book is aimed at an intermediate knitter but there are some basic knitting techniques and a useful list of abbreviations to help with the pattern reading. The animals when finished are quite small and I think it might be a bit tricky to sew them up and stuff them. There is an illustrated guide to sewing up the donkey but for the others there are only written instructions so a beginner to making stuffed toys may struggle with this element. The book is one of a series of mini things to knit by search press. Again due to the size the toys may not be suitable for very small children. Great for using up scraps of DK yarn if you have suitable colours small double pointed needles and a small crochet hook are the suggested tools required. The crochet hook is for picking up stitches and making chains so you dont need to know how to crochet to make the patterns. Good value at £7.99

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Jayne from Half Yard Sewing Club

This is a lovely little book that leads to the creation of single farm animals or a whole farm.

There are clear instructions to knit a range of farm animals, including key techniques relating to how to knit and stuff the animals.

Once you have knitted the animals, the fun continues with vegetables, a vegetable patch and fields with a pond.

This is an ideal book for beginners and knitters of all levels, and it is great way to use up any scraps you may have in your yarn stash.

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Jules from Half Yard Sewing Club

Knit a Mini Farm Yard by Sachiyo Ishii is a hardback book of 20 tiny patterns to knit according to the front cover.  I knitted up the donkey pattern in double knit wool left over from another project. The pattern was straightforward and easy to follow just using knit and purl stitches and the little donkey was made in no time at all, and it was small great for using up odds and ends of wool. Along with farmyard animals theres a scarecrow, fields, vegetables and a pumpkin among the patterns.

If you enjoy making tiny or small projects you will find this book fun. Patterns are simple, so great for teaching beginners or getting younger ones into knitting. The book provides basic knitting instructions, information on materials, tools and key techniques and step-by-step instructions on sewing up and stuffing the projects all with very useful and clear photographs.

A fun project book from the Knit a Mini series.

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Lynne from Half Yard Sewing Club

Such a dainty book with 20 Farmyard Knitting Patterns. Loved the size as easy to have in your craft bag, for journeys in the car, train, bus to knit stuff. This author is new to me and l was glad to read a bit about how she started off.

As with most books, there was an introduction, materials and tools and then she talks about Basic Knitting. Something needed if you are a starter and always good for knitters who already knit. She also talked about key techniques, sewing and stuffing and basic embroidery to enhance your knitting farmyard pieces. Turning the page to see the photo's of the projects was good to see, it gave me the chance to decide on what l would try first and it also gave me the number of the page to go to. Excellent idea as you aren't trawling through pages to find the one you want.

Her patterns through the next 20 pages were very easy to read and a beginner would not find it hard to follow.
l loved the Scarecrow pattern and you could make most of her patterns knitted larger by upping your needles and the yarn used. l also like the last few pages where it was dedicated to vegetables and you could knit your own patch. The last page of patterns was a surprise as you were able to knit squares and attach to make your own fields with different coloured wool to make it look like different crops were growing.

l would definitely recommend this book, and am glad l was able to review it. Well done Sachiyo on your knitting farmyard journey book for everyone to enjoy.

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Sandi from Half Yard Sewing Club

Sachiyo Ishiis Knit a Mini Farmyard is a delightful and inspiring guide that brings the charm of farm life into the hands of crafters. With her signature attention to detail and creative flair, she offers readers a step-by-step guide to creating their very own collection of adorable, miniature farmyard animals, crops, and accessories.

The book features an impressive range of projects, from the classic farm staples such as cows, pigs, and chickens to more whimsical additions like a friendly scarecrow and bales of hay. Each pattern is thoughtfully designed, catering to knitters of various skill levels. Beginners will appreciate the clear instructions and helpful diagrams, while seasoned knitters will enjoy the opportunity to add their own unique touches to the designs.

What sets this book apart is its charming sense of storytelling. As you work through the projects, you can imagine the life of a bustling farm, complete with playful animals and a serene rural backdrop. The scale of the miniatures is perfect for decorating, gifting, or simply enjoying as a creative pastime.

The photography throughout the book is another highlight, with vibrant, inviting images that showcase the finished creations beautifully. Its easy to feel inspired when flicking through the pages, with each photo capturing the warmth and playfulness of Sachiyos designs.

One of the books standout features is its accessibility. Sachiyo includes tips for techniques such as shaping, sewing, and stuffing the miniatures, making the patterns achievable even for those new to knitting. She also provides helpful advice on choosing yarns and materials to achieve the best results.

That said, some of the intricate details might require a bit of patience, especially for beginners. However, the effort is more than worth it when you see the tiny creations come to life.

In summary, Knit a Mini Farmyard is a treasure trove of creativity and charm. Whether youre a knitting enthusiast or looking for a unique and rewarding crafting project, this book is sure to spark joy.

Sachiyo Ishiis designs are not just patterns; they are little works of art that bring a touch of the countryside to your home. Highly recommended for anyone who loves knitting, animals, or miniature creations.

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Sandra from Half Yard Sewing Club

Published by Search Press as a colourful smaller hardbacked book, it is full of fun little animals to make, including a scarecrow and fields, complete with vegetables.

The book begins with sections on the materials and tools you will require and then provides some basic knitting and embroidery tips.

Each item is pictured with a simple pattern to follow and with a difficulty level.

What is nice is that you can use your dk scraps or use a tapestry wool skein, a lot of which you can pick up in a charity shop.

The book is presented in a lovely format, high quality printing and colour.

Little people would be thrilled to receive these animals as a farm or individually.

Quick to make for your school fetes too.

I am gifting this book to my crafter daughter in law who I am sure will really enjoy making these for my Grandsons.