Cute Crocheted Wild Animals

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I can’t tell you how excited I am to show you this book. Look, this a big, vulnerable thing to do. Each time I start with an idea. Each time a draw, design and crochet a new project for a book…it’s a wonderful and scary day.

Since the first book was published, lovely makers started contacting me and asking…’Can you make an Elephant?’, ‘What about a Monkey?’ I started making a few notes and collecting a few ideas.

So after a lot of chatting my gorgeous editor, Wendy we narrowed down our family of friends. Let me introduce you.

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Our cover stars are Barbara and Cyril Elephant, cosy in their nightwear. Barbara is a fan of Ballroom dancing (I’m a Strictly fan!) and Cyril is also passionate about the foxtrot but also his garden. Both toys have little accessories, a blanket, a hotwater bottle and even a mini teddy bear. Cute!

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The Zebras are Peggy and Jeff, Peggy is and adventurer who loves to climb mountains and Jeff is like a fair few of my male friends – always first on the dance floor creating some great shapes.

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Monkeys Molly and Billy are lots of fun, Billy loves the rain and skateboarding and Molly is an aspiring actress – both have outfits which I designed to appeal to my younger readership so that you can create a toy which is all matchy-matchy.

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Pandas Maisie and Sidney are ready for the Beach. Their outfits are fun and colourful, but they also have loads of beach accessories which will be fun to create for any toy taken on holiday.

Finally the Lions are Roger and Ada. Ada is based on one of my oldest friends; organised, funny and fashionable. Then Roger the Lion is also a fun loving joyful chap based on a good friend.

If you made the toys in my the first book, you will be delighted to know that the clothes will fit your creations. This book expands the wardrobe options and I have also listened to some of the queries and advice you have given me since writing Cute Crocheted Animals. I have written more about creating features and added in my top toy making tips.

The photos of each of these little friends just fill me with joy. I have Jonathan, Wendy, Rebecca and Martin at GMC to thank for the time and dedication they put into each and every book. Jude Roust patiently does all the pattern checking – thank heavens for her. The funniest thing is that these little character come to life on the page. Even I read some of the text and giggle – Wendy adds in some surprises for me…

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To celebrate its publication – I would like to do a small giveaway. If you would like a chance of winning a signed copy of my this book, please comment below and tell me about the most toy you ever owned. I will be choosing a winner at random on 29 February – Leap Day! I do hope you like it – Happy Weekend x

Congratulations Wendy – you have won the giveaway – so thrilled!

41 thoughts on “Cute Crocheted Wild Animals”

    1. For my first birthday, my Dad bought me a pink bear. My older sister immediately named it Teddy Bonks (it was a more innocent age…).
      My mum would wash it from time to time and then run it through the mangle. Can you imagine! I hated seeing it pegged on the washing line by its ears to dry. It survived its ordeals though and will be celebrating its 60 birthday in a few week time.

  1. Oooo I can’t wait to get my hook into this one! So excited!!!! ❤️ My most loved and treasured toy as a child was a stork ‍♀️ It carried a tiny baby bear in a sling. The bear was attached… until it wasn’t! I just love a toy with accessories. My daughters favourite toy is Emily the rabbit… and she too loves taking off her red boots, hat and coat. xxx

  2. I had a rabbit called Mrs Bunny my mum bought her when I was born and still have Mrs Bunny 42 years later she is mainly pink with white paws, ears and a not so fluffy pompom tail

  3. I can’t remember having any soft toys but I do remember loving my Sindy doll and making clothes for her with my friend.
    It’s now lovely making toys for my grandchildren and they love dressing and undressing Emily and Ben.

  4. I have white teddy with a knitted duffel coat made by my late mum, who was by not the greatest knitter, but it was made with much love

  5. I loved playing with soft toys and my favourite ones were tiny dolls. I am 46 and still have my most favourite old tiny doll I played with 40 years ago. My mum used to make plain clothes for it and I loved dressing it up and putting to bed. I remember taking it with me everywhere I went. It was a very dear toy to me!

  6. The best toy I ever owned and still have at the age of 58 is a doll. My Nan, never had a doll growing up so Cathy would sometimes live with my Nan, sometimes with me, which is why I never lost her when my parents separated as she was with nan. She now lives with me permanently

  7. Rosie Gear-Hollis

    Rosie
    I had a tag doll with long legs that were filled with something like sawdus t,she went everywhere with me,and mum loving patched up her legs regularly, her legs started out life at about 18 inches long and by the time she’d been dragged everywhere they ended up about 6 inches long

  8. Barbie was a big part of my childhood, and I remember playing with them a lot. I also had a few of the collectors editions and still find myself looking at the more recent versions. I have been saving patterns to knit Barbie clothing also, but haven’t made any yet. The nostalgia is really strong

  9. My most loved toy was a rag doll dressed as a bride – my mum had someone make her for my Christmas. She still has her lacy knickers and pearl seed shoes some 48 years later! Hadn’t thought how old she is until I just wrote this!!

  10. I knit a Golliwog when in primary school. He had a yellow body, blue legs and big white buttons for eyes. I loved him and dressed him and pushed him around in my dolls pram. Just about to start crocheting a couple of your bunnies for my grandchildren.

  11. Lucy Goodridge

    Not a soft & cuddly, but I’ll never forget the ‘little mouse toy shop’ tin I once had. So beautifully made, and would be very much used today if I still had it. I’ve no idea how we parted company, and I still regularly check eBay for a replacement!

  12. I had a panda soft toys that was dearly loved! It was dragged everywhere, much washed and looked a bit worse for wear. Gorgeous

  13. I had & still have a teddy given to me for my first birthday. Over the years he’s had some repairs – the biggest being when our dog chewed his eye off but I love him still

  14. Sally Harbott

    Fabulous looking book. Best toy ever was panda…who recently celebrated his 47th birthday and is still going strong!

  15. Elizabeth Brown

    I still have my teddy bear which is over 60 years old. She still has on the jumper my mum knitted and a net skirt she made. My husband also still has his teddy bear with the jumper that his mum knitted.

  16. I’m not a cuddly toy person myself but my best friend has just had a baby so it’ld be lovely to make her something. The elephants are lovely!

  17. My favourite cuddly is woofer .i had him when i had surgery aged 6 (many years ago) my mum always says that she bought it for me but my nanna always said she did who knows makes me love it even more

  18. Tina Kercher

    My favorite toys have been my dolls. I got a new doll on Christmas morning. I can’t pick a favorite just like a mother could never pick her favorite child.

  19. Laura Thompson

    My favourite was a simple teddy bear called Fluffy – I still have him sitting on top of my storage unit in my craft room.

  20. When I was 5 years old Santa brought me a huge teddy, nearly the same height as me that I called Susan and every night I was convinced it came alive. (Im nearly 60 so this was long before Toy Story). I can remember that teddy had to go everywhere with us.

  21. Pippa bunty moore

    I had a rag doll made by my Grandma. It was knitted but had a sewn on face. When the dolls face got really grubby and worn out mum bought a new sew on face from the yarn shop. She was called looby loo which I think was a character on a tv or radio programme in 1960s .

  22. Carolyn Dewhirst

    The zebras are cool. When I was younger I was given a small yellow duck knitted by my granny when I was a few weeks old. Timmy is still here quite a few years later. He has his birthday 2 weeks after me. He has been every where, but doesn’t go aboard.

  23. I still have my very first teddy bear “Bonzo”. He was given to me by a neighbour for my first birthday over 60 years ago. He has seen me through many ups and downs and has been a true friend over the years. Definitely my favourite toy.

  24. I had a doll when I was younger. I never named it. But I do remember that she has blond hair and a pink dress. That’s the only toy I ever owned. I can’t remember what happened to my doll. Probably lost it during one of my family’s move to a new city.

  25. Firstly, congrats on the new book, it looks fab!

    I was given a small teddy bear when I was born, aptly named Little Ted – he later got a brother, Big Ted. Little Ted was brought everywhere, to the hospital, on holidays, you name it. He was so well loved I managed to chew his nose off. The nose was replaced but knowing no better I did it again so poor Little Ted can’t smell any more. He also became very threadbear so had to have some shorts & tshirts knitted for him to protect him from all the hugs. He survived it all tho, what a robust little bear

  26. Shelley White

    My most loved toy which I still have is my teddy – named Teddy! One day I poured my mum’s fave perfume (Miss Dior) over his tummy to make him smell nice. Mum wasn’t too pleased about that …..

  27. My favourite toy is an original Teddy Bear, that my Dad bought for me when I was only 4 months old. Teddy is now 67 years old and has been repaired many times, bit thread bare but still adorable.
    I love making crocheted animals for my nieces, nephews and Godchildren.

  28. Brenley Susser

    These are so inspiring. I’ve made a crocheted bunny hat, but have not attempted animals yet for my granddaughters. Your designs make me want to give it a try! Adorable! Glad I started filling you and your creations!

  29. Suzanne Smith

    I really can’t remember my teddy. Too many years ago now.my son had a teddy which he called fuffy that went everywhere with him. He still sits in his room today. He 21 now

  30. Wendy Burnett

    I don’t really remember a favourite toy, but monkeys are fast becoming very popular with the boys in our family. The monkey in your new book looks wonderful Emma x thank you for the giveaway.

  31. Oh, I’m looking forward to this book as I love dress-up dolls and animals! One of my first and most loved toys was a teddy bear. I still have him. He’s not a plushie but he’s stuffed hard like the vintage bears.

  32. My most loved soft toy is a bear called Bromley who I bought when I was 8 (I am now 30). He was sitting in the bear shop looking sad and I wanted to make him happy. My dad didn’t want me to buy him but luckily after some crying my mum persuaded him to let me go back and get him! He is still very loved and is now coveted by my 18 month old!

  33. Isabel Edwards

    I love your designs! My favourite toy as a child was a cat called mog, he went everywhere with me & I was really upset when mum put him in the washing machine!

  34. I got a soft bodied doll for my christening 50 years ago. She’s wearing much better than her owner!
    I love your crochet animals.

  35. My favourite toy as a child was an old Teddy bear that had a scorched ear as she got too close to the fire. Her ear fur went solid and green but I still loved her the same.

  36. I’m 50 now and I still have my favourite toy. He is a yellow teddy bear who is called Spuddo. He is practically bald now, he has wonky eyes and has been sewn together so many times! But I could never part with him ❤️ I am really looking forward to your new book – it looks fab!!

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