Crochet Furry Friends – Book Review
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Crochet Furry Friends by my friend Ashley Parker is a fun and charming book filled with 12 faux-fur amigurumi animals you can crochet. Each project is soft, playful, and full of personality. The book also includes a helpful section with tips and tricks for crocheting with fur yarns, which makes these projects much easier to finish with success.
If you enjoy making stuffed animals or want to try working with faux-fur yarn, this book is a great place to start.
You can buy Crochet Furry Friends by Ashley Parker (ISBN 978-1800921481) through major online craft book retailers—available in print via the publisher Search Press.
What’s Inside the Book
Crochet Furry Friends includes 12 amigurumi animals ranging from 7 inches to 21 inches tall. Each project uses simple stitches and clear instructions.
Projects in the Book
- Sherman Sheep
- Barrington Bear
- Elliot Elephant
- Abbey Axolotl
- Sid Sloth
- Lucy Unicorn
- Beatrice Bunny
- Pierre Penguin
- Ollie Owl
- Patty Panda
- Bella Bat
- Sammy Skunk
Sherman Sheep
Sherman Sheep is an adorable faux-fur amigurumi project that works up to about 7.5 inches (19 cm) tall. This easy design uses Lion Brand Go For Faux in Baked Alaska and Black Panther for the body, paired with Lion Brand Basic Stitch in White for the face and details. The super bulky fur yarn gives the sheep a soft, fluffy look, while the worsted yarn helps define the features. Sherman has 16 mm black safety eyes with white yarn highlights for an adorable classic sheep expression.
Sid Sloth
Sid Sloth is a large, soft faux-fur amigurumi measuring about 21.5 inches (55 cm) tall. This easy project uses Lion Brand Go For Faux in Chinchilla (3 balls) to create a fluffy body and limbs, paired with Lion Brand Vanna’s Choice in Silver Heather and Black for the face and accent details. The mix of super bulky fur yarn and worsted yarn gives Sid a clear, well-shaped look. Add 18 mm safety eyes to finish this cuddly sloth.
Ollie Owl
Ollie Owl is an easy faux-fur amigurumi project that measures about 7 inches (18 cm) tall. The design uses Lion Brand Go For Faux in Pomeranian to create a soft, fluffy body, with Lion Brand Skin Tones in Truffle for the beak and feet. Finish this cute owl with 24 mm safety eyes for a bold, expressive look.
Sammy Skunk
Sammy Skunk is a soft, detailed faux-fur amigurumi that measures about 12 inches (30.5 cm) tall. This intermediate design uses Lion Brand Go For Faux in Black Panther (2 skeins) and Baked Alaska (1 skein) to create the classic black-and-white skunk look. The skunk has 20 mm silver safety eyes and a 25 mm black triangle safety nose, giving the toy a clean and polished finish.
Barrington Bear
Barrington Bear is an easy faux-fur amigurumi project that works up to about 17.5 inches (44.5 cm) tall. This design uses WeCrochet Fable Fur in Falke (3 skeins) for a soft, plush body, paired with WeCrochet Brava Worsted in White for the face and small details. The bear has 18 mm (¾ inch) black safety eyes and a 40 mm black safety nose, giving Barrington a clear, friendly look.
Elliot Elephant
Elliot Elephant is an easy faux-fur amigurumi that measures about 17.5 inches (44.5 cm) tall. This design uses Go Handmade Fur Lux from Hobbii Yarns in Light Grey (6 skeins) to create a soft, textured body, paired with Hobbii Amigo XL in White for the tusk. You finish the elephant with 24 mm blue safety eyes, adding a bright, expressive touch.
Abbey Axolotl
Abbey Axolotl is an easy faux-fur amigurumi project that measures about 12.5 inches (32 cm) tall. This design uses WeCrochet Fable Fur in Paloma (1 skein) for a soft, fluffy body, paired with WeCrochet Brava Worsted in Rouge to create the tail fin and gills. This project uses 24 mm blue safety eyes, giving this axolotl a bright, friendly expression.
Lucy Unicorn
Lucy Unicorn is an easy faux-fur amigurumi project that measures about 20 inches (50 cm) tall. This design uses WeCrochet Fable Fur in Eisbar (2 skeins) and Paloma (1 skein) to create a soft, textured body and accents. Make the horn with WeCrochet Brava Worsted in Canary (1 skein) for a bright pop of colour. Finish the unicorn with 24 mm blue safety eyes for a clear, expressive look.
Beatrice Bunny
Beatrice Bunny is a soft faux-fur amigurumi that measures about 16.5 inches (42 cm) tall. This easy design uses WeCrochet Fable Fur in Breccia (2 skeins) and Eisbar (1 skein) for the body and accents. The pattern uses WeCrochet Brava Worsted in Blush for the nose and White for the eye area. Finish this sweet bunny with 20 mm black safety eyes to complete the look.
Pierre Penguin
Pierre Penguin is an easy faux-fur amigurumi project that measures about 7.5 inches (19 cm) tall. This design uses WeCrochet Fable Fur in Corvo (1 skein) and Eisbar (1 skein) to create the soft black-and-white penguin body. Make the beak and feet with WeCrochet Brava Worsted in Canary (1 skein). Finish Pierre with 18 mm blue safety eyes for a bright, friendly look.
Patty Panda
Patty Panda is an easy faux-fur amigurumi project that measures about 7 inches (18 cm) tall. This design uses WeCrochet Fable Fur in Eisbar and Corvo (1 skein of each) to create the classic black-and-white panda look. The Panda has 16 mm blue safety eyes and a 21 mm black triangle safety nose, giving Patty a clear and polished finish.
Bella Bat
Bella Bat is an intermediate faux-fur amigurumi that measures about 9.5 inches (24 cm) tall. This design uses WeCrochet Fable Fur in Corvo (1 skein) for the soft, textured body, paired with WeCrochet Brava Worsted in Black (1 skein) for the wings and face details. The bat has 16 mm silver safety eyes and an 18 mm black triangle safety nose, giving Bella a clean and defined expression.
Yarn and Materials Notes
These patterns are written for faux-fur yarn, but you can also substitute bulky or super bulky yarns such as chenille. The key is to pick a hook size that gives you a solid fabric with no holes, especially for amigurumi.
If a pattern uses two different yarn types, you can match the gauge or adjust your hook size as needed.
What I Liked About Crochet Furry Friends
- The patterns create soft, cuddly toys that make adorable handmade gifts.
- Each design is made with simple stitches, which keeps the patterns from feeling overwhelming.
- The tips for working with faux-fur yarn are very helpful and make the projects much more approachable.
- The variety of animals gives you lots of options for gifts, markets, or personal collections.
My Experience Making One of the Patterns
I wanted to try one of the patterns myself because I had never worked with faux-fur yarn before; I used Knit Picks Super Bulky Fable Fur (now called Fairy Tale Fur) in the color Ursa (27937). I love sloths, so I made Sid the Sloth from the book. The yarn felt a little slippery at first, so I switched to a crochet hook with a pointed tip (I used the Original Furls Streamline Metal hook). This made it much easier to work the stitches. I know I missed a stitch here and there and I’m pretty sure I worked 2 stitches in one occasionally but you can’t even tell – the yarn is very forgiving and none of the stuffing showed through.
Sid took me only a couple of hours to make while I watched one of the Hallmark Countdown to Christmas movies. I added clear safety eyes to mine, and he turned out soft, huggable, and very cute.
TIP: If you want to make him sit on his own without falling over, add a nylon sock filled with weighted pellets to his bottom before you fill him with Poly-fil!
Where to Buy Crochet Furry Friends
If you’d like to purchase your own copy of Crochet Furry Friends by Ashley Parker, you can find it online through major retailers. It’s available in both print and digital formats. Look for it at stores like Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Book Depository (if available in your region), and other online booksellers that carry crochet and craft titles.
Crocheters Often Ask
It takes a little practice, but the book includes helpful tips that make it easier. Once you get used to feeling your stitches instead of seeing them, it becomes a smooth process.
Yes. You can use bulky or super bulky chenille or any soft yarn that creates a dense fabric. Just choose a hook size that gives you no gaps between stitches.
The stitches are simple, and the shapes are clear, but working with fur yarn can feel new at first. The instructions guide you through each step.
The animals range from 7 inches to 21 inches tall, depending on the pattern and yarn choice.
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Crochet Furry Friends is a warm, creative pattern book with designs that stand out and work well with fur yarn. The simple instructions and helpful tips make it easier to explore fur yarns and create soft, cuddly animals. If you enjoy amigurumi or want something new to try, this book is a fun addition to your crochet library.
Enter to Win a Copy of Crochet Furry Friends
I have one copy of Crochet Furry Friends by Ashley Parker to give away. If you’d like a chance to win it, enter using the form below. This giveaway is open to readers in the United States and Canada. One winner will be selected at random after the giveaway closes.
Good luck, and thank you for taking part!
Crochet Furry Friends Book Giveaway!Crochet Furry Friends Book Giveaway!
Giveaway Disclaimer
This giveaway is hosted by Oombawka Design Crochet. No purchase is necessary to enter. The giveaway is open worldwide where allowed by law, and void in Quebec. Entrants must be of legal age in their area. One winner will receive one copy of Crochet Furry Friends by Ashley Parker. The prize cannot be exchanged or refunded. Odds of winning depend on the number of entries received. The winner will be contacted by email and must reply within 48 hours to claim the prize. If no reply is received, a new winner will be selected. This giveaway is not sponsored, endorsed, or administered by the publisher, the author, Facebook, Instagram, or any other platform.
Thank you to Search Press for providing the review copy and the giveaway copy of Crochet Furry Friends. You can learn more about their craft books at searchpress.com and follow them on social media at @searchpress on Instagram and Facebook.
Happy crocheting!
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I’ve always put off tryig faux fur, but these are too adorbable to not try. Such cute little animals. And yes, thank you for sharing that the yarn is forgiving.
My five year old grandaughter. has close to 50 stuffies. I have never tried Amis,
These patterns look like a great start. Thank you for the review
Terrie