I thought this pattern book was very thoughtfully done. The instructions are very thorough and I absolutely loved that there are pictures to accommodate every explanation. This makes this such a great pattern book for beginners. The only draw back for me, someone who is at the experienced level, is that there weren't many unique pieces. I was hoping to find more creatures I haven't seen before. That being said I did find a couple that I plan to make for myself as well as gifts and I cannot wait to make myself some spiders and a chicken!

Amigurumi Critters contains instructions for a multitude of adorable, amigurumi creatures. The stories associated with each animal are cute and heartwarming and designs vary in difficulty.

Amy Ting recognizes that crocheting amigurumi requires good knowledge of the basic stitches and skips over the how to for the basics. Instead, Ting outlines the more advanced skills and encourages readers to watch her YouTube channel for help with the various techniques she uses.

Overall, great crochet book - well written instructions, great pictures, and cute animals.

To disclose my skill level outright, I am an accomplished knitter who eyes cute amigurumi and wishes I had the skill to navigate what seem like generally straightforward plushes. However, crocheting three-dimensional toys has eluded me. When I saw AMIGURUMI CRITTERS by Amy Ting, I quickly downloaded it to explore more. Could I actually successfully crochet such adorable creatures?

The author knows her audience and opens with welcome practical advice (e.g., use hook two sizes smaller than yarn recommendations, to prevent gaps) and then transitions to helpful step-by-step photos of common techniques (as well as links to YouTube videos).

Patterns, arranged by difficulty level, offer a delightful range of critters with a host of personalities and relationships. I personally am particularly obsessed with the koala and am highly motivated to attempt it, as well as the frog. There are other clever patterns, some I’ve not necessarily seen before (sea otters, axolotl, capybaras).

This is a colorful title I’d like to add to my personal library and would welcome it for other crafters ready for a new adventure.

(Thank you to Cider Mill Press for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.)

The critters are cute, and have a nice level of backstory. Three instructions for each critter are well laid out with references to the techniques taught at the beginning of the book. I do wish for a bit better photography on some of the beginning techniques.

The book has some crocheting instructions at the beginning, but it assumes you already know how to crochet, so you'll need to freshen up or learn the basics elsewhere. Aside from that I found the instructions to be mostly clear and easy to follow, but since I was following blind, I didn't notice some mistakes until it was too late to correct them. It could have done with more in depth instructions or some more pictures. My first capybara was cute but crooked, the second was much nicer once I identified the problems.
The critters are all very cute and fast to make. My little nieces loved them!

Thank you NetGalley, Cider Mill Press, and Amy Ting for the ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing this eARC.

Amigurumi Critters provides a selection of 25 amigurumi animal patterns for crocheters at a range of skill levels.

Amigurumi Critters is a very well-constructed book, with helpful tips for not only specific stitches, but also various techniques such as how to hold a crochet hook, followed by a selection of adorable patterns that gradually increase in difficulty. Each of the little critters seems like a joy to craft, and the patterns themselves are clear and easy to follow. This is an excellent pick for anyone looking to get into crochet, or into amigurumi specifically, as the wealth of knowledge in this book extends far beyond the patterns themselves, and is laid out clearly and thoughtfully.

omg this was the cutest thing ever!!!! i was not expecting it to be as informative as it was. i’m very much a beginner when it comes to crocheting so i really liked that they explained everything and separated each design by their difficulty. i’m a visual learner so i liked that there were QR codes in addition to the pictures of the crochet pattern tutorials. the pictures of the little critters were the cutest thing ever omg!! i can’t wait to do all of the other patterns!!!

I'm not huge on crochet, I did learn to do in school, but this book was part of NetGalley Summer Camp 2025 and I decided to enter my crochet era again and I haven't regretted it a bit.

So this book is a guide to how to crochet some really cute small animals. Why do I like it?
- It contains patterns for all the levels.
- It explains all the basics including all tools and materials you'll need. The author even provides her own experience with said tools and materials.
- It explains all the techniques you need to use for crocheting and author even gives some warnings and tips on where to pay special attention. All the instructions are clear, simple and straight forward. There are even some link to video tutorials.
- The patterns and just the cutest thing you ever seen. I love them all. You can find all kind of animals, birds and sea creatures.

Well, now I'm back to crocheting my little frog!

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion. Thanks to everyone involved in ARC distribution.

I'd like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC.

This book was really cute and easy to understand. It is filled with a lot of reference photos to help with each stage of making the plushies. It is written very clearly. There are a pretty good variety of animals to make and they are all super cute. I especially loved the spiders.

this is such a cute manual for all types of crocheters! i love that it encompasses not only how to create the critters step-by-step, but the intricacies of the craft are detailed as well. from tools and techniques to hook sizes and yarn variations, it's extremely informative. the sea otter family in particular was my favorite and had me wanting to relearn how to crochet from my high school volunteering days, where i originally picked up the hobby :)

thank you to NetGalley, Cider Mill Press, and Amy Ting for the opportunity to read & review Amigurumi Critters!

Ahoy there mateys! I am interested in amigurumi but am a brand new beginner. This book is cute and I appreciated the links to online tutorials and where to get supplies. I have to admit that I was sad because it doesn't seem made for someone with no experience. The heading '25 Imaginative Crochet Designs for All Skill Levels" is misleading. The author states herself that "it would be helpful if you've made a few amigurumi before attempting the patterns in this book.. . ." Had I known, I would not have gotten this book. It overwhelmed me and made me feel like I can't do it.

I also found the ebook problematic to read in terms of font size and color. I would get a physical copy of this book if you are interested in it. Otherwise people who know how to crochet seem to have luck with this book. I will come back to it once I have more experience. Arrr!

Hooked on Cuteness

This book is an explosion of cuteness, and I loved every stitch of it (well… almost every stitch—more on that in a sec!). Amy Ting’s Amigurumi Critters is packed with irresistibly adorable animals that practically come to life as you crochet them. From wide-eyed woodland creatures to chubby little fantasy friends, each project is more huggable than the last. I kept finding myself saying, “Okay, this one’s my favorite”—and then turning the page and falling in love all over again.

One thing that really helped bring the patterns to life was Amy’s YouTube channel. Having those visual walkthroughs was a lifesaver when I needed to see how something should look in motion, and her calm style made me feel like I had a crochet buddy guiding me the whole way.

Now, I’ll admit—the yarning under technique threw me for a loop (pun fully intended). I’m used to yarning over, so switching gears made me slow down and concentrate a lot more than I normally would. But once I saw the difference in the finished stitches—tighter, cleaner, more polished—it made total sense. Still, if you’re a relaxed crocheter like me, expect to flex those focus muscles a little more than usual.

All in all, Amigurumi Critters is a total win. Just beware: once you make one, it’s nearly impossible to stop. Your house may soon be overrun with tiny, adorable yarn creatures—and honestly, what could be better than that?


Thank you Cider Mill Press, NetGalley, and Amy Ting for this eARC!!

I thought this was a very cute and informative guide on how to make these little guys! I'm hopeful one day I can get back into crocheting as it can be so fun. I especially like how this one is divided into skill categories so one can work their way through the book, starting with easy and leveling up in difficulty. Also, the names for each of these little buddies are so cute!

These critters are so cute! The instructions were clear and easy and it was fun to make them! There are a lot of resources available in this book at your fingertips.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Cider Mill Press, for the opportunity to read this book.

As an avid crocheter, when I saw this book, I knew I had to have it, and it truly did not disappoint.

The cover is so pretty, and I love the color schemes that were chosen to showcase the completed projects throughout the book. Right at the beginning of the book, there is an awesome guide that provides you with crochet hook size information, yarn information, information on additional supplies that might be helpful, such as darning needles and embroidery eyes, as well as some technique tutorials to help you along your way while you are crocheting through these.

Now, for the projects themselves, I would say they are for an intermediate crocheter, rather than a beginner, because I have been crocheting for many years and found a few of these projects to be quite difficult. However, I enjoy a challenge and was able to complete a couple of these, and they were so fun! The instructions were clearly written out with guided photos when needed, and the handy guide in the front was helpful on more than one occasion.

I will be picking this book up again to crochet some gifts for the upcoming holiday season.

Amigurumi Critters is a great book for crochet enthusiasts of any level. The pictures are bright, colorful and accurate to the projects. The first section of the book creates space for beginners who are learning or advanced crocheters who just need a refresher and it is written in an easily understandable and accessible way, explaining everything you will need to know to follow the patterns. I loved that Amy Ting made sure to account for both metric and US sizes on the hooks and explains the different sorts of “grips” that can successfully be used, not a lot of books, including beginner crochet guides go over this type of information. Amy also notes in the introduction of the book her own preferences, which is important to note, because the patterns will come out better if able to really understand how they were created. The same is then done when it comes to the discussion of yarn (and I found the preferred brand was really good quality for a really affordable price).
As you delve into the book, the explanations are written with the beginner in mind, easy to understand with pictures to show what is being explained, but it is written in a way that even an intermediate (or advanced) crocheter can appreciate without feeling the need to skip ahead to the patterns. I normally skip over this section in these books because they do not offer any good tips or insights into the patterns or the way they were written and created. Amy changed that landscape here, making it so that as you read through, you immediately take note of things that make you think, “ok, that is good to know for when I get started.”
Each of the patterns holds a unique space and build on the techniques of the previous pattern. For instance, Gertrude gives you an overall basics of how to and assembly, and then the next pattern references the Gertrude pattern for certain completion aspects. This was an intriguing way to not be repetitive, but for a beginner, it could become cumbersome to flip back and forth. The patterns had clear image guides as well, which made seeing the finished step and how to assemble in a concise way. I really enjoyed the formatting of the patterns as it made completing each step easy and straightforward. The instructions are written in a way that is easy to comeback to and not lose what row you are on, and the way the pattern is written allows you to continuously crochet without much thought (which is nice for someone who has trouble keeping count). Each pattern is also equipped with a difficulty level so you know going in if it is a more advanced pattern.
While working the pattern for Gertrude, my numbers seemed to be short two stitches consecutively for several rounds, but then they just met up, so I’m not sure if it was counting error on my part or mathematical error in the publication, but it seemed to work out so I didn’t put much thought into it past that. The only other thing that I didn’t like is that all the pieces are sewn on after the main body was complete. I find when adding limbs or pieces to an Amigurumi piece that crocheting them in as you go often times is easier, especially for those whose sewing skills are subpar.
Overall, I found the text to be helpful and easy to understand, the patterns easy to follow and well written and the critters absolutely adorable. Amigurumi Critters is the perfect addition for any summer arts and crafts project or for a crocheter at any level to create something new and fun. Thank you to Netgalley and Cider Mill Press for the chance to review Amigurumi Critters for the Camp Netgalley event, it brought our the summer camp vibes with the arts and crafts aesthetic.

This book of adorable amigurumi animals that you can make yourself was inspiring and clearly and concisely written. I can't wait to go and buy the supplies I need to get started! I have all sorts of ideas for who I'd like to make these whimsical critters for. This was a great first how-to for crochet and I recommend it to other beginner-intermediate amigurumi enthusiasts.

Very informative and visual book. I liked the content on the techniques and other stuff written before the actual patterns. These are helpful in general too. As a intermediate crocheter, who never tried amigurumi, the patterns seem a bit difficult moving forward through the book. I made a deadpool figurine as a keychain once, which is the closest thing to amigurumi I ever tried.
Anyways, I will love to try out these patterns. Especially the duck, the fox and the frog. I loved those. Happy to get the ARC as I find patterns to be a bit pricy.

This is a great book for everyone that loves amigurumi or wants to get into crocheting. It's perfect for beginners with a very thorough introduction of the basics of crocheting and many different kind of stitches. The patterns are easy to follow and the little amigurumi turn out very adorable. Totally recommended.

I love this book of adorable amigurumi figures. The patterns are easy to read and follow. The visuals were helpful. There's a nice variety of creatures. I would definitely purchase other books and/or patterns by Amy Ting.