As some of you may already know, if you follow me on Instagram, I have been thoroughly enjoying working through some of the patterns from Yan Schenkel's lovely little crochet book, Animal Friends of Pica Pau.
At the time of writing this, Animal Friends of Pica Pau retails for USD $21.95. With 20 colourful amigurumi characters to choose from, that's about USD $1.09 per pattern, making it a little bit of a bargain!
Yan's designs are unique and whimsical, with incredible attention to detail. With accessories like little bobble hats, arm floats and removable pants and skirts, these little characters make a great addition to any amigurumi collection, for kids big, and small. Each animal also has a name and a cute little blurb about their personality, adding another layer of whimsy charm.
The book is well-written and features gorgeous photography that supports the patterns well. The instructions are easy to understand, and the photos help with some of the trickier construction elements. The only thing I will say, is that in some of the patterns, the photos contradict the written pattern. I don't think this is a huge deal, but if you are using the photos of the finished item to help you with the construction, this can be a little confusing. I ended up going with what the pattern instructed and was not disappointed.
If you are new to amigurumi, the book covers everything from tools and supplies to how to hold your crochet hook and various crochet stitches and techniques. Despite my familiarity with amigurumi, I still learned a few new things from Yan.
If you’re new to amigurumi, the book covers everything from tools and supplies to holding your crochet hook and various crochet stitches and techniques. Despite my familiarity with amigurumi, I still learned a few new things from Yan.
Although Yan does discuss different yarn types in the book and gives the yarn weight to use, she doesn't actually mention a specific brand of yarn to use. I chose to use one of my all time favourite yarns - Scheepjes Catona - and I really love how they turned out.
You can read more about my favourite yarns for amigurumi HERE.
Round-up:
So, it's now time for a round up of the pros and cons of Yan Schenkel's Animal Friends Of Pica Pau and whether or not I would recommend you add this book to your crochet library....
Pros:
Beautiful photography and helpful step-by-step photos.
Well-written patterns suitable for skill level advanced beginner / intermediate.
Unique, whimsical characters with superb attention to detail.
Great value for money with 20 adorable characters.
Cons:
Occasionally, photos do not match the written pattern instructions, which can be confusing.
No specific yarn and color recommendations for each character, which might be challenging for beginners or those wanting to replicate the exact look.
Conclusion:
If you are on the fence about this book, I would say do yourself a favour and buy it. You won’t be disappointed! This is my honest review, and I have not been compensated in any way. I purchased the book myself and genuinely LOVE it!
I hope you have a lovely day and happy crocheting!
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