Usually I think of knitting a square, taking a few tucks in it, and stuffing it as a simple way for a beginner to create something impressive using less time than a scarf. I start young knitters with the delightful classic square-to-rabbit pattern. There are toys of simple construction in this book, (adorable polar bears!), but there are also patterns that require additional small parts, lace knitting abilities, or even intarsia skills. Upon reflection, there are reasons that experienced knitters (me!) might choose to knit toys constructed from a basic square. These are absolutely adorable and when pressed for time, it's so nice to be able to make a cuddly toy in less time than knitting twenty-five pieces and painstakingly seaming them together. If you want to put a knitted triceratops into six kids' stockings and didn't realize it until sometime in December, this book will make you very happy. ( )

Shark on page 44

Create a cuddly creature. From flat to fabulous