Lauren Espy - Crochet Café

Copyright 2020 Lauren Espy Published by Paige Tate & Co. Paige Tate & Co. is an imprint of Blue Star Press PO Box 8835, Bend, OR 97708 www.paigetate.com All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. Photography and instructions by Lauren Espy @amenagerieofstitches www.amenagerieofstitches.com Trademarks of third parties are used for purposes of identification and information only, and no endorsement is claimed or suggested. Ebook ISBN9781950968329 ISBN9781944515935 a_prh_5.5.0_c0_r2 It all started back in 2009 when I taught myself how to crochet.

I remember standing in the craft section at the bookstore, admiring all the crochet books, when one in particular stood out to me. The cover was filled with adorable stuffed animals and I knew I wanted to make them. After begging my grandma to buy me the book about amigurumi, the Japanese art of knitting or crocheting stuffed toys, I fell in love! I spent hours watching tutorials on how to do basic crochet stitches, and eventually I was able to make my first amigurumi. It was a little wonky, but I was so proud I accomplished something! After that first one, I was hooked and had to make more! Most of the things I made were gifted to family and friends, but I wanted to sell my items. In 2015 I finally took the plunge and started my business, A Menagerie of Stitches. I sold finished items at first and then moved on to offer crochet patterns of my most popular designs.

Becoming a crochet designer was a dream Id had since learning to crochet, and Ive been very fortunate to make this my career. Ive been able to use social media to grow my business and to connect with other crocheters from all over the world. Its truly amazing to see someone on the opposite side of the world using my crochet patterns to create something they love. With the success of my first book, Whimsical Stitches, I knew I had to write another one. But this time with my favorite thing to crochetFOOD! I cant help but smile when I see a slice of pizza or an ice cream cone smiling back at me. Crochet Cafe is all about having fun and actually playing with your food! There are so many unique patterns in this book, and Im sure youll find a few of your favorite foods to crochet. Crochet Cafe is all about having fun and actually playing with your food! There are so many unique patterns in this book, and Im sure youll find a few of your favorite foods to crochet.

Whether youre a beginner or an experienced crocheter, I hope you enjoy this book and get hookedjust like I did!

My go-to yarn for amigurumi is worsted weight acrylic. Acrylic yarn tends to hold its shape better, and this is key when making stuffed toys. Worsted weight is referred to as a level 4, or medium-weight yarn. Acrylic yarn is also very affordable and comes in a large variety of colors. Brands I like to use are Red Heart Super Saver, Lion Brand Vannas Choice Yarn, and Caron Simply Soft. Choose your favorite brands and colors for the projects in this book! Crochet hooks vary in size and can be made of aluminum, wood, or plastic.

Some have ergonomic handles, which I prefer when crocheting amigurumi. Choose a hook that works and feels comfortable in your hand. You will only need two sizes for the projects in this book: F/3.75mm and G/4mm. Of course, you can use a smaller or larger hook, but your amigurumi may turn out smaller or bigger than mine if you do.

Safety eyes come in many sizes and colors. We will use solid black safety eyes in two sizes: 6mm and 9mm.

Safety eyes have a plastic or metal washer that attaches to the back of the eye once inserted into the crocheted piece. Make sure you have positioned the eyes exactly where you would like before attaching the backs, as they are impossible to remove once attached. Buttons, felt, or embroidered eyes are a great alternative to safety eyes. Safety eyes can be found at your local craft store or online. You can also purchase them on my website, www.amenagerieofstitches.com.

Polyester fiberfill is great for stuffing amigurumi. Polyester fiberfill is great for stuffing amigurumi.

Make sure to add enough that your items will hold their shape, but not too much. Overstuffing will cause the stitches to stretch and the stuffing to show through.

Also called darning or tapestry needles, yarn needles have a blunt tip and a much bigger eye, which makes it super easy to thread yarn into. This needle is ideal for sewing pieces together or weaving in ends. Much smaller than yarn needles, embroidery needles are used for adding the finer details, like mouths and small embellishments. Embroidery floss is great for adding those details.

For thicker mouths use all 6 strands, and for thinner mouths use 3 strands. Do what you think looks best! For these projects well be using mostly black, white, and pink. Some projects may need a few more colors for things like sprinkles, so choose your favorite colors for those!

Stitch markers are a must when crocheting amigurumi! Because we will be crocheting in the round for these projects, youll need a few of these to mark the end of each round. Safety pins also work great if you dont want to purchase markers.