Rachel Zain - Crochet Donut Buddies: 50 easy amigurumi patterns for collectible crochet toys

Rachel Zain

www.davidandcharles.com

Dedication

This book is dedicated to my Grandmother, Joan, who taught me how to crochet many years ago and to my Grandmother, Sally, for always believing in me and supporting me. To my mother, Karen and father John, who have always pushed me to do better even when times were tough and finally to my children - you are my inspiration and the reason I pick up my hook every day.

Hi! Welcome to my Donut Buddy Crochet Book. My name is Rachel, and Im so excited for you to be here with me! I am a British crochet pattern designer born in England.

My love of crochet started when I was just eight years old. I used to watch my grandmother knitting and crocheting in her favourite chair, which I found fascinating - how someone could simply take a stick and yarn and create such beautiful things was beyond me! It wasnt until she saw me watching with such interest when she gifted me my own hook and some yarn that I truly fell in love with it. I still have that hook 25 years later, as it reminds me of where my crochet journey started.

Fast forward 15 years from when I first picked up that hook to when my crochet journey really began. I had just given birth to my first son, and I really wanted to make him some Amigurumi toys, just as my nan had made for me when I was small - this is where my love of Amigurumi came from. So I picked up my hook and yarn and created my first Amigurumi bunny. I fell in love all over again. I decided Amigurumi was for me, so in 2019 I opened my Instagram page and Etsy storeOodles of Crochet, and when my second son was born, I designed Donut Buddies! Fun, cute, kawaii character donuts designed specifically for smaller babies and children.

Many crochet artists have made them - mothers, fathers, grandparents and more, both beginner and advanced, for their families and loved ones.

There are 50 Donut Buddy patterns to dive into, each with their very own skill level, so it doesnt matter if you are a beginner Amigurumist or an advanced crocheter; there is something for everyone to try. The great thing is you can mix and match colours and styles to create your own unique variations!

Donut Buddies are perfect for imaginative play with your baby. Head off on a secret safari around the home, play Donut Buddy tea party, and group the animals into sets or colours for a great learning experience!

You can use a smaller hook and yarn weight to create baby-friendly holiday decorations and nursery decor or use a larger hook and yarn weight for snuggly plush child-friendly home decor. This book is my way of spreading the joy and happiness of my Donut Buddy Amigurumi work; I always say that the best part about these Donuts is that they are calorie-free!

So have fun creating these cute buddies. I have a feeling youre going to love them as much as I do.

Happy crocheting,

Rachel Zain

Skill level

Every pattern in my book is marked with a little Donut skill level to indicate how easy they are to make. From one Donut, designed for beginners, up to five Donuts for intermediate and advanced crocheters.

Working in the round

The Basic Donuts are worked in the round (see) as a continuous spiral. Some of the accessories are worked in rows.

How to read a pattern

Its a good idea to read through the full pattern you wish to use before making a start so that you are familiar with the steps. Each line of the pattern refers to a Round or Row as marked at the beginning.

Use a stitch marker to mark the last stitch of the previous round and then follow the pattern for the next round, which will take you back to the stitch marker. Reposition the marker for the next round.

Abbreviations are used throughout this book. Refer back to the Abbreviations list (see) if you are not sure what they mean.

Most of the patterns in this book are worked in a continuous spiral, so only join and make 1 chain if the pattern specifies it.

A useful tip - keep a notebook and pencil/pen close to hand to mark which rows you have completed, so they are easier to identify if you put your work down.

An asterisk * in a pattern means the start of a repeat. Repeat the pattern from the asterisk if the pattern instructs you to do this.

Other repeats are placed between square brackets with a note of how many times the instructions should be repeated. E.g.[1 sc, 2 sc in next st] 6 times, means work 1 sc in the next st, 2sc in the following st and repeat this whole set of instructions a total of 6 times.

At the end of rows or rounds where there has been a change in the stitch count, there will be a set of round brackets with the number of sts you should have on completion of this row or round, e.g.(18 sts)

Hook sizes

Crochet hooks come in all different shapes and sizes; bigger hooks make bigger stitches and smaller hooks make smaller stitches.

It is important to use the right hook size with the right yarn weight. This ensures you get the best possible outcome for your crochet work.

You can easily size up or down the projects in this book to make smaller or larger items. For example, use a 6-7mm hook and a super chunky yarn to crochet a Donut Buddy pillow. In the same way, use a smaller 2.5mm hook and sports weight yarn to produce a keyring or hanging ornament. The possibilities are endless!

Here is a list of everything you will need to make your Donut Buddies.

Crochet hooks are usually made of aluminium, plastic or wood. Metal hooks glide through the stitches easier. Choose a rubber or ergonomic handle for comfort. You will need sizes 2.5mm, 3mm and 4mm.

You can use a variety of fun stitch markers, a strand of yarn in a contrasting colour or even a paperclip! Mark your last stitch of each round to make counting your stitches in each round easier.

Fibre fill stuffing is usually made of polyester. It is soft and machine washable. Use the filling to stuff your Donut Buddies, creating a beautiful round shape, being careful not to overstuff your makes.