Book Review: Beastly Crochet by Brenda K. B. Anderson

Saturday, October 19, 2013
Beastly Crochet by Brenda K. B. Anderson

Halloween is just around the corner and this book arrived from Interweave Press just in time! The pattern for Hubert & Cletus (on the cover) will be of particular interest because they are a cute and sneaky way to hide the candy you steal from your kids' stash!

Who better to write a book about Beastly Crochet Critters than Brenda K. B. Anderson who designs costumes for a living? A native of St. Paul, Minnesota, Brenda designs costumes for Sesame Street Live and various sports teams mascots.

Now, in her first book, she teaches crafters how to make their own collection of monstrously cute accessories and toys in Beastly Crochet – 23 Critters to Wear and Love. Brenda’s talents as a designer are evident throughout the book, including an array of literal monsters in the form of toys and Amigurumi. However, the majority of the projects are wearable accessories and garments for kids and adults who like to have fun.

Not into monsters? I thought the same thing until I took a good look inside the colorful pages of this handsome book. Brenda’s humorous, quirky and delightfully goofy perspective plays out in the introduction to each chapter and the book is neatly broken down into the following categories:

· Classic Monsters

· Welcome to the Jungle

· Skulls Were People, Too

· Myths (and Other True Stories)

· Silly Monsters

· My Own Personal Robot

Whether or not you like monsters, robots and critters, you will find a wealth of crochet and needle craft knowledge in this delightful book. Brenda offers her knowledge to complement the projects by showing readers how to tackle all the sewing and applique techniques required in her patterns. Crocheters will learn how to install zippers and how to understand “The Principles of Cuteness.” In her introduction, Brenda says, “I realized that if I made a whole book of fuzzy ducklings, puppies, and babies I would probably die of cuteness overload, so I opted to steer clear of the mainstream. Instead, I set my sights on a world of evil robots, angry plants, and fanged bunnies. (They need hugs, too!)” In Beastly Crochet, creepy never looked so cute!

Published by Interweave/F+W Media, and available in paperback, Beastly Crochet offers 23 patterns in 168 pages and retails for $18.05.

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