Update: The winner has been selected and the giveaway is now closed, but read through the comments for some helpful tips on making amigurimi! The winner is Shanny!

Today I’m reviewing a new book from Stacey Trock called Crocheted Softies. The book is full of 18 different amigurimi animals from around the world, everything from snails and reindeer to pandas and alligators–perfect for the kids in your life.

One thing I really like about the book is the way Stacey breaks out with a basic pattern that applies to many of the softies in the book. After all, heads, arms and legs are similar from one animal to the next, and she doesn’t waste space telling you the same instructions over and over again. This means there’s lots of room for generously sized photos and gives you a leg up in case you ever want to design your own softie. I also found the how to information super helpful in this book, Stacey takes the time to explain some of the finer details of working in the round, which you might find helpful, no matter what your skill level.

Another cool feature is that most of the animals take about a ball of the main color and then bits and pieces for things like eyes, ears, stripes, etc. She uses eco-friendly yarns throughout, and small projects are an inexpensive way to try out these blends. I’ll admit I never thought of using my Blue Sky Alpacas worsted cotton stash to make an animal, but now that I see that cute giraffe, I could easily be swayed. Check out all of the cute designs in Crocheted Softies right here on Ravelry.

Stacey sent me a copy of the book to give away to a Lindamade reader. Just answer the question below by Thursday, Dec 15th at midnight CST. I’ll come back and update this post with the winning info (and email the winner, too, who will have 3 days to claim their prize).

Have you ever crocheted an amigurimi or stuffed animal before? Got any tips for ami-makers?