Adorable Amigurumi Christmas

Khuc Cay (Hoang Thi Ngoc Anh) is a Vietnamese crochet designer and illustrator based in south-west France. Inspired by her daughter and her cultural roots, she creates charming, characterful amigurumi that have captured the hearts of crafters around the world. Khuc Cay's books have sold almost 40,000 copies globally to date.Follow her on Instagram @lespetitesmainsdekhuccay – where she has 225,000 followers – and Facebook @KHUC CAY (39,000 followers).

• WHAT YOU NEEDYARNCrochet yarnEmbroidery threadHOOKSSAFETY EYESPOMPOM MAKERBASIC KITYarn needleStitch markerStuffingBlusher and a paintbrushRound-headed pinsScissorsCROCHET TECHNIQUESSTITCHESChain stitch (ch)Slip stitch (sl st)Double crochet (dc)Half-treble (htr)Treble (tr)Double treble (dtr)Popcorn stitch (PC)Increase (inc)Decrease (dec)GENERAL TECHNIQUESMaking an adjustable ringWorking spiral roundsWorking joined roundsWorking around a foundation chainWorking in rowsWorking into the front and back loopsDifferentiating the inside and outsideAdapting the final sizeChanging colour or yarnJoining two identical partsAttaching yarn to the front loopCutting the yarn to fasten offMaking an invisible joinWeaving in yarn endsTying off the remaining stitchesSewing pieces togetherEMBROIDERY STITCHESStraight stitchFrench knotsHOW TO READ MY PATTERNSAbbreviations and symbolsInstructions LEON THE POLAR BEAR ALEX THE GINGERBREAD MAN THE CHRISTMAS TRAIN BOY ELVES GIRL ELVES SANTA CLAUS AND HIS SACK ANNA THE LITTLE GIRL CHI THE KITTEN AND THE STOCKINGS CARO AND TOMA THE SNOWMEN THE CHRISTMAS ANGEL

As someone who loves crochet but has struggled with amigurumi in the past, I found Adorable Amigurumi Christmas to be a pleasant surprise. Previous amigurumi books often left me feeling overwhelmed by complicated shaping and unclear instructions, but this book breaks projects down into manageable steps that are easy to follow.The festive characters and decorations are charming and motivating to make, and the patterns are written clearly enough to help build confidence without feeling daunting. I particularly appreciated the helpful guidance and the way the projects gradually develop your skills while still producing professional-looking results. I loved the Christmas Angel so may start with that one but also found the elves adorable characters. Overall, this is an excellent book for crocheters who enjoy creating handmade Christmas decorations but may have been put off by amigurumi before. By the end, I felt far more confident tackling this style of crochet. A wonderful festive crafting companion.