INSPIRING BOOKS

WATER BABIES AMIGURUMI JESSICA BOYER

(£11.99, GMC Group)

Make a splash with these cute critters! Jessica has created nine cute sea creatures to hook, from a smiley starfish and a sweet seal to a portly pufferfish and a scary shark. This adorable set is aimed at beginner crocheters, and uses mostly double crochet, so it's a great intro to the world of amigurumi.

SUMMERTIME CROCHET HELGRID VAN IMPELEN AND VERENA

WOEHLK APPEL (Stackpole Books, £15.95)

It's summertime and the crochet is easy! This inspiring book is split into three sections – beach, city and party – so think espadrilles, beach bags, swimsuits, clutch bags and more. Who needs the high street when you can hook up your own accessories?

EMOJI CROCHET

CHARLES VOTH (Spring House Press, £15) They’re all over your phone, and now you can spread the emoji love into crochet! As well as 20 projects including blankets, scarves, cushions and slippers, there’s also a pattern bank of 36 emoji faces, so you can customise them to suit your mood, and add them to just about anything.

LAYERED AND STITCHED PICTURES KATIE ESSAM

(Search Press, £17.99)

Look at your sewing machine in a new way, as the author shows you how to create beautiful fabric pictures using appliqué and stitching techniques. It includes all the guidance you need, plus six step-bystep projects to get you started.