INSPIRING BOOKS

CIRCUS CIRCUS RICO DESIGN

(£3.35, Rico Design) If you like your crochet served with a hefty ladelful of whimsy, this booklet of adorable amigurumi makes crochet as much fun as a day at the circus. The makes include full instructions for hooking up a clown, lion, ringmaster, monkey and trapeze artist (complete with aerial hoop). This is the latest in several amigurumi booklets from Rico Design, with recent titles including Crazy Cute Family and Wild Wild Animals.

FAIR ISLE CROCHET WORKSHOP NATASJA VREESWIJK

(£15.99, Search Press) Fall in love with fair isle all over again with this book of 15 home accessory projects, including blankets, pillows, baby blanket and hip plant baskets. The selection of projects are all made in designer Natasja’s signature vintage style, and the use of black and white as base colours throughout means the makes all coordinate well together in a living space.

SUPER CUTE AMIGURUMI NICKI TRENCH (£9.99, Cico Books)

Wondering where to start with amigurumi? This book comes packed with over 35 adorable animal designs, created using only the simplest of stitches to make them totally accessible for all levels. In keeping with its ‘super-cute’ moniker, each of the makes comes with its own charming back story, such as Ned the Goat, who thinks he’s a chicken, and Andy the Alien, who came to the earth in search of cheese!

TILLY AND THE BUTTONS: MAKE IT SIMPLE TILLY WALNES

(£25, Quadrille Publishing) Dressmaking can be an unforgiving craft, requiring deep reserves of patience and otherworldly levels of precision. Seamstress Tilly Walnes’ hotly anticipated new book takes the sting out of stitching with a collection of stylish projects that sew up in a few hours, fit easily and have a short supplies list. We can’t wait to check it out!