The Wonderful World of Woolly Toys

The Wonderful World of Woolly Toys

One of our very favourite things to make by hand are Toys. There is something so special about crafting a sweet little critter for a beloved child⁠—or a beloved grown-up! Each stitch has so much love in it the end result is sure to be treasured.

A kit from Hooked is a perfect way to get started with toymaking, and as luck would have it we have just restocked some of the most adorable styles. Ziggy the Giraffe is available in the brand new Apricot colourway, as well as old favourites Popcorn and Blossom.

Ziggy the Giraffe in his natural habitat!

Millie the Puppy and the taupe version of Mo the Elephant have also arrived. These lovely kits from Holland give you everything you need to make the adorable animal of your choice (apart from the filling) using sustainably produced recycled cotton that doesn’t sacrifice any softness. It even comes with a crochet hook! And the result is just too cute.

For the adventurous crafter, there is nothing quite like the Pica Pau books, “Animal Friends of Pica Pau” and “Animal Friends of Pica Pau 2.”

Each book contains a whopping 20 amigurumi crochet designs for a total of 40 unique projects. The author, Yan Schenkel, is a toy maker and character designer, and her skills at crochet are put to charming use in these two loveable books. These would make great gifts for a group of cousins or a playgroup who could bring a whole range of animal friends together!

If you’re still hungry for more designs, the gorgeous book “Adorable Knitted Animals” delivers just what the title promises, with 25 knitting designs laid out in easy-to-follow steps.

Adorable Knitted Animals by Hiroko Ibuki 

Author and designer Hiroko Ibuki has taken care to make these sweet toys look cute while showing off their unique characteristics. This book also teaches the basics of Japanese-style knitting, opening up a whole world of beautiful design. These critters are perfect as gifts, though you might be tempted to keep them for yourself!

What is a handmade toy without some delightfully plush filling? Hooked Recycled Cotton Filling is lightweight and voluminous and you can feel good about it too, as it’s made of 100% ecological cotton reclaimed from textile waste.

The best part is it’s easily machine washable at a low temperature, so your creations will look like new for years to come no matter how messy your tots get with their toys. This filling is now available in smaller 100g bags in three colours, meaning there is also less to store between projects. A win-win!

There is so much more to explore about toy making on our website. Why not embellish your creation with jingle bells or add a squeaker, bell, or rattle to the stuffing for extra delight? Whatever you make will bring joy for years to come.

Now a look at what’s new in the shop:

Contrasts – Textured Knitting

The long-awaited debut book from designer Meiju K-P and Laine Publishing is finally here! Contrasts is full of interesting textures that are as beautiful to look at as they are enjoyable to make. With 22 patterns to choose from, this one will keep you entertained for many months to come. Don’t forget to stop by the shop for the London Launch of Contrasts on Sunday 1 May when Sini Kramer, co-founder of Laine Publishing, will be on hand to share samples from the book and talk colours and yarns. There will also be books signed by the author available for sale!

Daruma Tube and Iroiro Neon

We’ve received a shipment of some of the most fun and zany yarns we stock. Daruma Tube and Daruma Iroiro Neon are super playful and bring a real kick to your knit. Daruma Tube is perfect for accessories like bags or pouches as it doesn’t stretch easily once knit. It’s also perfectly fine to get wet, so it’s suitable for washing up cloths, shower caddies, and other items that will be around water. Iroiro Neon is a super-bright bulky weight acrylic yarn that’s perfect for adding a pop of colour to knitting, crochet, punch needle, or any other craft.

Loop Handmade Swatch Gauge

Loop Handmade Swatch Gauge

There’s nothing more frustrating than getting to the end of a project and realising it just doesn’t fit. Say goodbye to that unique disappointment with Loop’s Handmade Swatch Gauge. This wonderful wooden tool ensures you have the correct number of stitches in both directions before you get so far down the garden path there’s no choice but to unwind. Also featuring a handy needle gauge for sizes US0-15 (2mm-10mm) this is the beautiful all-in-one you’ve always wanted.

Easter Hours

Don’t forget we’ll be closed this Sunday 17 April for Easter. But fear not, we’ll be open as usual from 11:30-5:30 the rest of the weekend, including Good Friday (today). We look forward to seeing some of you over Easter weekend as you enjoy some time away from work! We’ll see you again on Wednesday 20 April! More information about the shop is available on our Visit Us page.

Play well this weekend!

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