Laura Long

I seem to be reviewing an awful lot of toy books lately so I won't say my usual disclaimer on toy books, you know the drill by now.

I picked up this book at the library because I couldn't resist. I actually remember seeing this book last year during the Olympics but didn't have time to grab it then, so I grabbed it now with a stack of other books I probably won't have time to even look at, let alone read and review... sigh.

There's several other similar books out there along the same theme (just search amazon). This one is unique because the doll is knitted but the outfits are sewn, making this book really a sewing book, not a knitting book, despite the title.

All in all, the book is cute enough, but there's nothing terribly unique about any of the outfits or how they are presented or sewn.

… (plus d'informations)

Regular readers of my blog - either the crafty side or the book review side - know I don't do toys. I LOVE toys - both handmade or store bought and loved stuffed animals, especially turtles. I just can't make them to look GOOD and I'd rather spend my limited craft time making things that I CAN make look good! That being said, I'm always drawn to books with toys in them and this one is no exception! I mean, there's knitted panda on the cover!

The patterns are laid out straightforward, there are complete assembly directions, and the abbreviations are all listed in the back of the book.

There's fifteen patterns in this book (and more in the first book, Knitted Toy Tales), from kangaroos to reindeers. My absolute favorite is the parrot, makes me really want to try making knitted critters again! There's also accessories or clothes to go with the toys.

As with all toy books, these are not for the faint of heart or the casual knitter. There's a lot of work involved in making these guys, but I think the end results will be worth it. There's also a cute poem to go with each toy, which is a nice addition to a pattern book (though I personally don't care for poetry, it's very nice to see something different!)



I got this book to read for free from my local library's digital collection.… (plus d'informations)

Each chapter in this book is a short story in and of itself. Each of the characters in the book are relatives from West Virginia (for the most part) living elsewhere in the US. Other than a common ancestor, there is very little else they have in common. Once one gets past the fact that this isn't actually a story, but a collection of stories that loosely intertwine (if at all) ,it becomes an interesting character study. The book realistically portrays a poverty-stricken family from West Virginia trying to escape their hard lives for a better life ahead.… (plus d'informations)