Knit your own zoo Easy-to-follow patterns for 24 animals

Muir and Osborne (Knit Your Own Dog, Knit Your Own Cat) have once again assembled a collection of irresistible knitted animals. This book does exactly what it says it does, offering patterns for a veritable menagerie of miniature creatures. Patterns detail familiar animals such as the elephant and crocodile, as well as such less familiar animals as the anteater or meerkat. With the clever use of pipe cleaners, these animals can stand, sit, sprawl, or, in the case of the Fruit Bat, hang from the rafters. Fun details include fringe of all types, from lion manes to orangutan fur, and color work that replicates zebra stripes, leopard spots, and even mandrill coloring, among others. Two mother-and-child duos are especially darling: a seal and pup, and a kangaroo with removable joey. Patterns require focus but are, as described in the book's subtitle, easy to follow. Devotees of knitted creatures will find a lot to love in this collection. (Feb. 14) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

Muir and Osborne (Knit Your Own Cat) return with a collection of 25 patterns for realistic knitted zoo animals, ranging from the typical (elephant, giraffe, lion) to the unusual (mandrill, fruit bat, anteater). For each project, the authors provide step-by-step written directions for knitting and finishing and a color photograph of the finished creature, as well as some basic facts about the animals. The yarn used was selected to highlight details of the animals, and the authors make good use of fuzzy mohair yarns to approximate fur, slubby tweed yarn to suggest variation of color, and rustic wool to add texture. Knowledge of inter-mediate to advanced knitting techniques, such as stranded and intarsia color-work, knitting in the round, and increasing and decreasing, is assumed, although some basic directions are provided. VERDICT Knitters looking for animal patterns that are more realistic than amigurumi will appreciate the detail in these patterns. The finished animals are suitable for play or for decoration. (c) Copyright 2014. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.