Review by Booklist Review
French crocheter Compotine (a pseudonym for author Sandra Muller) presents dolls Charlotte, Caroline, Agatha, Arthur, Leonie, Louis, Celia, and Zoé, and their mostly interchangeable and gender-neutral accessories, like briefcases, watering cans, and cups for cocoa. Compotine fills amigurumi-makers' dreams with these eminently playable, cuddly creations, all under a foot tall and dressed for four different seasons. Intricate color photographs, charts, and written directions accompanying every distinct doll segment, from heads and torsos to legs and arms, clothing details, and the additional accessories (these latter items are usually more complicated than the dolls). Expect long hours, small hooks, and a great deal of pleasure in gifting these. The author provides a list of yarns used, some of which are U.S.-made, all of which are available for purchase online.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
The quaint debut from Compotine, a pen name for crafter Sandra Muller, shows how to crochet small, seasonally themed dolls. The amigurumi-style figures are around eight inches tall and simple to make, largely worked in the round with minimalist faces consisting of black embroidered stitches for eyes and no noses or mouths. Each doll is outfitted in garments and accompanied by accessories corresponding to one of the seasons. For instance, Charlotte wears a spring dress and comes with a ladybug and basket of strawberries made with double crochet stitches, while Louis wears overalls for fall and is accompanied by an orange squirrel and kite comprised of chain stitches. The reliance on chain and double stitches provides a low barrier of entry for novices, and even the most advanced projects (one doll's curly pigtails require a mix of treble, half treble, slip, and double stitches) are only moderately difficult. Compotine includes helpful tips, noting, for example, that readers can insert pipe cleaner in the dolls' necks to give their heads more stability. The cute designs are hard to resist, and beginners will appreciate the detailed instructions on how to fasten off, weave in ends, change yarn colors, and execute other basic techniques. Crafters will be charmed. (Mar.)
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