More softies

I grew up with soft toys made by my mum and in turn delighted in making them for my daughter. The patterns we used were pretty simple , but we loved the results.
Now there's a variety of books available for making soft toys - or softies, as they're now known - that are cuddly, glamorous, quirky or fun. Many of these designs are simple, too, but they're anything but basic.
Two of the best of the recent titles, to my mind, are More Softies and its predecessor, Softies . Published by Penguin in Australia, they feature designs from around the world and utilise a range of techniques, from simple hand-sewing to crochet.
More Softies provides instructions and patterns for 22 original and adorable soft toys that will appeal to adults and children alike. Elsie the Little Dog, Little Pup, Owl Friend and Maisie are on my ever-growing to-do list. The Piggy Bed Warmer and Mister Rooster may join that list, but I can't see myself making Smirky or The Scream (Munch's painting reproduced in crochet? Strange but true!)
The instructions are straightforward, there are plenty of colour photos illustrating the steps and the finished result and the patterns are easy to enlarge on a photocopier.
Whether you're a beginner or an avid crafter, this is a book to turn to time and time again.
Rating - I give this 4/5
GREAT!!

Get this from the library
Reviewed by Jan @ Ballarat branch