Yarn in appropriate colours and quantities (see Size Options)
Black contrast yarn for face details
One hook in an appropriate size to the yarn being used (see Size Options)
Stuffing material
Scissors
Sewing needle
The animals in this book have been made using a palette of ten natural colours. These subtle shades of creams, browns and greys provide all you need. The colour recommendations depicted are not fixed rules. The beauty of the spectrum of undyed yarn is not only that it is ‘animal’ coloured, but also that each yarn colour is interchangeable with a myriad of substitutes. My advice on selecting colours would be not to spend too long staring at images on a computer, but to use your instincts and your mind’s eye to achieve the best results.
Some animals use only one colour, others two, and a handful combine three for a more detailed finish. The suggested colours are stated at the start of every pattern, as simple contrasts of Light, Medium and Dark.
I have chosen to stuff the animals with a synthetic high-loft polyester toy stuffing, despite their 100 per cent natural yarn outer. Rather than this being a contradiction, experience has taught me that natural wool stuffing tends to compact over time, and that leads to very floppy and saggy animals. The synthetic stuffing also makes the animals fully hand-washable.
You may wish to add plastic pellets to your materials list should you wish to add more weight to your toys. The body is a perfect shape to house the pellets, and this extra weight works to best effect when placed in the bulbous ‘tummy’ section. Be sure to sew the pellets securely inside some fabric before you place them in the crochet body; otherwise they will work their way out through the stitches, no matter how tight your tension!
The larger versions of the animals worked in chunky yarns will make perfect doorstops if you use sand in a similar way to pellets.
I have used black yarn to sew on all the animals’ eyes and nostrils. Using a dyed black silk thread or cotton will give you a lovely contrast with the natural, undyed colours of the yarn, and the eyes will really stand out with a glint. Alternatively, you could use buttons, beads or glass eyes. Do not use safety eyes, buttons, beads or glass eyes on toys intended for children under three years old as they are a potential choking hazard; securely embroider the features instead.