Amigurumi Sweets: Crochet Fancy Pastries and Dessert Review & Sample Works

Here we have another super adorable release! Amigurumi Sweets: Crochet Fancy Pastries and Desserts, by Miyuki Ichikawa, is another crafting book that joins the line of VIZ Media DIY manuals. This book allows you to make an array of different aesthetic sweets such as: parfaits, cakes, macarons, doughnuts, taiyaki, and more! These projects can either be standalone pieces or made into items that you can use every day: jewelry, coin purses, and scrubbers. 

The cover for Amigurumi Sweets features a select array of their projects on a matte cover. The book is 99 pages long and the first 33 pages are detailed pictures of the finished crafts. From then on are the detailed instructions for making said crafts. The first 33 pages are printed on a thicker weight glossy paper for the photos while the instructions are on matte thick paper. For the simpler projects the instructions are an average of 2 pages long, while the more difficult ones, such as the Mini Parfait Trinket Case or Tart Charm Straps, can take up to 4 or 5. Each project will indicate the materials needed for that particular item as well as a detailed diagram. In additional to the diagram, we are also given a chart clearly stating how many stitches should be increased and decreased per row and the total stitches for each row. This is definitely great for just in case you lose count by accident. Tiny tips also given on the side as notes. The last few pages are used as a glossary for terms and techniques that are used in the book.
 
This books is definitely very cute. I love the projects that this book provides and can’t wait to try to make all of them. I would recommend that before getting this book, you are very comfortable with crocheting and its techniques. I found that Amigurumi Sweets is definitely a step above Amigurumi San-X Crochet Patterns in difficulty, which we have reviewed before. Amigurumi Sweets require smaller attention to details for the tiny fruit adornments and color changes. I would recommend this book for crafters beyond beginner level. I do have to admit that this book had better instructions and visuals that its predecessors.
 
I decided to tackle something simpler for this review, the doughnuts. Not only were the instructions super amazing on this one but I just love a good doughnut aesthetic. This project turned out so much better than my last review and the finished product actually looked like what it was supposed to. Amigurumi Sweets is amazing is that they actually give you options to customize your projects. For the doughnuts they gave the options of different colors to represent flavors as well as instructions to add beads to act as sprinkles. This is something that I really appreciated from this book. I decided to opt out on the sprinkles but made two doughnuts, a strawberry flavor and matcha flavor. I love how they turned out and can’t wait to make more!

Something to keep in mind for this books is that the table of contents in the front won’t tell you the page that the instructions are on but instead are for the pages that the pictures are on. Only when you get to those pages will it lead to you the actual instructions. Amigurumi Sweets feature an astounding 28 projects and each of those have different color options as well. Some of the projects that are listed in this books are:

• Mini Parfait Trinket Case
• Three Types of Cakes
• Macaron Charm Straps
• Biscuit Coin Purses with Metal Clasp
• Assorted Chocolates and Truffle Rings
• Cookie Magnets
• Doughnuts
• Cream Puffs
• Taiyaki
• And so much more!

 
Much like Amigurumi San-X Crochet Patterns, this book can keep you occupied for a very very long time.

Amigurumi Sweets: Crochet Fancy Pastries and Desserts retails at $14.99 USD, the standard price for VIZ Media crafting books. I find that for this book the price is worth the product that you get. Unlike the last book, you get so much more options per projects. The projects themselves are more useful from day to day. I would rather have a coin purse to use than just a doll to collect dust on the shelf. I definitely recommend this book for crafters that love adorable aesthetics. You can create so much cute accessories which are perfect for matching coordinated outfits! As a crafter I love this book and hope that you can get as much fun and entertainment as I did.
 
-Eunice

You can find our more about Amigurumi Sweets: Crochet Fancy Pastries and Desserts here:
https://www.viz.com/read/craft-book/amigurumi-sweets/product/5826

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Rating: A
 
Pros:
+ Detailed instructions
+ Great visuals
+ Customizable options
+ Useful projects for day to day
+ Cute aesthetic
+ More bang for your buck 

Cons:
- Definitely not for beginners
- Material needed can be either too specific or hard to find

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