Knitted Meerkats [Hardcover]

I've chosen this book this month because it arrived on my doorstep at a very sad time in my life and succeeded in making me smile. You can sense the author, Sue Stratford has had a lot of fun compiling it and creating each happy, little character. There is a meerkat to suit every knitter and every occasion from a cute ballerina in a fab, frilly tutu to a macho meerkat football player which you could customise with your favourite team colours. The author, Sue gives a pattern for an adult meerkat which stands 14 cms (51/2 ins) and a baby which is 7 cms (2A ins) tall. Each is created in a double strand of fine, fluffy yarn whilst their outfits are all knitted in 4 ply or fingerling. My only concern is that although knitting these loveable characters in two strands of fine yarn enables a more detailed end product, it may make them a bit fiddly to create. Some may find the sewing up a bit frustrating, particularly if you're not used to making knitted toys. However, they are small enough to be a 'quick reward' project which will make you smile when completed. Once you've mastered one I could see how you might just have to knit another - and another - and another. In fact, they could become quite addictive! After all, they're sociable animals and you wouldn't want yours to feel lonely! The meerkat pattern also calls for chenille sticks and I was uncertain what these were and whether they would be difficult to find, but actually they're just pipe cleaners which you can choose to insert into the arms to make them stay in certain gestures. Two coins are also inserted into the base of the meerkat before sewing up to enable them to stand more easily, so the author has thought of everything down to the smallest detail including earrings, belly button rings and beaded embellishments. Most of the outfits are removable so your meerkat mob, could have a whole wardrobe of different guises, disguises and accessories to have fun with. This also means they make perfect gifts as there is an outfit to celebrate most occasions from Christmas to special birthdays and holidays. There's even a bride and groom just waiting for a wedding cake to climb on to. You might even be inspired to customise and create your own outfits. So if you have meerkat loving friends, I'd get knitting now. My personal favourite is Meer Punk. He has a bright green Mohican and piercings! Prima Ballerina comes a close second. If you love meerkats (or not) you'll love this book and will want to knit a whole mob so have fun! Betsan Corkhill-Stitchliniks.com Are you into Meerkats- do you 'get' the whole Meerkat thing? Is it all 'simples' to you? Hmm you know I find it a bit irritating, give me the Cadbury bunny or the Smash robots any day. So I wasn't exactly excited about this book - - until I looked inside. Sue Stratford who wrote this book is obviously very pleasantly mad. I like mad, mad is good. Mad makes this book so much fun. These Meerkats are cute , diminutive, they have character, bags of character and babies, they have babies, in little baby carriers- yep seriously- well not that seriously- which like I say is the really good thing. I knitted a grown up Meerkat, I didn't use the two strands of special wool recommended, I just broke out some fawn mohair and it seemed to work fine. The parts knit up quickly and are brilliantly shaped. I made up and stuffed as I went as all the little bits could get confusing and that way I could see my little guy emerging from the fluffy chaos. The book recommends that you place two coins in the base of the body and this does give the model a good stability. Anna asked me to make the 'Fluffy Flippers' kat , but there really is something for everyone, from brides to punks. I think the yarn I used for the cream stripes on the swimming costume was a 3ply rather than 4ply so it does pull a bit over my slightly chubby guy. I also found it hard to find the colours I wanted to use in 4ply, as you only need very little quantities I didn't want to buy lots of new wool so made do a bit with some cotton sewing thread. These figures seem up for that though; a bit of fiddling about, personalising, chopping and changing. This title is a hard back with lovely thick pages, that nice matt paper which smells like almond shells. The pictures are lush and inspiring and I can put my hand on my heart and say that the patterns I followed Work and I'm sorry to say that that doesn't always go without saying. The book costs GBP9.99 and has patterns for twenty different kat outfits and two different kat sizes. The possibilities are endless though huh? I'm a convert, you can never have too many Meerkats!-www.jennyflowerblue.blogspot.com

Meerkats are appealing little creatures and their growing popularity over the last few years has elevated them to something approaching cult status! Now these cutest of creatures have been immortalised in yarn by Susan Stratford, who has created twenty fun and novel characters for you to knit. All of the meerkats in this book are based on the same easy-to-follow pattern, which is then transformed into a beach babe, rock star, bride, gardener, golfer, skier, to name just a few, by simply using different coloured yarns and dressing them in different knitted outfits. You will love these adorable little knitted animals - and so will anyone you choose to knit them for. Before you know it you'll be hooked, and well on the way to knitting an entire meerkat clan!