Thimbleanna

Faux Taxidermy Knits (& a Giveaway)

I’m very excited today because the super nice people at Stitch Craft Create have invited me to review Louise Walker’s new book Faux Taxidermy Knits. (Thank You super nice Stitch Craft Create people!)

Thimbleanna: Faux Taxidermy Knits

Now, I’ll admit, the initial invitation was a surprise to me, as my first thought was “Hmmm, I’m not really the type to hang animal heads on the wall.” (You might recognize Louise Walker as the creator of some really fun faux animal heads for Boden ). But, my apprehension dissipated as soon as I took a look at the patterns in this cute, upcoming book. Taxidermy isn’t just for hanging animal heads on your wall anymore LOL!

Faux Taxidermy Knits contains 15 patterns divided into two sections – fun stuff to wear and fun stuff for your home. I thought I’d give you a little peek for yourself – here are a few of my favorites:

A Tiger Rug – wouldn’t this be cute in baby’s room with a wild animal theme?

Thimbleanna: Tiger

Baby Bear Coasters (or mug rugs, if you prefer).

Thimbleanna:  Baby Bears

Hedgehog Slippers – you know how I love me some slippers and these look super cozy!

Thimbleanna: HedgeHog

An Owl Tea Cozy.

Thimbleanna: Owls

I’ve tested out one of the patterns for you, just so I could check out the instructions. Unfortunately, I was limited on time, so I had to choose the quickest project in the book. Do you remember those little rabbit’s foot keychains we used to carry around as kids? (Ewwww. Really? Were those real rabbit’s feet? What were we thinking?) This little rabbit’s foot is the kind I can handle.

Thimbleanna: Rabbit Foot

The instructions were clear and easy and it probably took me a whopping 45 minutes to make this little foot – an hour if you count the hardware. The picture doesn’t come close to doing this little rabbit’s foot justice – it’s really cute and it feels so soft in my hands. I’m thinking I’d like to make another one and hide one of those GPS things in it, so that I can find my keys when I lose them (which is all the time thankyouverymuch).

If you’re a knitter (or even if you’re not), this is a really fun little book to add to your library. But, don’t just take my word for it – check out these other reviews on the September blog hop:

Mon 1st – Louise Walker

Tue 2nd – iMake

Wed 3rd – Knit Happens

Thu 4th – SCC

Fri 5th – Thimbleanna

Mon 8th – Yarn Demon

Tue 9th – Greedy for Colour

Wed 10th – Knits and Crosses

Thu 11th – The Yarniad

Fri 12th – Crafts from the Cwtch

Mon 15th – The Creations of Crazy Dazy

Tue 16th – Knitted Bliss

Fri 19th – Lapdog Creations

Mon 22nd – Slugs On the Refrigerator

Here’s a little bonus for you – those super nice people at Stitch Craft Create  are offering a hard copy of this book to one of you. Just leave a comment on this post and I’ll draw a winner sometime around October 1st.

And if you don’t win, don’t despair – the book is available HERE (oooh, and while you’re there, check out this PAGE for some other fun knitting books!)

But WAIT, there’s more (haha)! I forgot to show you one of my very favorite projects in the whole book.

Behold.

Mr Wolf.

Thimbleanna: Wolf

How fantastic would Mr. Wolf be for the costume in a Little Red Riding Hood play? Three Little Pigs anyone??? Or, how fun would it be to have the big bad wolf accompany your cute Little Red Riding Hood while Trick-or-Treating??? Bring On Halloween!!!

Ok — remember to leave a comment if you want to enter to win a free copy of Faux Taxidermy Knits.

Good Luck!
XOXO,
Anna

56 thoughts on “Faux Taxidermy Knits (& a Giveaway)”

  1. Ok, that Mr Wolf has sold it to me! How good is that?
    I love the owl tea cosy as well, owls are big in our house at the moment. Have a good weekend!

  2. The book looks really interesting but please don’t put my name in the hat. No matter how cool the animals are, I know I’d never knit any of them. Good luck to everyone else! :o)

  3. Dear Anna, I would love to win this book and make the fox scarf for Frannie. My mother gave Frannie her real “fox” stole from way back in the 50’s when it was “OK” to wear one. Frannie keeps asking me if she can wear it to school and I keep saying “no” because it wouldn’t be appropriate. When I asked her if this would make a suitable replacement for everyday, she thought it was a great idea – maybe even in pink. Either way, I’m going to be dusting off my knitting needles. Thanks for the opportunity!

  4. so fun! i would totally wear the fox, hahahahaha. i have a real one my dumb mom used to wear. it feels disrespectful to the poor fox to throw it in the trash but there is no way i would ever wear it.

  5. i don’t knit or crochet so i’m not in it to win it. i just wanted to comment about how much fun that was to look at those pics! some of those patterns are hilarious! what little kid wouldn’t want to wear a fox stole around his/her neck??? ;p

  6. OMG this is so cute. I have an older little book called Scarfs Two – On The Go by Vogue Knitting. They have a zebra and lamb scarf that are adorable. Never had a little girl to make them for, sadly!!

  7. I would make a whole herd (or pack or flock or gaggle. . . whatever a group of bears is called) of the bear cub mug rugs. They are making me smile.

  8. I’m not a knitter but I just have to say these projects are all so fun and fabulous!! The rabbits foot is particular cute and the tiger rug is brilliant. Maybe I should learn how to knit.

  9. OK, some of them are a little too DIFFERENT for me, but I love the little bear coasters and the tiger rug. I’m thinking what my friends would think if I brought out that little owl tea cozy when we do one of our big Yosemite camping trips. Darling!

  10. I would love to make the fox scarf for my granddaughter! Very cute! I just moved from Wisconsin to Delaware to be near them and my granddaughter loves to watch me knit!

  11. oh! Anna! I have been hunting up fox stole knitting patterns recently. This book would have been a life-saver. I can totally imagine a tiger rug in my room.

  12. Not sure about the wolf hat. I have to give that some serious thought but I do love the rabbits foot. And I need the GPS in it too. Sounds like good Christmas gifts to me. You know, like Christmas gifts for your friends. ;)

  13. Heehee! I love the owl tea cosy….and taxidermy. I have a friend who collects Victorian taxidermy and I have already made him a racoon from Donna Wilson’s the Knitted Odd Bod Bunch.

  14. I do remember those rabbits foot key chains as I had a couple of them myself and you are right ewww what were we thinking. I am so glad that we don’t see those around anymore. There are some cute projects in this book. I love the bear coasters and the hedgehog slippers. Since I am a knitter I think it would be great to own this book as it has projects in it unlike any other I have seen.

  15. Such a clever idea – thanks for the opportunity to win a copy! I would love to knit something from here to surprise my 20 year old son – quirky enough that he’d love it!

  16. With Christmas just around the corner I know my granddaughter would love the little fox scarf, and I love the tea cozy and the baby bear coasters are just plain adorable!

  17. Adorable creatures, and a great creative idea, would enjoy making any of them any time, would love to receive the book as a chosen winner!

  18. My grandmother had a fox fur like that first picture. I’d never wear one like hers (poor little foxy, hunted down by those nasty hounds!) but one made of yarn and as cute as this? Hurry up chilly weather — we usually get at least a week of it down here….

  19. I would love to win this pattern book & make all of them for our precious Granddaughter!
    Love your blog too!

  20. I have a friend who is very sick and I want to make him the tea pot cozy. Thanks for offering this great book.

  21. What a fun book! Some of those patterns/animals are goregeus! Like the fox and the woolf. What a good idea :-) I think I would knit one of those to my father who loves hunting and who is utterly disapointed that I don’t want to go hunting with him. I could knit him my own hunted game :-)))

  22. You should have a look at the Alice Springs Beanie Festival, held annually in Central Australia. Amazing knitted hats (Beanies) and tea cosies!

  23. I don’t know if you’ve already drawn a winner, but I have a little great nephew who would look so manly in that wolf hat. Thanks for the chance.

  24. i would love it. I have friends and family that would love the projects for gifts. knitting them would keep my hands very busy

  25. OH yes, would love to get this book.. Trying to teach my granddaughter about knitting.. This projects would get her hooked!

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