35 books like Crochet Cute Critters

By Sarah Zimmerman,

Here are 35 books that Crochet Cute Critters fans have personally recommended if you like Crochet Cute Critters. Shepherd is a community of 11,000+ authors and super readers sharing their favorite books with the world.

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Book cover of Amazing Furniture Makeovers: Easy DIY Projects to Transform Thrifted Finds Into Beautiful Custom Pieces

Amy Latta Author Of Hand Lettering for Laughter: Gorgeous Art with a Hilarious Twist

From my list on for artists and creatives.

Why am I passionate about this?

For as long as I can remember, I’ve been an artist at heart. As a child, I loved to draw and to make all kinds of crafts with my mother. Now, I make a living creating and teaching art. From presenting at conferences and workshops around the country to doing segments on lifestyle shows like Hallmark Home & Family, Good Day PA, Great Day Live Tampa, and more, my favorite things to do are those that allow me to share crafty projects. I have also written five hand lettering books and a guided journal, all with the hope of helping others to discover, explore, and express their own creativity. 

Amy's book list on for artists and creatives

Amy Latta Why did Amy love this book?

If you’ve ever looked at an old piece of furniture and imagined giving it new life, you absolutely need this book! Jen shows step by step how easy it really is to give furniture a whole new look with just a few basic supplies. She shares gorgeous examples of her own furniture transformations, as well as practical tips for how to create your own unique finished pieces. You’ll soon find yourself so inspired that you’re looking for furniture to makeover in every thrift store and yard sale!

By Jen Crider,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Amazing Furniture Makeovers as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Transforming old and worn furniture into a gorgeous, modern statement piece can be intimidating, but Jen Crider makes it easy with step-by-step tutorials anyone can do. This book is packed with ingenious, approachable projects to turn old chairs, tables, sofas and more into gorgeous furniture. Jen's style fits right in to today's farmhouse decor, making the book appealing to a wide audience.

Unbelievable before and after photos will blow readers away, especially when they learn how simple it is to create the effects themselves. Beginners can dive right in with quick tricks and techniques like applying stain for a luxury…


Book cover of Sew with Me: 60 Fun & Easy Projects to Make Your Own Fabulous Décor and Accessories

Amy Latta Author Of Hand Lettering for Laughter: Gorgeous Art with a Hilarious Twist

From my list on for artists and creatives.

Why am I passionate about this?

For as long as I can remember, I’ve been an artist at heart. As a child, I loved to draw and to make all kinds of crafts with my mother. Now, I make a living creating and teaching art. From presenting at conferences and workshops around the country to doing segments on lifestyle shows like Hallmark Home & Family, Good Day PA, Great Day Live Tampa, and more, my favorite things to do are those that allow me to share crafty projects. I have also written five hand lettering books and a guided journal, all with the hope of helping others to discover, explore, and express their own creativity. 

Amy's book list on for artists and creatives

Amy Latta Why did Amy love this book?

With 60 fun and easy tutorials, this book will have you sewing all kinds of decor and accessories in no time. From felt pincushions to pillows and even stitched accents on cards, there’s something for everyone. These projects are enjoyable for all ages and skill levels, and will give you creative new ideas to stitch!

By Brandy Nelson,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Sew with Me as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 7, 8, 9, and 10.

What is this book about?

Want something your kids can create on their own? Sew With Me teaches kids how to be creative with fabric while honing in a lifelong skill.

Geared towards kids, or kids who might need a little help from mum, you can use both hand sewing and machines with your kids to make fantastic sewing projects that they will enjoy creating and using. Fully customisable, these unique sewing projects will give little ones pride in making something, keep them busy for hours and help them tune their fine motor skills. The best part? They can use them later on or give…


Book cover of How to Stitch an American Dream: A Story of Family, Faith and the Power of Giving

Amy Latta Author Of Hand Lettering for Laughter: Gorgeous Art with a Hilarious Twist

From my list on for artists and creatives.

Why am I passionate about this?

For as long as I can remember, I’ve been an artist at heart. As a child, I loved to draw and to make all kinds of crafts with my mother. Now, I make a living creating and teaching art. From presenting at conferences and workshops around the country to doing segments on lifestyle shows like Hallmark Home & Family, Good Day PA, Great Day Live Tampa, and more, my favorite things to do are those that allow me to share crafty projects. I have also written five hand lettering books and a guided journal, all with the hope of helping others to discover, explore, and express their own creativity. 

Amy's book list on for artists and creatives

Amy Latta Why did Amy love this book?

There’s no way you won’t be inspired by this autobiography of Jenny Doan, creator of the Missouri Star Quilt Company. Filled with tales of family and faith, it tells about Jenny’s creative journey and the way a quilting company revitalized the small town of Hamilton, Missouri. Not only will you find yourself wanting to sit down and have lunch with Jenny, you just may be inspired to try your hand at quilting too!

By Jenny Louise Doan,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked How to Stitch an American Dream as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Faith, family, hard work, and second chances are at the core of every great American story, and Jenny Doan's story is just that.

In her new memoir, How to Stitch an American Dream, readers will discover the behind-the-scenes success story of the Missouri Star Quilt Company and Jenny's remarkable journey to overcome hardship, claim the abundance of family, and ignite the power of giving-all while revitalizing a small town along the way.

Over the last decade, the Doan family business, the Missouri Star Quilt Company in tiny Hamilton, Missouri, has grown from Jenny's corner shop--with one quilting machine and two…


Book cover of Faith & Lettering: An Inspirational Guide to Creative Lettering & Journaling

Amy Latta Author Of Hand Lettering for Laughter: Gorgeous Art with a Hilarious Twist

From my list on for artists and creatives.

Why am I passionate about this?

For as long as I can remember, I’ve been an artist at heart. As a child, I loved to draw and to make all kinds of crafts with my mother. Now, I make a living creating and teaching art. From presenting at conferences and workshops around the country to doing segments on lifestyle shows like Hallmark Home & Family, Good Day PA, Great Day Live Tampa, and more, my favorite things to do are those that allow me to share crafty projects. I have also written five hand lettering books and a guided journal, all with the hope of helping others to discover, explore, and express their own creativity. 

Amy's book list on for artists and creatives

Amy Latta Why did Amy love this book?

Faith and creativity come together in this gorgeous, colorful journal by Krystal Whitten. Filled with gorgeous illustrations, tutorials, and spaces for you to create, this journal will inspire you from start to finish. Whether you work in it daily or pick it up when you need some quiet time, you’ll find yourself feeling renewed creatively and spiritually.

By Krystal Whitten,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Faith & Lettering as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Something special happens when you learn to write or draw God's Word. In Faith and Lettering, Krystal Whitten's advice and encouragement will help you draw near to God and pursue a deeper faith by expressing your creativity. You will learn three basic types of letters and variations on them, what tools to use and how to use them, and step-by-step instructions for decorative flourishes and embellishments. Krystal will also show you how to find inspiration and accept grace when mistakes happen. Her inspiring tips, techniques, and ideas will help make your Bibles, journals, and home decor uniquely your own.


Book cover of A Stitch to Die For

Syrl Kazlo Author Of Kibbles and Death

From my list on mysteries to cozy up with on a cold night.

Why am I passionate about this?

I am the author of the cozy mystery series Samantha Davies Mysteries. Before beginning to write my series, I read hundreds of cozies and loved each one, especially those featuring a small-town setting, an amateur sleuth, and a dog. Since I live in a small upstate New York town, am married to a retired state trooper, and am the mom to a lovable dachshund, what better than to feature all this in a cozy mystery series. So, the Samantha Davies Mystery series was born.

Syrl's book list on mysteries to cozy up with on a cold night

Syrl Kazlo Why did Syrl love this book?

Like the main character in this series, I'm a big crafter, and I love how the crafts are woven into the books.

I love the quirky characters. They are laugh-out-loud funny, another favorite in the books that I love.

They may be murder mysteries, but they don't weigh me down.

By Lois Winston,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked A Stitch to Die For as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Ever since her husband died and left her in debt equal to the gross national product of Uzbekistan, magazine crafts editor and reluctant amateur sleuth Anastasia Pollack has stumbled across one dead body after another—but always in work-related settings. When a killer targets the elderly nasty neighbor who lives across the street from her, murder strikes too close to home. Couple that with a series of unsettling events days before Halloween, and Anastasia begins to wonder if someone is sending her a deadly message.Knitting and crochet projects included.


Book cover of Craftivism: The Art Of Craft And Activism

Katy Bevan Author Of Intelligent Hands: Why making is a skill for life

From my list on craft and why making is important.

Why am I passionate about this?

My whole life has been about the power of making. I’m a writer and educator specialising in craft. Previously, I worked at the Crafts Council in London, and now I write for craft magazines with a particular interest in the connective nature of craft in communities and the relationship between craft and wellbeing. I’m also a parent to a learning-disabled adult, so understand learning differences (and care). I recently started Quickthorn Books to showcase more makers. I run workshops in darning, crochet, knitting, and, most recently, making rag rugs. I’m proud to be a trustee of Heritage Crafts, and I can usually be found knitting in the corner.

Katy's book list on craft and why making is important

Katy Bevan Why did Katy love this book?

Betsy is known as the Godmother of craftivism, and we had the pleasure of interviewing her for our book. She shows that in a world in which we can feel increasingly powerless, small acts of creativity can give us agency and make us feel like we have a voice. Her work with affirmations and collecting the stories of others continues online.

By Betsy Greer (editor),

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Craftivism as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Craftivism is a worldwide movement that operates at the intersection where craft and activism meet; Craftivism the book is full of inspiration for crafters who want to create works that add to the greater good. With interviews and profiles of craftivists who are changing the world with their art, and through examples that range from community embroidery projects, stitching in prisons, revolutionary ceramics, AIDS activism, yarn bombing, and crafts that facilitate personal growth, Craftivism provides imaginative examples of how crafters can be creative and altruistic at the same time.

Artists profiled in the book are from the United States, Canada,…


Book cover of Crochet Coral Reef

Lindsay Kelley Author Of After Eating: Metabolizing the Arts

From my list on metabolism and digestion in the arts.

Why am I passionate about this?

I’m an artist and writer who works with food and eating. I find inspiration for my practice in my own body processes and in caring for and advocating for my friends and family. When my grandfather lost the ability to swallow, I began to understand the fragility and vulnerability of our gastrointestinal systems. After many years of teaching, making, and writing about food art, I started to wonder about what happens after eating. The books on this list join me in arguing for digestion, metabolism, and defecation as vital cultural processes. These authors have changed how I relate to food, guts, and my body.

Lindsay's book list on metabolism and digestion in the arts

Lindsay Kelley Why did Lindsay love this book?

Everything we do with metabolism and digestion in our bodies also happens at a planetary level. Corals help me understand this, and this project by the Wertheim sisters helps me understand corals.

They published this book themselves so they could include the names of all the crocheters and supporters who brought the Crochet Coral Reef into being. We combine and recombine to become holobionts, working together in tiny and vast symbiosis to ingest, digest, and metabolize the planet.

By Margaret Wertheim, Christine Wertheim,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Crochet Coral Reef as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Now perhaps the world's largest participatory art and science project, the Crochet Coral Reef combines mathematics, marine biology, environmental consciousness-raising and community art practice. Almost 8,000 people around the world have contributed to making an ever-evolving archipelago of giant woolen seascapes, which have been exhibited at the Hayward Gallery, the Smithsonian and many other venues. This fully illustrated book, written by the project's creators--Margaret and Christine Wertheim of the Institute For Figuring--brings together the scientific and mathematical content behind the project, along with essays about the artistic and cultural resonances of this unique experiment in radical craft practice. With a…


Book cover of Tilda's Seaside Ideas

Claire Freedman Author Of The Secret Garden

From my list on arts and crafts.

Why am I passionate about this?

I am a children’s author and have written over 100 picture book texts for young children, including the best-selling Aliens Love Underpants series. I also enjoy making beautiful things for my home and garden, and for friends and family. Whilst writing is hard work, this other creative side is pure relaxation and ‘switch off’ time. But any projects have to be easily achievable within snatched moments in a busy work life. So here are my top crafting books for people who love creating things but, like me, don’t have much time...

Claire's book list on arts and crafts

Claire Freedman Why did Claire love this book?

This is an adorable book of seaside makes and beach-inspired projects. It's a beautiful book to look through with lots of inspirational photos to spark your imagination. Some of the projects are more complicated but I found it easy to simplify them myself and the end results still looked great. However busy you are, you’ll definitely have time to make the fabric flowers – easy-peasy and so pretty. I use them on gift tags.

By Tone Finnanger,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Tilda's Seaside Ideas as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Recreate memories of the seaside with simple sewing, papercraft, crochet and knitting projects using beautiful Tilda fabrics, yarn and embellishments. Be inspired by life at the beach and in the ocean to make gifts, toys and pretty accessories for your home. From adorable whales and fishing girl dolls to hanging mobiles, applique blankets and summer scarves, the designs will take you on a journey of the perfect seaside holiday.


Book cover of I Don't Like Koala

Lisa Wheeler Author Of People Don't Bite People

From my list on picture books that are even better read aloud.

Why am I passionate about this?

I'm an award-winning children's book author who loves everything about kid's books--including the smell! With over 50 books on bookstore shelves-- which have been read aloud hundreds of times all over the world-- I feel that I've become an expert on the subject.

Lisa's book list on picture books that are even better read aloud

Lisa Wheeler Why did Lisa love this book?

Koala is the most terrible! He has a terrible face. And terrible paws. And terrible eyes that follow you everywhere! If you love to make up voices, you will find that Adam's repeat of "I don't like Koala" is subversively fun. Unleash your inner naughty child! When Adam receives Koala as a gift, he thinks there can be nothing more terrifying. His parents don't understand and all attempts to ditch this crazy stuff toy come to nothing. And then one night, Adam worries there might be something even more terrible than Koala. This one is absolutely brilliant as a read-aloud.

By Sean Ferrell, Charles Santoso (illustrator),

Why should I read it?

1 author picked I Don't Like Koala as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Adam does not like Koala. Koala is a little creepy.

Adam tries explaining this to his parents. He tries putting Koala away-far away. He tries taking Koala on a long, long walk. Nothing works. Will Adam ever be rid of Koala?

This darkly funny debut picture book from Sean Ferrell and Charles Santoso celebrates imagination and bravery while addressing a universal childhood dilemma: what to do about that one stuffed animal who just won't stop staring at you.


Book cover of Ira Sleeps Over

Steve Patschke Author Of Don't Look At It! Don't Touch It!

From my list on funny picture reads kids will sit still for.

Why am I passionate about this?

Steve Patschke is a retired elementary school library media teacher of over thirty years, now living in Woodstock, N.Y. In November of 2022, his essay appeared in The New York Times' “Tiny Love Stories.” In February of 2023, his essay appeared in Chicken Soup For The Soul: Cat Lovers Edition. He has published six children’s picture books. His most recent is Don’t Look At It, Don’t Touch It. Steve’s rendition of the classic Nutcracker and the Mouse King will be published as a pop-up book through Templar books in the fall of 2023.

Steve's book list on funny picture reads kids will sit still for

Steve Patschke Why did Steve love this book?

I recommended this book first because as a public school Library Media Specialist for over thirty years it was my perfect go-to read-a-loud. 

It is funny and filled with human interest and emotion. But what I like best about it is the timing. I like to write funny books and I know timing in humor is one of the most important attributes. This book hits it dead-on.

Adding to the wonderful timing is the pagination. Having published a few funny picture books myself I know how important the page-turner is for children.

The author Banard Weber will open a situation and then, as a pagination cliffhanger, place the resolution on the following page. Then he ends the story with a sweet repose.

By Bernard Waber,

Why should I read it?

3 authors picked Ira Sleeps Over as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 2, 3, 4, and 5.

What is this book about?

From the beloved author-illustrator of Lyle, Lyle Crocodile comes a charming and relatable picture book about a child's first sleepover experience.

Ira is thrilled about his first sleepover at his friend Reggie's house, until his sister makes him question taking his favorite teddy bear! Will Reggie laugh at his teddy bear? Can Ira sleep without it? A hilarious back-and-forth ensues in this classic picture book about staying true to yourself. A perfect read-aloud for every young reader with their own bedtime friends.


5 book lists we think you will like!

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