'Claire's ability to harness her mental health experience through Wool Couture is admirable. Her products are a labour of love and her latest book, Robyn Octopus & Friends, is no exception. There's something so wonderful about spending hours creating something and being able to gift that to someone we love or keep it because we're beyond proud of making it.

This book is making me want to make my nana proud and pick up my knitting needles once again! I hope it inspires you to do the same.' - Foreword by Sara Davies, from Dragons' Den

Snuggle up with Robyn Octopus and friends - all loveable, oversized toys to knit. The soft, chunky yarn and delightful characters will appeal to all, not just children. They make great reading or TV companions and sit at about 70cm tall.

As well as 17 different animals to knit and love, including a puffin, an orangutan, a turtle and a unicorn, you can also make Mini Robyn Octopus, Mini Mabel Bunny and Mini Chloe Cat, which are 30-40cm tall. The projects are aimed at beginners to improvers and are suitable for someone who has mastered the basics of knitting.

So be inspired, choose a pattern to start and be prepared to fall in love with this collection of adorable toys.

About the Author

Claire Gelder loves all things hand-made, hand-woven and hand-crafted. She has been crafting for relaxation and fun for over twenty years.

In 2015, Claire left her career as an NHS Director to launch her new business, Wool Couture, which specializes in knitting, crocheting, weaving and macrame. She quickly got her DIY craft kits on the shelves of retail giant John Lewis and, in 2017, secured two Dragons' Den investors to help her pass on her passion of crafting to the next generation. Adding a modern twist to age-old pastimes knitting and crochet, Claire uses giant, chunky yarn and oversized knitting needles made in her own factory.

As well as a successful entrepreneur, Claire is also a firm believer in the therapeutic side of craft, particularly its benefits to mental health and well-being.

Claire lives in Wakefield, UK and is proud to be continuing Yorkshire's textile tradition. Her website is www.woolcouturecompany.com.

Reviews

I instantly thought my mum would enjoy this book, however when it arrived I fell in love with the beautiful little woolly friends inside and have decided to keep it and give them a go myself - then order a second book for mum! The instructions are detailed and quite easy to follow if you're familiar with the terms, but there's also a stitch guide inside. Definitely one of the best books I've had from Search Press and would highly recommend.

-- Emily Mettam * Amazon Customer Review *

Roby Octopus is one of 17 oversized toys knitted in soft, chunky yarn. The characters wil appeal to all ages and they sit abour 70cm tall. The book is aimed at beginners and improvers who have mastered the basics of knitting.

* Machine Knitting Monthly *

This is a wonderful book full of fun knittable projects. The illustrations and techniques sections are really helpful for knitter who is making their first animal project. Children and adults would love to receive the completed projects as gifts to brighten up a room or to snuggle up with. The chunky yarn is appealing as it makes the designs a quick knit. My particular favourites are "Annie Hippo" and "Patrick Puffin" and I may just have to get the needles out, buy some chunky yarn and make one.

-- Monica Russel

Wonderful creations to keep forever.

Wow! What a book! Hours of fun ahead recreating these masterpieces, each page of instructions is large and easy to read and it fully lists tools and materials needed for each project and tells your the difficulty level for each one. Once you are confident enough you will be on the advanced level in no time. I cannot wait to pick up my needles and start working on Robyn.

-- Teena Goodwin * Amazon Customer Review *

This is a lovely book with 17 projects to make. I particularly like the octopus and puffin toys. There's a comprehensive techniques section, covering different stitches, increasing and decreasing and sewing up. The patterns are easy to follow and labelled with level of difficulty. This would be a great gift for any knitter who has some experience of making toys.

-- Kate Robinson * Amazon Customer Review *

I just love this book and the characters inside that you can bring to life. I am really looking forward to giving them to my grandchild. It is great to see clear instructions on how to sew the pieces together and bring the animals to life. The photos in the book are lovely. I would recommend this book to anyone who want to give knitting a go.

-- Alison Stevens * Amazon Customer Review *

This is the most beautiful book! I am a novice in the knitting field but have already made a start, everything is explained in simple language with pictures. Love it, love it, love it!

-- Tracy Brown * Amazon Customer Review *



Book Information
ISBN 9781782218692
Author Claire Gelder
Format Paperback
Page Count 144
Imprint Search Press Ltd
Publisher Search Press Ltd
Weight(grams) 630g
Dimensions(mm) 280mm * 216mm * 9mm