Amigurumi People

Based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, amigurumi artist Mei Li Lee has a considerable following on Instagram as @amigurumei and is best known as the author of Hello Kitty Crochet. Mei loves to create cute, whimsical characters and her latest book focuses on 16 charming ami dolls. Including aspirational ‘career’ dolls such as Helena the Doctor and Ollie the Firefighter, there are sweet dolls that reflect real life relationships, including Grandma and Grandpa, a pair of besties, and Samantha the Big Sister holding her new baby sibling. Each doll has been designed with a secret crochet tip, such as how to make crochet hair curl a certain way or how to make tiny garments, so that with each make you improve your skills or the next project. The book includes a substantial how-to section with clear step-by-steps and photos explaining all the stitches and techniques you’ll need, plus advice on yarn choices and how to assemble and finish your projects. However, the skill level is set at intermediate, so some basic crochet skills would be useful. What sets Mei’s book apart from other amigurumi books is the incredible attention to detail on each doll. From Austin the Astronaut with his embellished spacesuit and separate rocket, to Megan the Exchange Student in her Mary-Jane shoes with satchel and pretty pink hair, these ami dolls up the ante on both cuteness and finesse.

* Inside Crochet magazi