Knit and Purl Pets that everyone will want to take home. This title offers knitting patterns for pets include a menagerie of animals you've always wanted. Many of the projects include knitting instructions for accessories such as a dog bed and yummy carrots for the rabbits. Knit and Purl Pets that everyone will want to take home. We love our pets for their companionship and unique characters, so creative author Clare Garland has packed personality aplenty into each one of the little pets within this book. Every creature has the adorable charm and mischievous quirkiness that we expect from our animals – just knit them up and watch them come to life before your eyes. So no matter what pet you've always dreamed of having, whether it's a puppy, chicken or even a dinosaur, you're only a few rows or rounds away from owning it! There is a wonderful menagerie of 20 animal projects that includes: Little feathered friends Silkysoft snake Naughty hen trio Egg-stra good layers Itty Bitty guinea pigs Mittens and socks, the lop eared rabbits Speckle the Kitten Toy Mouse Tortellini tortoise Bamber the Labrador puppy Ravenous Rats Biscuit the cat Biscuit's basket Reggie Veggie the Stegosaurus Pip and Pop ponies Charlie the chameleon Zoom the Greyhound Greyhound's jacket All the projects in this book are quick – some take less than a day – and easy to knit, once the basic techniques have been mastered. The pets are all, or in part, knitted using four double-pointed knitting needles – a fairly new approach to toy knitting. This can seem a little daunting to the uninitiated, but the very act of going round and round is pure meditation and fun – and the knitted creation is 'sculptured' in 3D forms as you work, so you can instantly see how your work is progressing. If you are new to knitting or need to brush up on your past skills, there are basic techniques from how to cast on, knit and purl, knit in the round and cast off. There is also advice on special design techniques and finishing touches. All knitting patterns use abbreviations to save time and space so there is also a useful list of all the abbreviations used in the patterns of the book. So whether you are new to knitting, or more advanced, and whether you own a pet or wish you did, with Clare Garland's easy step-by-step instructions, beautiful photos and helpful diagrams, you can knit your own pet! AUTHOR: Claire Garland is a designer, illustrator, and runs her own mail order business, www.dotpebbles.com, selling knitted doll kits. She will be launching a lifestyle and craft blog to promote her business and books. Claire has featured in Selvedge, Junior, Pregnancy and Baby, Marie Claire, Woman's Own and Women's Weekly, and appeared on the Crafts Beautiful expert panel 9. Claire lives in Penzance, Cornwall.