Create Your Favorite Peanuts, Star Wars, & Disney Characters with Thunder Bay Press

Crocheting is one of the coolest past-times out there. A friend of mine is a comedian and part of one of her jokes includes the fact no one can really freak out when someone is knitting or crocheting nearby. There can obviously not be a serious situation going on if someone in the room is doing something as calming as knitting or crocheting and I feel like that’s completely true! Crocheting is such a relaxing hobby and it gives your hands something to do.

I learned to crochet a few years ago through a combination of in-person and in a book. A woman in my moms’ group tried to teach me how to do it in person and it made sense but I still hadn’t fully grasped it so I looked up the details. Many people recommended I try looking for video tutorials online but they always went too fast so what was best for me was a combination of reading and being taught one-on-one, live.

Since learning to crochet, I’ve been able to make all kinds of things if I have a good pattern to look at. My first crochet project was a baby hat adorned with a flower and my second was a little baby sneaker. I say “a” little baby sneaker because I never made the other one! Crocheting is great because you can do it when there’s nothing to do, when you just need to take a break, or I even do it when I’m cozied up to my husband on the couch and watching a movie!

There are so many awesome and creative things that you can create with crocheting but I’ll admit that I gasped when the opportunity to review the new Thunder Bay Press crochet titles came along! I received the Thunder Bay Press Peanuts Crochet, Stars Wars Crochet, and Disney Classic Crochet.

The Peanuts are an obvious classic, with The Great Pumpkin still playing every Halloween as a tradition. My grandmother always really liked Charlie Brown and the whole crowd so I thought it would be so sweet to create all of the characters in her memory. The Peanuts Crochet comes with two metal crochet hooks, a tapestry needle, embroidery thread, and the materials to create the favorites: Charlie Brown, Snoopy, and Woodstock. The book includes instructions for basically every member of the Peanuts gang you can think of, specifically nine others, but the materials included are for those three I mentioned.

Star Wars is another classic that is especially beloved in my household. We love science fiction and the characters are just so memorable and entertaining. I’ve proposed the idea of doing Star Wars as a Halloween theme in our house many times! Star Wars Crochet includes a yarn needle with safety eyes and enough yard and materials to make Yoda (my personal favorite!) and a stormtrooper. Yoda is obviously adorable but I’m shocked that a crocheted version of a stormtrooper could look actually look so cuddly and cute! This paperback book also includes detailed instructions of how to make many of the rest of the main characters in the classic Star Wars films.

Disney Classic Crochet excited my children the absolute most, of course. My youngest daughter is all about Minnie Mouse and Daisy Duck right now so she immediately requested that I make them for her. I just adore the characters that are included in this book, I’d have to say that Dumbo is my favorite just because he’s so sweet. Disney Classic Crochet includes the yarn and materials to make Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck, with a tapestry needle, embroidery thread, and three colors of felt.

I realized something when I began to crochet from these books. It’s been several months since I last crocheted, I just let life get too hectic, which is the kind of thing that crocheting helps you wind down from! Because of all of the time that had passed, I actually forgot how to crochet. Thankfully, the basics of crocheting are detailed in the front of each book for those of you who may be beginners. I wouldn’t necessarily recommend it as a first project but it is great that the reminders are in there if you need the reference. It’s a fabulous hobby to take up so if you don’t know how, I’d consider letting now be the time to learn!

All of these books have in common that they incorporate most of the stitches in each pattern so you really get a lot of exercise with your hook! If you get stuck on how to do a certain stitch, like a half-double crochet, you can check for the instructions in the front of the book. There are color pictures displayed throughout the books, to show finished product but also some to show you how it should look as you go along.

The cost of a pattern somewhere else for just one of these characters is often about a third of the cost of this book itself, so it’s really quite cost effective to purchase the entire book filled with many patterns for a mere $24.95 each. I buy books and patterns for crochet and in my opinion, this is a fantastic price for a book of crochet instructions and licensed character patterns PLUS materials to create some of them. I would recommend any Peanuts, Star Wars, or Disney Classics fans to check out these or any of the other crochet books that Thunder Bay Press has available, whether you are an experienced crocheter or just starting out and adding it to your wish list collection. I hope to see some new crocheters come out of this review and even better if you check out some of the Thunder Bay Press books to really get into some fun projects!

Buy:

You can purchase these Thunder Bay Press crochet books at Amazon.com or Barnes & Noble, check them out here: Peanuts Crochet, Star Wars Crochet, and Disney Classics Crochet.

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THE GIVEAWAY:

One (1) winner will receive a copy of all three Thunder Bay Press books, Peanuts Crochet, Star Wars Crochet, and Disney Classics Crochet.

Open to US only. Ends 9/30.

No purchase necessary. Open to residents of US only. Giveaway ends September 30, 2015 at 11:59 p.m. (EST). ONE ENTRANT PER HOUSEHOLD/IP Address! I check all entries – cheating will not be tolerated. Winner will be notified via email and needs to reply within 48 hours, or a new winner will be chosen. Please make sure you check your spam folder – I will not be responsible if you did not receive winning email notification. Winners name(s) will be displayed on the post, and will also be posted on Winners List shortly after drawing has occurred. Winners will be chosen randomly by Giveaway Tools. Screenshots of winners available by request. Prize will be shipped directly from sponsor or their PR Agency unless otherwise noted. Eighty MPH Mom is not responsible for prizes lost in transit, although every attempt will be made for prize delivery. **By entering this giveaway, you confirm that you have read and agree to the Eighty MPH Mom giveaway rules. Sponsor reserves the right to limit one prize per person/household (of this item/prize pack). Please allow 6-8 weeks for deliver of prize {though it is usually much sooner}. This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook. We hereby release Facebook of any liability. Odds of winning: The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. All prizes will be awarded. Void where prohibited by law. *Tiffany received the above product(s), free of charge, to facilitate this review. All opinions are those of reviewer only.