One glance at the cover of this book and you'll see it's filled with a menagerie of mini creatures, as well as plants, fruits and vegetables. You can knit and crochet them to give as gifts, or to use as embellishments on other woolly projects. There's a handy directory at the start of the book, where you can browse the projects and find out where to locate the patterns themselves. Our favourites are the blue tit, snail, spider (perhaps a little too lifelike for some) and the peacock butterfly. At the back are a few ideas for presenting your projects, such as brightening up an old tweed jacket with some autumn leaves and mushrooms. - Knit Today

Expand your hand knit and crochet repertoire with this delightful menagerie of miniature bugs, beasts and beautiful butterflies. Use them to decorate clothes and accessories, to give as gifts or to decorate gift wrap and greetings cards. Each beautiful beastie has full instructions, patterns and charts. You'll find a mixture of fun and fabulous ideas for using the creatures for children's designs, homewares and elegant fashion accessories. - Machine Knitting Monthly

The lovely Mary at Search Press recently sent me beautiful bundle of books on knitting and sewing to review. I had noticed the title 75 Birds, butterflies & beautiful beasties to knit and crochet by Lesley Stanfield in a catalogue not long ago, featuring an amazing pattern for a Blue Tit. So when I opened my big padded envelope of goodies and found this amongst the other gorgeous titles, I nearly wee'd with excitement! So after pawing through the book again and again, just reading the patterns on the tube and imagining how to create these wonders, and thinking of all the beautiful colour combinations, I decided to attempt my very own tit. It was my first time trying to knit with 4 double ended needles, so I say 'attempt' as mine does not look as stunning and cute as the one in the book. Plus I may have over stuffed mine, he is a little chubby. The book is beautifully and cleanly laid out with very clear instructions and diagrams where necessary. It is definitely a book for experienced knitters and although it has an Abbreviations page, Notes on Knitting/Crochet page I still had to head down to the library to find a book to teach me the basics of 4 needle knitting. Once I had figured out the logistics of it though I found the pattern very easy to follow, and the making up instructions very clear. Even if you never get the time to make any of the patterns I would suggest it as a summers day read at the very least. The pictures are gorgeous and the effects Lesley has achieved with just wool and needles is mind blowing! It is probably THE most beautiful small projects knitting/crochet book I have ever had the joy of reading. - Siponepurlone.co.uk 

Lesley Stanfield is a long-time hand-knitting designer and has been the knitting editor of several women's magazines. She has produced a number of books on knitting and crochet. She lives and works in Whitstable, Kent.

Prelims Introduction Before you begin Directory of designs Technical data Index and credits