Knitting

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Knit a Little Book Review

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There’s something extra satisfying about knitting children’s sweaters. They’re small enough to feel manageable, sweet enough to make you say “just one more,” and they don’t require the same emotional commitment as knitting an adult-sized cardigan that may or may not sit in the WIP basket for three winters.

Knit a Little: 24 Seamless Patterns for Children’s Sweaters and Hats by Marie Greene is a lovely collection for knitters who enjoy practical, wearable children’s knits with a modern handmade feel.

The book includes 24 patterns: 12 children’s sweaters in sizes 0 to 10, and 12 matching beanies sized from preemie to adult. The patterns are based on Marie Greene’s signature seamless knitting style, which means less sewing up at the end — always a blessing, especially if finishing is where your projects go to quietly disappear.

What I really like about this book is that the designs feel classic without being old-fashioned. You’ll find cardigans and pullovers with details like colorwork, cables, and simple texture, but they still look like pieces children could actually wear and move around in. The designs are also gender-neutral, which makes them lovely for gifting, passing down, or knitting ahead when you don’t know who the recipient will be yet.

This book would suit knitters who already know the basics and want to try children’s garments without too much fiddly finishing. It’s especially good if you like small sweater projects, matching hat-and-sweater sets, or handmade baby and toddler gifts that feel a little more special than a quick beanie.

If you’re knitting from this book, I’d keep a good set of circular needles, stitch markers, and a project bag close by. Amazon is an easy place to find the book itself and basic knitting tools, while Mary Maxim is a natural spot to look for yarn if you’re planning a few gift knits or matching sets.

Knit a Little is a warm, useful children’s knitting book with sweet, wearable designs and the added bonus of seamless construction. Perfect for knitters who love making baby gifts, grandchild knits, and small projects that still feel beautifully finished.

Have you read?

Book Review: Knitted Safari Friends – 20 Adorable Animals to Make

If you have a weakness for knitted animals wearing tiny clothes, Knitted Safari Friends by Sarah Keen is going to be very difficult to resist.

This colourful collection includes 20 safari and savannah animals to knit, including a lion, tiger, elephant, flamingo, hippo, crocodile, rhinoceros, zebra and giraffe.

And yes, many of them have their own little outfits.

The lion in purple overalls is probably enough to sell me on the whole book.

Cute Animals With Plenty of Personality

What I like about this collection is that the animals are clearly designed as characters rather than realistic wildlife models.

They are bright, friendly and a little quirky, which makes them particularly appealing as handmade gifts for children or animal-loving adults.

Looking at the sample pages, the hippo and flamingo patterns have a cheerful illustrated layout, with the finished animals shown in little safari scenes alongside the practical pattern information.

There is also plenty of variety in the shapes, which means you aren’t simply knitting the same basic body 20 times and changing the ears.

If knitted animals with interchangeable clothes are already your thing, have a look at our Knitted Wild Animal Friends book review. That collection includes elephants, giraffes, lions, tigers, zebras and other animals with an entire wardrobe of tiny knitted clothing.

Is Knitted Safari Friends Beginner Friendly?

The publisher describes the patterns as easy to follow, and the book includes a techniques section, abbreviations and knitting conversions to help you through the projects.

I would still put this more in the confident beginner to intermediate category rather than recommending it as someone’s very first knitting project.

Toy knitting usually involves shaping, joining pieces, stuffing and finishing neatly, and that finishing stage can sometimes take almost as long as the knitting itself.

Ask anyone who has ever had a finished knitted animal sitting in pieces on the craft table for three weeks waiting for its legs to be sewn on.

For knitters who are still learning the basics of toy making, our Knitted Amigurumi Animal Friends review is another useful option, with smaller animals and simple clothing pieces.

A Great Gift Knitting Book

These would make lovely handmade gifts for children, particularly if you matched the animal to their favourite safari creature.

You could also knit several of them together as a nursery display or create your own little safari collection.

The clothes and accessories add another level of fun, too. Once you’ve knitted an elephant, there is something wonderfully satisfying about then deciding what that elephant ought to wear.

Apparently this is where my crafting priorities are now.

My Take

I think Knitted Safari Friends is one of those books that you buy intending to make one project and then immediately start planning an entire knitted zoo.

The bright colours, cute facial expressions and tiny outfits give the animals loads of personality, while the variety of creatures should keep the knitting interesting.

Sarah Keen has been designing knitted toys for years, and that experience shows in the way these animals have been turned into characters rather than simply miniature versions of real wildlife.

If you enjoy toy knitting, handmade gifts or anything involving animals in overalls, this one is definitely worth a look.

Knitted Safari Friends: 20 Adorable Animals to Make is written by Sarah Keen and published by GMC Publications. It was released on April 21, 2026, with a listed RRP of $26.99.