Animal Heads: Trophy Heads to Crochet

I am an animal lover and really despise the sport of hunting and displaying taxidermy heads. But the more I looked at the detail of Vanessa Mooncie's designs, the more I saw the artistry of them. I had to have the pattern book! I'm working on the fox head now and I'm learning so many new techniques! It's turning out beautifully and I can't wait to get started on the hare next. My brother is against taxidermy displays as well and he doesn't know that I'm making them now. I hope I can turn him around when he sees them on my walls! My mother made several needlepoint pictures of animals and two of them only show the heads of a lion and a deer in nature. I love them and I feel that these faux animal heads are just like that only in 3-D. When you think about the artistry of these animal heads, you realize that you are praising the beauty of animal life! Update 2/9/16: I've completed the fox and hare and now working on the swan. I love them! I read the reviews thus far and I think the patterns are challenging but well written. If you are patient and just go one step at a time, you can get through it with wonderful results. I wish I could read charts (I probably could if I was patient and took the time to learn) but they appear to be well done and she does indicate what the symbols mean. I'm using all Red Heart Super Saver yarn to save money. It's a worsted weight yarn, so I just check the gauge and adjust the hook size and it's working really well. Mine aren't as perfect as Vanessa's, but I'm really happy with them! Be patient and give this book a try ... you won't regret it!

First off, the whole faux taxidermy thing is adorable, and each creature depicted here is so cute! I bought the book for a quarantine project and was delighted by the incredibly well-written patterns, diagrams and photos. I showed off my purchase in a FB crochet group and everyone ran to get their own copy. I highly recommend this book, there are plenty of well written instructions, the diagrams are very easy to follow, and the photos are beautiful. The stitch guide and UK-US translations at the back were also quite helpful!!

Overall I am very happy with this book and cannot wait to try them all! I would prefer images of the project and how its supposed to look as you're going through the sections instead of the graphs but thats my own personal preference honestly.

Not for beginners but this pattern book is well illustrated and very thorough with descriptions. Watching videos of experts that have made the animal heads really helps with some of the more complicated stitches.

Let me first say that I consider myself somewhat experienced when it comes to crocheting. I’ve been doing this for 45 years. I bought this book and the expensive French yarn recommended for the hare. I was able to get through the first step (the head). The second step is the shoulders and I’m stumped. The written instructions don’t seem to jive with the diagram. I found the author’s website and sent her an email asking her to please explain the row I’m hung up on. If she doesn’t respond, I guess I’m out $20 for the book and $25 for the yarn. I understand the stitches are in UK (dc in UK is sc in US, I get it). That isn’t the problem. It’s that the diagram seems to say one thing and the written instructions say another. Should I give this book only 3 stars just because I don’t understand the instructions? Is it the author’s/book’s fault that I don’t understand? Should the book’s rating suffer because I can’t figure out the diagram? Maybe not. Suffice it to say that this is not a book for a beginner. Hell, I’ve done some pretty complicated mandalas, sweaters, afghans, baby layettes, and novelty items, and this ain’t even a book for me! I’ve seen a review by someone who did the hare and I’d give anything if I could contact her to ask questions!!! UPDATE: The author responded! She even crocheted a little sample swatch of where I am in the process so that she could take pictures and put little arrows in to show me where to stitch. In doing this, I realize that there is really nothing wrong with the instructions and the diagram in the book - it’s just that I’m not used to these kinds of instructions. I changed my rating from 3 stars to 5 because it’s not this book’s fault that I find it hard to understand.

I got this with hesitation. The reviews had me a little uncertain. Primarily the complaint that instructions were difficult to follow. I have no problem with instructions. First it is in UK terms. There is a guide to crochet that demonstrates the stitches. UK stitches are simple named different. UK double crochet is US single crochet and such. So looking at in book guide and or going on line for conversions is a simple step. Next are the instructions. We are a little spoiled in US. The greater percentage of instructions are written out in long hand. Here the instructions are printed as a circular graph. Stitch type are marked as symbols. There are written instructions too, but there can be confusion because the terms are UK. So a little care is needed. I have no problem with graphs.. Many, many years ago, I subscribed to crochet magazines. 99% of patterns were done this way some with UK terms. There were few written instructions in these magazines. Allowing for this the instructions are not to difficult to follow. There is a lot of working in rounds here. So have a way to mark it. I personally do not like stitch markers. I use a length of left over bright contrasting yarn. The color depends upon the primary color I'm working with. I weave it loosely at slip stitch point. I have a knitting/crochet hook tool for determining size. Mine has UK and US sizes on it. So hook size is no problem. The pictures are great. I especially like the chapter on care of item after completion. Another suggestion for dust removal is masking tape. The type that leaves no adhesive residue! It can remove dust bunnies from your items hard to reach places easier.

Amazing book. So happy to be able to make these. The patterns were very difficult to understand at first but making progress. The pattern photos are very confusing, I still don't understand them. It would have been nice to have progress photos in the book vs pattern photos. Trial and error works though! Can't wait to see my finished product.

Certes il est en anglais ! mais bon... si vous avez déjà crocheté un modèle en anglais (aucune difficulté particulière) et quand on aime... (rires) QUELLE FINESSE ! quel souci du détail ! que dis-je ! des détails ! GROS COUP DE COEUR et je vais commencer soit par le cerf soit par le zèbre ! j'hésite encore ! DES SHEMAS ! hyper explicites ! des ZOOMS photos sur des points de détails comme les yeux qui permet de bien voir comment la créatrice a réalisé l'oeil l'oreille.... la truffe... SOMMAIRE PROJETS A CROCHETER ! INTRODUCTION GALLERY MOUSE HARE FOX RAM SWAN LION STAG BULL BLACK BEAR ZEBRA GETTING STARTED CROCHET STICHES FINISHING TOUCHES CARING FOR YOUR ANIMAL HEADS ABBREVIATIONS & CONVERSIONS SUPPLIERS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS INDEX J'espère que mon commentaire vous aura été utile pour vous aider dans votre choix. Si vous avez une question et que je peux vous aider ce sera avec plaisir.

全編かぎ針編みの動物トロフィーです。とにかかわいくて見てるだけで楽しいです。 すべて英文ですが、手書きの編み図もあるので、ある程度かぎ針編みをされている方だとなんとなくわかると思います。 動物ものって、目をガラスビーズにしていることが多いですが、全て編んで作るのでリアルな目になりすぎずオシャレです。 早く編んで飾りたいです。

I have not made one yet but it will be fun! Thank you

Ich bin jetzt eigentlich kein Jäger oder Trophäensammler, aber diese Köpfe sind wirklich witzig. Da wird sicher so mancher Kopf nachgearbeitet...mir hat es besonders der Stier und der Hirsch angetan, aber auch die Maus hat was :o)) Ich bin schon sehr gespannt, ob ich die Köpfe auch so ausdrucksstark nachgearbeitet bekomme... sie sind wirklich liebevoll und formstark entworfen. Man sollte allerdings mit englischen Häkelvorlagen/Begriffen vertraut sein und auch das eine oder andere Wort Englisch beherrschen, sonst wird es schwer mit dem Nacharbeiten...