The Japanese craze for Amigurumi explored The excitement over personality-plus crocheted toys known as amigurumi has gone global. If, like so many crafters, you've been bitten by the bug - or want to learn more about it - get a copy of Mini Amigurumi by Sara Scales, a miniaturist from the UK.

Tiny treasures with big personalities Just let your imagination lead the way as you explore all the ways these teeny-tiny wonders can be used: key rings, charms, hair accessories, jewelry, even within a doll house or other miniature piece of art. And, of course, once you've fashioned your own tiny treasures, you'll want to make more for gifts

Start big, if you're not sure about small. Mini Amigurumi presents you with all the basic crochet techniques you will need to make these little delights, along with step-by-step illustrations of the process. But, if you're unsure about working on such a small scale - no problem. It's easy to practice with larger hooks and thicker yarn - the patterns are exactly the same. And when you're ready, simply downsize

About the Author Sara Scales's passion for miniatures and fascination with the Japanese art of Amigurumi led to scaling them down in