I should start by saying that I have very limited crochet skills. I’ve always stayed away from counted crochet because, while I may be good at math, I can’t count and crochet to save my life.
Then I came across Ana Paula Rimoli's Amigurumi World, and decided that the animals in it were cute enough to make counting stitches worth my while. I randomly picked the monkey, which turned out (I think) to be the biggest animal in the book – this guy is over 10 inches tall! I think I’ll stick with the smaller animals from here on out, but big was good in a way since I didn’t have any tiny details to worry about as I re-learned how to single crochet (for the umpteenth time). There are clear illustrations on how to make each stitch at the front of the book, and this guy required only basic stitches.
The book uses small buttons for eyes, but since my kids are still small I embroidered them on instead to eliminate any choking hazards.
Looks like I’ve acquired a new hobby :)