Lauren Espy is the owner and designer behind A Menagerie of Stitches, a shop dedicated to creating crocheted amigurumi. She is also the author of the bestselling books Whimsical Stitches, Crochet Cafe, and Animal Amigurumi Adventures Vol. 1. Her love for amigurumi (and yarn!) all started after her grandma gifted her a set of crochet hooks and a book about amigurumi one Christmas. After teaching herself how to crochet back in 2008, Lauren quickly began designing her own patterns and has created a style that is uniquely her own. In 2015 she finally opened her Etsy shop and now sells finished items as well as crochet patterns. Lauren lives in Tennessee with her husband Carl and their two pups, Thunder and Storm.
"""Lauren Espy has created an adorable and fun collection of amigurumi designs, all very well explained and with lots of step-by-step pictures that will please crocheters of all levels."" —Andreia Ferreira, Amigurumi Designer, Lemon Yarn Creations ""Lauren has worked her magic again in this delightful Animal Amigurumi book. The refreshing simplicity of each design and the detailed instructions and photos make this book ideal for beginners while still providing more experienced crocheters with tons of relaxing fun. With 15 adorable patterns to choose from you won’t want to put your hook down anytime soon!"" —Holly Lanier, Amigurumi Designer, Storyland Amis"