Book excerpt: Create animal slippers for the whole family, with this cute collection of patterns from leading crochet designer Ira Rott. First choose your slipper type – slide, shoe or boot – then choose your size, and finally choose one of 20 different animal designs. This adorable book will have you reaching for your hook and crocheting the most appropriate animals for your tribe. Why not try the elephants for grandpa (who sometimes forgets), the pandas for mum (whose mascara always runs) and the bears for the little one who loves warm hugs... there are options to delight them all and keep you in handmade gifts to give for years! Ira Rott is well known for her gorgeous animal designs and her easy-to-follow crochet patterns, which include step-by-step photographs for any fiddly parts, and crochet charts alongside the written patterns. She expertly guides you through making three different kinds of crochet slippers – shoes with covered heels, boots with ankle cuffs, and slides which are backless slippers. Knowing what size to make is made easy thanks to a clever measuring chart at the front of the book. Simply open the flap, put your foot on the measuring gauge and instantly see what size you need. In the book are useful tables that show how much yarn and what size hook you will need for each size. Complete step-by-step instructions and charts then show you how to master each slipper type, with templates for adding non-slip soles to your crochet slippers too. Once you've mastered the slipper-making, the fun begins in creating your crochet animal designs. Choose from: the Snuggly Pug, the Cuddly Bear, the Happy Penguin, the Zingy Dinosaur, the Starry Unicorn, the Rock 'n' Roll Panda, the Sleepy Koala, the Mossy Sloth. the Graceful Elephant, the Playful Pig, the Mischievous Raccoon, the Cheeky Monkey, the Woolly Sheep, the Sandy Turtle, the Sassy Cat, the Hippie Llama, the Brave Moose, the Artful Fox, the Friendly Cow and the Roaring Lion. But that's not all – Ira also shows you how you can mix and match patterns to create all sorts of new animals too. Add the unicorn horn to the cat for a cute uni-kitty, and mix the dinosaur and the penguin to create a wise owl – once you've discovered that you can customize your crochet slippers you'll be able to create unlimited options!