Crochet Goomis: 50 Amigurumi Critters and Characters in a World Woven by Yarn by Louie’s Loops is definitely the second kind.
The book introduces us to the world of Goomia and 50 different Goomigurumi characters, including butterfly-loving Bigfoot Bobby, Barnaby the Walrus, Flint the treasure-hoarding Dragon and Tuck the Giant Turtle.
And they aren’t just anonymous little crochet animals. Each one comes with its own personality and story, which makes the whole collection feel a bit like crocheting your way through a video game.
Is Crochet Goomis Beginner Friendly?
This looks like a particularly good choice for anyone who has been wanting to try amigurumi but still needs a little hand-holding.
The patterns are designed to be beginner-friendly and include detailed instructions, step-by-step photographs and QR codes linking to instructional videos.
Looking at the sample pages, I really like the layout. The materials and finished size are clearly listed, the instructions sit alongside close-up photographs, and you can actually see what your hands should be doing rather than trying to decipher everything from a wall of abbreviations.
If you’re still getting comfortable with small crochet toys, our Mini Amigurumi Animals book review is another good place to start.
There’s Something for More Experienced Crocheters Too
One detail that makes Crochet Goomis a bit different is that each chapter ends with a more challenging “boss” creature.
These projects feature stitches invented by Louie, so there’s somewhere to go once the easier Goomis start feeling comfortable.
That progression from approachable beginner patterns into more unusual techniques is a clever idea. You could genuinely work your way through the book and build your amigurumi skills as you go.
If fantasy creatures are your weakness, you might also like our Crochet Magical Creatures book review, which includes dragons, griffins, mermaids and other wonderfully impractical things that absolutely deserve a place in the yarn basket.
And speaking of dragons, we also have 10 free Toothless crochet patterns for anyone who would happily turn their craft room into a crochet creature sanctuary.
Then There’s Battle Goomis
This might be my favourite part.
The crocheted characters can also be used with Battle Goomis, an accompanying card game in which the characters have attributes such as wit, might, speed and special abilities.
There’s a QR code at the back of the book that lets you print a starter deck.
So technically, you can crochet your game pieces before playing.
That feels wonderfully nerdy in exactly the right way.
I can see this being especially popular with older kids, teens and adults who enjoy crochet, fantasy games, collectible characters or anything vaguely RPG-ish.
My Take
What makes Crochet Goomis stand out is that it doesn’t feel like another collection of 50 interchangeable cute animals.
There’s a whole little universe behind them.
The personalities, video support, skill progression and Battle Goomis game make it feel interactive, and the preview patterns look colourful, clear and genuinely fun to follow.
It would also be a great book for using up smaller quantities of yarn. Small amigurumi creatures have a wonderful habit of making even those strange leftover balls at the bottom of the stash suddenly seem useful again.
My only warning is that I strongly suspect this is one of those books where you intend to make one.
Then suddenly there are twelve Goomis staring at you from the bookshelf.
Crochet Goomis: 50 Amigurumi Critters and Characters in a World Woven by Yarn is by Louie’s Loops, published by Quadrille, and is due for release on September 22, 2026. It has 240 pages and a listed price of $29.99.
