Tag: crochet animals

Art, Chit and Chat, Uncategorized

A phase

Sonja

When I look at all the patterns I have made so far, I am quite proud of each and every one of them. Look at them, so many (and I even forgot a few), that is about three years of designing in that picture!

amigurumi patterns

But lately I’ve been so critical about my designs that I am having a hard time finishing them. This must be something every designer goes through every once and a while. Maybe it is just the soggy weather and the grey of winter that makes me judge my work differently.

It started when I was working on my tortoise pattern. I made this gorgeous looking shell, that would be a bit difficult to assemble. And because I couldn’t write it down perfectly scientifically, I had to re-think it so I fooled around with it for a while and did not enjoy it. Then I saw this picture of a gorgeous looking American red squirrel and decided I was going to set aside the tortoise and make a new squirrel that made me all excited. I started all enthusiastic but soon afterwards doubted every part I made. I guess designing the realistic animals got me into this phase. Because now, when I’m designing a doll, I’m not sure anymore how realistic it should look. These crochet animals must look like the real animal for sure, but they also should be a bit more whimsical and playful looking, well you’ve just seen my Popkes. When I look at my sweet little squirrel face, I’m thinking ‘isn’t this looking too complicated?’ or ‘isn’t this head too small, should I make a more round and basic head?’. It’s annoying, I’m doubting my every move, while I can clearly see what I came up with isn’t looking bad at all.

The best thing to do is to just keep working on it. Today I made a very smart looking tail, which doesn’t need pipe cleaners in it to make it look bended. And the body I made has a very formidable looking light belly, so I suppose I am just being a bit too hard on myself. I will just continue working on this sweetie and assemble a prototype. When that is finished I can decide if I find this squirrel whimsical and characteristic enough and if anything needs to be changed.

Yes, that is a good plan. See you when it is finished dear crafters!

Chit and Chat

Realistic animals

Sonja

For a long time I have been fantasising about making realistic animals. Even now, most of my patterns are more realistic looking than many crochet animal doll patterns around, but they are dolls. The idea of making a real looking animal is extremely tempting. It makes me feel excited and I think I’m able to do it.

This Summer I was so incredibly lucky, I saw a badger in broad daylight, in the middle of the afternoon and very closeby. It was amazing, I was completely flabbergasted. The badger was foraging in bushes very close to where we walked, then saw us and disappeared till it decided to cross the path a bit further away from us anyway and passed us again. We had enough time to be amazed first and then got a proper look! It felt like the badger was there just for me to see it.

Now you can guess the realistic animal I am going to make, yes, a badger! I’m looking so forward to start working on it. And no worries, I will never stop making ‘Popkes’ (little dolls), that’s just too much fun. And because I never made a realistic animal before, I have now idea if I will succeed. Let’s hope it will work out and there will be a pattern in the nearby future.

Back to little dolls for now, there is one that is almost ready to get published, the sloth. And oh, what a joy I had making the sloth.

At first, I didn’t even felt like making a sloth. Ashamed as I am, I must admit I found them quite hideous. Many people seemed to like them a lot and I often got requests if I could make a pattern for one. Then I decided to ask in my Ravelry group which animal pattern people were looking forward to and the sloth won.

By change, I had just bought the cutest ever sloth calendar and started to look better at them. I got enchanted by their utterly sweet and loving face. They might have the strangest body proportions, but they have the most kind face you can imagine. I soon started to love them and couldn’t wait to get the pattern ready. Here’s a little preview of my sloth’s sweet and mischievous face.

We’ll meet here soon when I publish the pattern!

 

Uncategorized

Gus, crochet piglet pattern

Sonja

The past few weeks I have been working on a very pink animal and today I can publish the pattern. Meet Gus, my crochet piglet!

crochet pig pattern

Pigs are super intelligent and social animals and I’ve been thinking a while of designing a crochet pattern for a piglet. And although I am more fond of the wilder looking brown pig, I decided to make the domestic pink version, as an ode to this special but unrated animal. The reason I postponed making an amigurumi piglet has something to do with my sadness about how pigs are treated by humans. I knew that if I would do the research I normally love doing, I would stumble upon many pictures I prefer not to see. But, I also saw so many lovely and delightful pictures. Thankfully, more and more farmers realise you cannot treat animals like products and biological farms where the pigs can go outside are not as rare as they were in the past. The pictures I saw of happy pigs outside, rolling in the mud or even jumping in pools, really made me smile and it felt good making this crochet version.

I wasn’t able to make this piglet in my favourite Lètt Lopi yarn (no good pink), so I found an alternative. I’ve used Phildar Phil Aventure to make Gus. It is an alpaca acrylic blend, which gives a smooth but slightly fuzzy texture. To add enough realisme to this pattern, I decided to go for split-hoofed paws. It was a bit of a kerfuffle to find out how to make them, but in the end it was very striking looking and easy to make. I am very happy with this pink piglet amigurumi and I think I will make him a boarlet friend someday soon.

Here are some more pictures of this fuzzy crochet pig and below it you can find info about and links to buy the pattern.

Info about & links to buy the pattern

This fuzzy and cute piglet is made with Phildar phil aventure, a worsted weight wool blend. Gus is 13 cm / 5 inch when sitting. The pattern is easy to crochet and you can make this doll in a day.

All the additional information you need to know about this pattern you can find in the shop listings. You can buy this pattern in my shop at Ravelry, Etsy or order it here. It contains a clear and colour coded description of how to crochet and assemble the piglet, with example pictures at the bottom to help you get everything right. In the pattern you can also find what materials you need, the yarn colour numbers, in short, everything you need to know to make your own special friend.

This pattern has a one dollar release discount till Thursday the 25th of May.

Uncategorized

Spring fun!

Sonja

It is Spring and I am celebrating it with a relaunch of my Spring & Easter packs. A few years ago a created these lovely packs and forgot about them the past two years. But here they are again! You can choose between a Finse and Jonesy pack or Finse and Balloo pack. The packs both come with the pattern for the basket with eggs and only cost $9.98!

Just look at them, don’t they make the loveliest Spring home decor?

Now how can you get these packs?

In my Etsy shop you can buy the packs as an instant download. You just choose the pack you like and download the patterns right after your purchase.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/226926816/spring-easter-pack-crochet-rabbit-and?ref=shop_home_active_5

https://www.etsy.com/listing/226925920/spring-easter-pack-crochet-rabbit-and?ref=shop_home_active_4

Unfortunately, Ravelry doesn’t allow selling ‘deals’ so I can’t offer it in my shop there this easy.

No accounts? No worries, just send me a note and I’ll send you a Paypal payment request for the pack you like to have.

Have a happy spring!

Chit and Chat

Working on Ida monkeys

Sonja

Hi peeps, it seemed appropriate to give you an update about what I’m up to. I am doing something I normally would not do. I am making two Ida monkeys as assignments. When I started Adi’s pattern, I planned on making an extra monkey for my friend and illustrator Esther van Hulsen. But I didn’t plan on making another one. When Esther showed Adi to the professor that bought the Ida fossil, he was so delighted with the result he wanted to have one too. Well, I could not reject that, it felt fair to make him one too.

img_4346So, now I am working on the monkeys. I have to change their appearance a bit to make these look exactly like Esther’s version, but that makes it more fun.

You probably wonder why I never take assignments to make animals. Well, the main reason is that I get attached to them. When working on them I start to love them and have trouble giving them away. Also, if I would take more assignments like these, it would mean I would be constantly making the same animals and have less time designing new patterns, and that is what I love doing most. Every time it’s a challenge to create a new and fabulous looking doll and it keeps me fresh!

Now about a new design. I haven’t decided yet what animal I am going to make after I have these monkeys finished and I am open to suggestions. If you come up with something I really like, it might be the animal I am making next. So don’t be shy and let me know what you would like to see!

Stories

The goofy croco sketch

Sonja

There are days I feel more like a housewife than a designer. After the holiday so many household chores needed to be done, I could hardly find the time to actually get back to work, even without having children…

For me the house needs to be clean and tidy before I can sit relaxed behind my desk, knowing all the time ahead is for me. Today all was set and done and what a delight. This is the result!

Goofycroco

I made a last crocodile sketch in watercolour and now am ready to enter the world of wool. I’ve been in the world of wool this summer, but that was for knitting, look what I made! Now it is time for my dearest friend, crocheting. I am going to try some new stitches for this crochet animal to get a fabulous crocodile texture, so this will be an all new adventure for me.

And keep your #popkejoy photos coming, I have seen some hilarious ones already!

Chit and Chat

Summer Popkes II

Sonja

Summer-blog

Hello everybody, it has been a while! I had a lovely and active summer holiday but the activity did not include any Popke designing. (It did include too much running away from deer flies who hunted us down in groups while hiking, but still we had a lot of fun.)

I am back now and as a last goodbye to my holiday, I happily present a new summer Popkes picture. Just look at those lazy animals, they don’t seem to be pining for Autumn as I am…

As many of you know, I started a Popke joy photography contest on Instagram. I received a lot of messages from crafters who don’t have Instagram but really want to join the contest. Amongst them are some dear friends and I decided to expand the contest. If you are a member of my Ravelry group, you can now find a thread there with everything you need to know about the contest and, do join, it is fun! I’ve already seen many Popke joy pictures there in the past. Actually, the crafters there came up with Popke joy in the first place, so it would be more then fair to have the contest there too.

You can now join the contest there or use the #popkejoy on instagram.

This holiday I did design the upcoming crocodile on paper, so be ready for a first glimpse of his sweet and kind looks this week.

It is good to be back!

Patterns

Droebel, crochet dog pattern

Sonja

And now I proudly present to you, Droebel the crochet dog, woof!

amigurumi dog crochet pattern

When I designed this crochet pattern, creating a dog looking doll was my idea. A funny looking amigurumi character that could be enjoyed by every one who loves dogs and animals. I think I succeeded and am ever so excited, isn’t he cute!

It was when Droebel was finished that I noticed he reminds me a little bit of Gromit, that clever and pleasant companion of Wallace. You know, from those amazing clay animations created by Aardman. I can easily imagine Droebel having all sorts of thrilling adventures. Yes, he is an adventure dog. Just look at him!

dog amigurumi pattern

ami dog

Generally, I find the sketch and the doll of a similar cuteness. The dolls never are exactly as the sketches, but they come close. This time however, I find the doll much cuter and better looking than the sketch I made. Droebel looks like the younger version of himself in the sketch. I’m very happy I managed to get that puppy look. Maybe it is because of my new shaping technique for which I used a rather simple and clever trick.

For this crochet dog pattern I have chosen to use soft colours. It makes him look very rustic and even a bit retro, which I like. Droebel is sitting 4.9 inch/ 12.5 cm when made with a worsted weight yarn. I thought of giving him a coloured collar or handkerchief scarf, but decided not to and leave him plain and simple. It is up to you crafters to give him accessories and I’m sure some of you will not hesitate to do so!

Now where can you find this pattern

The crochet pattern for Droebel the dog you can find in my shop at Ravelry, Etsy or order it here. As always, it contains a clear description of how to crochet and assemble the wee dog with example pictures at the bottom to help you get everything right. In the pattern you can also find what materials you need, the yarn colour numbers, in short, everything you need to know to make your own barking friend.

And heads up, the pattern has a one dollar release discount till the end of May.

Art

What’s coming up next?

Sonja

Elephant-sketchHe is! I am designing an elephant youngster in crochet. When I started Son’s Popkes, I made all my favourite animals first. I worried a bit about what would happen when I ran out of them. But the worries were completely unnecessarily.

Even though the animals I am currently designing are not my personal favourites (I do love animals in particular and they can’t all be best-loved), I still ever so enjoy designing them in crochet. With every animal I make, I totally get sucked into the proces. How should I do this, what is the best shape for that. It always is an exciting thing to do and I enjoyed making every animal I’ve made so far.

This little elephant is already beginning to take shape. I am quite pleased with the head and ears I made and have a good picture in my mind of how to make the arms and legs. A crochet elephant is on its way!

Uncategorized

Boason, crochet rhino pattern

Sonja

Proud and happy, I present my new pattern, Boason the crochet rhinoceros.

crochet rhino pattern

A long time ago, when I was still an art student, I bought this utterly cute WWF rhino plush in a local shop. It was not the usual plush toy you expect for a rhino, but a slender, sturdy version of a rhino youngster. It had this look I loved at first sight.

Now you all understand, that my main goal for this crochet rhino pattern, was to create that same look. Of course I was not going to make a crochet copy of that particular plush, but it had to give me that same feeling. And now, when Boason is finished, I can proudly say I did achieve that goal. Boason isn’t at all the same as the plush toy, but he has that unique slender but robust, sturdy look. He’s not very rotund, like a common rhino amigurumi, but has a more muscular appearance.

Boason is sitting almost 5 inch /13 cm tall. He is made with my favourite Lett Lopi yarn, which gives him his rustic appeal. Here are some more pictures of Boason and below it you can find more info about this crochet rhino pattern.

rhino crochet pattern

neushoorn haakpatroon, amigurumi rhino pattern

How to get this pattern?

The pattern for this sturdy crochet rhino, you can find in my shop at Ravelry, Etsy or order it here. It contains a clear description of how to crochet and attach the beast with example pictures at the bottom to help you get everything right. In the pattern you can also find what materials you need, the Lopi colour numbers, in short, everything you need to know to make your own crochet rhino friend.

And heads up, the pattern has a one dollar release discount till the 30th of september.