Plush Toys | The Whole Knit & Caboodle

Hooked on Clay!

by wholeknitandcaboodle

The last few evenings when my hands are sore from crocheting stuffies I’ve been playing around some more with polymer clay. It’s been a nice break for my hands and it’s a lot of fun.

For the longest time I told myself that I couldn’t use a crochet hook with a handle because I bought a foam one on a whim one time and it was awful! It covered the thumb rest and part of the throat of the hook, it made holding the hook feel awkward. It was change. And I didn’t like it.

I’ve been drooling over some of the amazing hooks put out by a couple of the pages I follow on Facebook and decided that my poor Red Heart hooks needed a facelift. I decided not to sculpt anything for them- I wanted a slim, streamline handle that I would be comfortable holding for a long period of time.

After some smooshing and mashing, wrapping and rolling, here’s what I came up with:

I think I may be “hooked” on polymer clay!

I should get close-ups of some of my favourites- I really love them and they’re actually really comfortable. The designs on some of them are really pretty and I know I’ll never be able to duplicate them, they sort of fluked into existence. Maybe with a little practice I’ll be making clay canes like a master and I’ll be able to create some really remarkable ones 🙂

On another note, I released my Shy Pig (Piglet) pattern last week and the response was astounding! In my short time as a designer who sells her patterns I’ve had the pleasure of being on Craftsy’s top 20 leaderboard a couple of times. Usually around #14 or #15 but it’s always a thrill to be up there with established designers such as Bonita Patterns and Frayed Knot.

When I released Shy Pig, he was #1 for about a day and a half! #1! It was amazing. I even took a screen shot (photos or it didn’t happen, right?)

The #1 Pig! For a day and a half!

Sure, he was on intro special while he was #1 but I’m still so proud of the achievement. When hubby came home from work that evening he insisted we order sushi in celebration (though I think he just wanted sushi 😉 ).

Crochet Polymer Clay

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“Making” Friends

by wholeknitandcaboodle

I’ve been crocheting hats for two years now, since my daughter was born. I’m quickly becoming well known in town as someone who does nice work and the orders start pouring in around the beginning of September. Living in a semi-arid climate (read: desert-like climate- there are times when you actually see tumbleweeds blowing around), I don’t get too many hat orders from April to August and I was wondering what I could make when the weather is too warm for them. Recently I found the answer. Plush toys.

I had a request for Pascal from Disney’s Tangled (the little chameleon guy) and after taking a peek around Ravelry and Etsy I couldn’t find a pattern I really liked. Come to think of it, this seems to be a recurring theme in my adventures in crochet. I think I’m going to stop looking for patterns all together. It will save me a step and I’m always happier when I come up with a pattern of my own.

Pascal almost seemed like a fluke. He worked up so easily and I don’t really remember having to “frog” anything while working on him. Before too long I had the pattern written up and it’s now one of the best sellers in my Craftsy shop. Here’s a picture of the little guy:

Don’t you just want to hug him??

He was really fun to make. A few months back I had someone ask me to make them a Toopy and Binoo plush set. Toopy and Binoo are characters of a French-Canadian children’s show called (what else?) Toopy and Binoo. I had been planning and pondering them for a little while, working on them on and off (a nice break between hats/rush orders/family/life). The customer who ordered them has the patience of a saint- she said she was not in a rush for them, she just wanted them for the end of the month. I was up until 2 the other morning working on them and YESTERDAY- the very last day of the month- I finished them. I’m really quite happy with both of them but Toopy took the most work and figuring. He stands about 15″ tall and though I’m not a fan of the show, I REALLY love him. I don’t have a picture of Binoo that I’m happy with so I’ll add one later.

Heeeeeeere’s Toopy!

Whenever I make something I’m particularly proud of (always for someone else of course), there’s always a fleeting moment where I think “I want to keep this!!” I have no idea what I would do with a 15″ plush mouse- it would probably end up going to my daughter who has too many toys as it is.

Anyway, he took a long time to make but looking at him now I’m glad I took the time, paid attention to the little details (ie the french knots by his nose) and really worked to make him as true to the cartoon as I could. Plus the lady who ordered him is THRILLED which really is one of the best feelings I can imagine. 🙂

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Just thought I would come back and post a photo of Toopy and Binoo together. I was able to get them to stand up together (the other photos I had of Binoo had him propped up with a copy of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy… haha. My customer stopped by to pick them up and her reaction to them in person was AMAZING. Definitely one of the highlights of my day! 🙂