The story of Crochet Crosetel toys
âSince I was little, I discovered the crochet. Together with my mother I used to make doilies(or macramés, as people knew them), which were very popular.
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A while back(but also now), these doilies are widely used
âso they sold very well both in my home-country and abroad. After being out-of-fashion for a while this fashion disappeared, but for some time, as it happens in history, retro is back in the present.
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After years I started crocheting again. But the direction was completely different. Everything started from the flowers. I found a book on the internet that showed how to crochet flowers. I liked the patterns so much that I started making them. I made an orchid, a rose, some water lilies... Basically, that was when I "reactivated" and started looking for other models.
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All until one day when I found the pattern for a…bunny. I had the pattern, I had the threads, I went to work and after I finished it I took a photo of it and posted it on a social network. The reviews started to flow and so I got the idea to look for other toy models.
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Basically, this kind of crocheted toys have a remarkable history, they are called amigurumi toys.
Amigurumi is the Japanese technique of making crocheted dolls stuffed with various materials. The word "amigurumi" derives from a combination of Japanese words, "ami" meaning crochet and "nuigurumi" meaning stuffed doll.
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They are born from the desire to create stories for children, stories that they can carry with them around the world for their whole lives, that they will remember fondly and that will always bring them back to their childhood... they are made from materials certified by quality (100% cotton or merino wool and superball down) and do not contain plastic parts that could be dangerous for curious children.
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I will show you what would be the common steps in making a doll/toy using this technique:
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making a pattern (what I mean by this is a drawing/a sketch) or printing/copying the already existing model from the internet/another source, in case you opt for a model made by someone else.
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determining the size, choosing materials and work tools - if I execute a model taken from someone else, it is usually specified what was worked with. It is very important to know at what scale I will make the project, what materials I will use and what utensils. At first it can be harder, but over time I managed to figure out what I work better with and what suits me.
-
establishing the steps to be executed – helps me schedule my time and have a clear idea of how the creative stage will proceed; I basically determine the order in which I will execute the elements that make up the project: in the case of toys, I started by making the head, then followed the body, the limbs and later the details and clothing).
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execution, assembly and finishing – the last step involves making the elements, assembling if it is a project made up of several elements and of course finishing. This process is a long, painstaking one.
​​
The art of creating dolls is not very well known in our country. However, thanks to the internet and crafting websites, forums and more recently blogs, it is starting to gain ground, at least in execution.
I think that here there are people interested in this current; I don't know to what extent they are prepared to appreciate these creations at their true value...
It is not only about the materials used, other aspects related to the creative process must also be taken into account, a complex, painstaking and time-consuming one. Basically, these are unique items (even if you make a model several times, there will definitely be differences).
After years I started crocheting again. But the direction was completely different. Everything started from the flowers. I found a book on the internet that showed how to crochet flowers. I liked the patterns so much that I started making them. I made an orchid, a rose, some water lilies... Basically, that was when I "reactivated" and started looking for other models.
All until one day when I found the pattern for a…bunny. I had the pattern, I had the threads, I went to work and after I finished it I took a photo of it and posted it on a social network. The reviews started to flow and so I got the idea to look for other toy models.
Basically, this kind of crocheted toys have a remarkable history, they are called amigurumi toys.
Amigurumi is the Japanese technique of making crocheted dolls stuffed with various materials. The word "amigurumi" derives from a combination of Japanese words, "ami" meaning crochet and "nuigurumi" meaning stuffed doll.
​
They are born from the desire to create stories for children, stories that they can carry with them around the world for their whole lives, that they will remember fondly and that will always bring them back to their childhood... they are made from materials certified by quality (100% cotton or merino wool and superball down) and do not contain plastic parts that could be dangerous for curious children.
I will show you what would be the common steps in making a doll/toy using this technique:
-
start by making a pattern (what I mean by this is a drawing/a sketch) or printing/copying the already existing model from the internet/another source, in case you opt for a model made by someone else.
-
determine the size, choose the materials and work tools - if I execute a model taken from someone else, it is usually specified what was worked with. It is very important to know at what scale I will make the project, what materials I will use and what utensils. At first it can be harder, but over time I managed to figure out what I work better with and what suits me.
-
establish the steps to be executed – it helps me schedule my time and have a clear idea of how the creative stage will proceed; I basically determine the order in which I will execute the elements that make up the project: in the case of toys, I started by making the head, then followed the body, the limbs and later the details and clothing).
-
execution, assembly and finishing – the last step involves making the elements, assembling if it is a project made up of several elements and of course finishing. This process is a long, painstaking one.​
The art of creating dolls is not very well known in our country. However, thanks to the internet and crafting websites, forums and more recently blogs, it is starting to gain ground, at least in execution.
I think that here there are people interested in this current; I don't know to what extent they are prepared to appreciate these creations at their true value...
It is not only about the materials used, other aspects related to the creative process must also be taken into account, a complex, painstaking and time-consuming one. Basically, these are unique items (even if you make a model several times, there will definitely be differences).