Creepy Cute Crochet: Fuzzy Alien How-To

2008-07-14T15:34:00-05:00

For our Handmade Kids Series, Christen Haden aka NeedleNoodles, master of "creepy cute" amigurumi, shares the Fuzzy Alien project for you to do with your kids (or with your friends!) and answers our questions on behalf of her ninjas, robots, and zombies. Her book, Creepy Cute Crochet is available through Quirk Books.

UPDATE from Lacey at Quirk Books:

"Since Quirk loves Etsy so much they're giving everyone 25% off Creepy Cute Crochet, and all the books at quirkbooks.com just use promotional code ETSY when you check out!"

Click to download the Fuzzy Alien How-To PDF:

Here's Christen with the inside scoop on her relationship to those fuzzy and crochety creatures:

Can you tell us a bit about your book and how you got the book deal?
Creepy Cute Crochet is a collection of toy patterns for characters that are, perhaps, not always well represented in the world of crochet. A place for crocheted zombies, amazons and ninjas to get their chance in the spotlight, if you will.

The book deal came about a year after I started selling patterns on Etsy. The folks at Quirk books had seen some of my earlier patterns and contacted me about doing a book of patterns in a similar vein.

What is an amigurumi? How did you first hear about them?
Well, if we want to be purists, amigurumi are crocheted toys made of single crochet stitches worked in spiral, usually with a sort of Japanese aesthetic. However, since the word "amigurumi" is just Japanese for knitted/crocheted stuffed toy, lots of people are a bit more inclusive about what counts as "amigurumi."

I think that I first started seeing amigurumi critters popping up online early in 2006. I remember having a lot of, "Hey, I could make that ...but, I'd totally make it a ____ instead!" moments.

What was the first amigurumi you made? Any tips for beginner crocheters?
Albino chibi squid. It's still one of the very few amigurumi projects that I've kept for myself.

As for advice for beginner crocheters, uh... fake it till you make it?

Your first few projects might be little bit shaky — particularly if you start out with difficult projects. Just stick with it, look up techniques frequently, and assume that you *will* figure it out eventually.

How did you get the idea for the book?
My characters borrow a little from gamer culture, and a little from internet memes, and a lot from stuff that I just think is cool. Basically, it all boils down to, "What do I think that people would enjoy making that isn't already well covered by someone else?"

Do you have any anecdotes about kids using your book?
One of the most exciting things about the book is the number of emails that I've recieved about kids learning to crochet in order to make their own creepy cute toys. I think that crocheted toys appeal to young crafters in a way that doilies and sweaters maybe don't, and they can provide a really nice opportunity for grown-up crafters to find enthusiastic students among their younger friends and relatives.

What is it about creepy cuteness that you like?
A little bit of dissonance can add punch to so many things. Adding just a suggestion of danger to otherwise totally cute and non-threatening designs makes people sit up and take a closer look, I think.

Crocheting patterns (and not just the finished items) seem to be selling well. Can you account for why this particular medium/technique/type of object works so well in this way?
It seems to be the accepted wisdom that patterns and craft supplies in general sell well on Etsy because most Etsians are crafters anyway, but I think that Etsy patterns also do well because they offer something a little bit more unusual (and convenient!) than the average mainstream brick-and-mortar craft store.

Anything else you'd like to add?
Creepy Cute Crochet is meant to be customized!

There are lots of places to share your own variations on the Creepy Cute projects:

The Creepy Cute Crochet Flickr Group
The Creepy Cute Crochet Craftster Crochetalong
Ravelry

Stay tuned for more projects and cuteness from the Handmade Kids series.

Handmade Kids Series | Special Kids Showcase | Baby Gift Guide | Children Gift Guide

Etsy Love Stories: Whamodyne and NeedleNoodles

2008-01-25T16:51:00-05:00

We're getting into the Valentine's Day spirit here at The Storque, and we're searching the community for your Etsy love stories. The first story we're sharing with you (and it's so sweet!) is of Whamodyne, aka Ray Alderman, and NeedleNoodles, aka Christen Haden. I could go into it further, but I'll let them tell it. Ooh, so sweet!

How it started: Both of us are in the Charlottesville, VA area and were aware of the other person's shop from using the Geolocator feature to see who else on Etsy was in the neighborhood. We met for the first time at the Centerville Pumpkin Festival craft fair, which was sponsored by Etsy.

Ray - I had been jonesing after one of Christen's Amigurmi Ninjas for some time, and suddenly there they were in front of me. I was really happy to see them. Then I spotted Christen behind the table and the ninja faded to the background as I said to myself "oh my." After talking with her a bit, I felt I should ask her out sometime in the near future, and I made sure to pick up a ninja.

Christen - I'd known beforehand that a few other Charlottesville Etsians would be vending at the Pumpkin Festival and was looking forward to meeting them face-to-face. Running into Ray was just a lucky bonus...quite lucky, actually, since he helped to hold down my canopy [of my tent] when the wind started to blow it away.

Ray - I used the Etsy Convo feature to send Christen a note about how nice it was to finally get to see her in person and perhaps we could meet for coffee sometime. I knew that this was a person I wanted to spend time with, and it turned out her idea of a good time was coming over to my place and using my table saw and router. We built a little end table together and it was a wonderful bonding moment.

Christen - Heh. I was a little bit uncertain how to respond at first, but decided that anyone with power tools and an Etsy shop deserved the benefit of the doubt. Things seem to have turned out well on that account, though - I think that we're each a complement to, rather than a distraction from, the other's creativity.

We bounce ideas for new products and craziness off each other all the time. Often discussion over dinner is long term plans or ideas for a new item or how we can improve our efficiency on making stuff.

Ray - FYI, our first real "date" was going out to a local Teppanyaki resturant. That evening inspired Christen to do a Teppanyaki Crochet Pattern set. So there is one way our dating has helped develop new products.

I know that having Christen as my partner has helped me be more focused on getting the products out and playing around with ideas. She is a great creative person to talk to about ideas and concepts. It's really nice to be with someone who understands and relates at a basic level your own passion for making stuff.

What a sweet story! Share your thoughts in the comments, and your Etsy love story in the forum thread.

Storque articles by NeedleNoodles

Creepy Cute Crochet: Fuzzy Alien How-To

Etsy Love Stories: Whamodyne and NeedleNoodles