At every stage in our lives, we’ve had a precious friend. And more often than not, our very first friend is usually a cuddly stuffed animal. In fact, they played a very significant role in our early development! So if you’re looking to make an extra special gift for the young ones in your life this Christmas, or if all those other quarantine hobbies didn’t work out for you, why not try your hand at crocheting? Kate Kobets, the owner of Etsy shop Toysneeds, just might be of help, because she doesn’t just sell ready-to-love crocheted toys. She also offers easy-to-follow DIY crochet patterns that even a novice can follow without much trouble!
Ekaterina Kobets (she prefers to be called Kate) began crocheting when she was young girl. In fact, she shared that she even designed and crocheted her own clothes at one point! Then, in 2014, the budding crochet artist stumbled upon the Japanese term ‘amigurumi’. The curious term combines the words ‘ami’, which is used to describe something that is either crocheted or knitted, and ‘nuigurumi’, the Japanese term for ‘stuffed doll’. But she didn’t start taking ‘amigurumi’ seriously until 2017, when her son was born. And now, she not only sells finished ‘amigurumi’ but also DIY crochet patterns!
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This talented crafter is sharing DIY crochet patterns of her adorable stuffed ‘amigurumi’
Kate’s stuffed animal creations resemble whimsical storybook characters. Her menagerie of adorable stuffed toys include different kinds of animals and characters. The crochet creations feature plump shapes, vibrant colors, cute accessories and endearing expressions. When asked about her inspiration, Kate said:
“I really love the forest and the sea. Nature is my source of energy. I also love children’s books, illustrations, and fairytales.”
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As for her process, Kate prefers to keep it as a unrestricted as possible. She describes that she doesn’t usually start with a goal already in mind. Instead, she lets her imagination run wild. And when she finally comes up with a creature she wants to create, she won’t stop until she brings it to life. Then, she shares the crochet patterns with her fellow crafters on Etsy.
“I just take the yarn in my hands and imagine who I would like to crochet from it. Often, when an image appears in my head, I cannot calm down until I see it in reality. I even started a separate notebook for my ideas, where I write everything that comes in mind. Then I go back to the notes and draw inspiration.”
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You can buy Kate’s DIY crochet patterns and replicate her adorable amigurumi
Since opening her Etsy shop, Toysneed, the talented crochet artist has made over 7,000 sales of her finished amigurumi and crochet patterns. The shop’s name may strike you as odd, but it’s got a wonderful meaning. See, Kate intends for the toys to become a child’s beloved playmate. Her objective is excellent since stuffed toys play a key role in a child’s development.
“It is important for me that children play with my toys. The name Toysneed itself can be deciphered as toys that are needed. I try to make the toy not only beautiful and of high quality, but also interesting and useful.”
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Following the patterns will result in fun and adorable toys
Aside from being adorable, Kate’s crochet stuffed toy creations also feature adorable accessories that can either be moved or detached. Her crocheted turtle toys come with a removable shell and her crocheted ladybug toy’s elytra can also be detached. This quirky feature allows for more interactive play with the toys that’s sure to excite children and encourage them to use their imagination to dream up fun ‘adventures’ with their cuddly friend!
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These toys provide an interactive experience
According to bearegard.com, stuffed animals contribute to our early development. The website talked about several key contributions stuffed animal toys have on a toddler’s early development. To start, playing with stuffed toys help young children learn “how to care, how to socialize, how to share, and how to empathize with another person”. Having an adorable plush friend also encourages the child to use their imagination and even helps them learn how to self-soothe! And with all the chaos that’s been happening all year, we think that an adorable, handmade toy made through following Kate’s DIY crochet patterns will make a very comforting and enriching gift indeed!
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This ladybug’s elytra resembles an adventurer’s backpack
Crochet pattern on Etsy