Welcome one, welcome all to my In-Depth Night presentation. For those who have never met me, my name is Nathan Nishimura and I am finishing my grade 10 year. This year I chose to crochet for the first time for my In-Depth topic. Well, that’s not the whole truth. Crocheting was my topic, but I actually started to learn crocheting last year. Another one of the projects Talons does is a Leadership Event and mine this year happened to be knitting and crocheting clothes for donation. That meant I got the jump on my project and had the learning portion done before my classmates even started. That also means that I had plenty of time to hone my skills which I mostly succeeded at.
I did my first stitch in December. Taught to me by Mel Baird, fellow talon and good friend.
From there I went straight into my first project, a scarf. It consisted of lines of single crochet and was one of the easiest places to start. It took some time for me to build up my basic skills, but once I did, everything went smoothly. (Minus a little wonkiness with the edges and the fact I ran out of yarn halfway through.)
After that came my next project, a hat. Following a pattern that my mentor suggested, I used double crochet to make a toque. I believe I must have doubled when I should have halved or something along those lines because my hat started to turn into a very large coaster instead. But, with a few well-executed
lines, I managed to shrink it back into its normal size.
Last but certainly not least came my last and certainly most extensive project. It was an amigurumi* pattern of a character I love from one of my favourite video games. For a full rundown of my process check the link just below, but if not I’ll summarize quickly here.
First came the head, a simple sphere, like the hat but smaller and rounder. Then I did the horns, wait the legs, wait the horns. Both steps required a crocheting technique called a magic circle which confused and confounded me for literal months. It got to a point that I considered giving up the project entirely. But, one unremarkable day after a small break, it randomly clicked. I finished both horns and attached them to the head and then both legs as well. Taking those legs, I joined them and continued crocheting up to form a body. After, I created the cape, crocheting like how I did in my scarf but to create a half-circle-like design instead. I attached the cape to the body and then the head to both, made some eyes to give him some life, and just like that, I was done.
*Amigurumi is the Japanese art of knitting or crocheting small, stuffed yarn creatures.
If you want a step-by-step guide on how I made mine go to this link here: In-Depth Night PowerPoint – How to make a friend.pptx
I only completed three projects, but I still believe I have learned enough about crocheting to satisfy any crafty desires I have in the future. It was both a calming and stressful endeavour all combined into one fun experience. That is all I have to say to you fine folks tonight but thank you for stopping by. Each and every reader of my blog is thoroughly welcomed.
Any questions, comments, or other bits of wisdom you may want to tell me can all be put down in the comments section below this post. Be free to ask whatever may be on your mind, I’m more than happy to answer. If not, have a great rest of your In-Depth night and keep exploring!
And very finally, a humongous thank you to my mentor and grandmother, Joan Greaves. Thank you for all of your help teaching me the skills I needed and boosting my confidence every time we talked. She was exceptionally knowledgeable in so many areas of this topic and when she couldn’t help directly, she did her best to assist me in any way she could. Your contribution to this project made me so much more invested than I would have been otherwise and for that I am extremely grateful.
http://www.1upcrochet.com/2018/02/hollow-knight-amigurumi-pattern.html: Pattern I used to make it
https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/p__/images/4/4c/HK_Knight.png: Character it’s based on, simply called The Knight
I love your stuffed creature. Way more difficult to crochet smaller items. What project will you be working on next and why?
You’re so right! The smaller it is, the harder it is. I think I’m going to make either a blanket with some leftover yarn I have, or smaller suffed objects for gifts etc.
Hi Nathan,
Congratulations on finishing your project! I think little Freddy would love a creature in the near future! Would you ever take up knitting? I know a good mentor for that, too. Now, your biggest challenge lies ahead…teaching me.
Thanks! KNowing what I do now, knitting seems like the perfect challenge for me. And about teaching you, I’m scared already.
I love your project!!!! A lot of skill and it is so amazing!!!! Good job, Nathan 😀
Well you’re too kind. You should see your own skill, ASL isn’t easy and you can knit super well on top of that. Plug, go to Anya’s blog!
Are you taking orders? I like your little friend. It looks just like a character from the game you suggested to Devon. Way to stick through the challenging parts and see it to completion.
I might just have to start after this now that I think of it. And yes, that’s what it was based off of, you’re right. Thank you for the kind words.
Really cool final project! Love the colours on the hat. Awesome work Nathan! 🙂
Why thank you very much. I can always make you whatever you want if you asked. Call it a belated birthday gift.
OH MY GOSH YOU MADE THE KNIGHT / LITTLE GHOST FROM HOLLOW KNIGHT THEY LOOK AMAZING!
Your project is super cool!
HEY! SOMEONE ELSE KNOWS THE GAME! Glad you enjoyed it. Appreciate the compliment.
nathan!!!!!! your project is so cute, you should definitely be proud. you did an amazing job 😀 any future project plans in sight?
Thank you very much kind sir. My plans are probably either a blanket or just more friends to line my shelves or give away. You want one? I’ll open my orders soon.
nathan this project is beautiful and my day is made! i still require a photo of you with the hat though.
I’m glad it made you happy. Sorry, the hat’s gone, I’ll just have to make another one.
Great choice for In-Depth! I would definetly try and sell some of your work in the future. Also You should make finger puppets as well, that’d be awesome.
Make a profit you say, hmmm? Also finger puppets are going on the list.
Hey Nathan, it was really cool to read about how you did all your crocheting. I really liked how you explained certain vocabulary, because without it, I wouldn’t have understood what you were talking about. Thanks for sharing your experience.
Hi Nathan,
Wow you learned to crochet that amigurumi (hope I typed that right) so fast! Your crocheting is first class in my opinion, good job and thanks for sharing.
your little pal is adorable nathan!
I may or may not kidnap them…
what was the hardest skill to learn?
Please do not. I can make more. Magic circles were such a pain to learn.
I loved the tutorial, and the little friend you made is so cute! I’ll definitely have to try and make my own following your powerpoint!
Really cool Nathan! How many hours do you think you put into your little rabbit friend?
I appreciate it very much. Oh, that’s hard to count. I’d have to say around 20-30.
Amazing! I loved that you had a chance to learn beside your grandmother and that you got to crochet a friend! Now that you have some crocheting skills..what’s next? Does one need to always use a pattern or is free-styling something to aim for?
Thanks! It was lots of fun. Next is either a blanket or some smaller friends to give away. You could conceivably go free-style but patterns make it a whole lot easier. It’s good to do what feels right though so a few tweaks here and there make it feel unique.
Wow! Your project is so cool! And your final piece was amazing!