SWEET AND NEAT

Victoria Kairis shares her design process for creating beautifully made amigurumi characters and how she managed to recreate a long-lost friend in yarn

- Victoria Kairis

How and when did you learn to crochet?

I began crocheting eight years ago. It all began after finding a cute little bookshop on holiday. I love to support small businesses so was determined to buy a book from there. I looked through the craft section and found a book on crocheting. I didn’t even know what crochet was, but I bought the book and thought I’d learn. After that I taught myself using the book and a lot of YouTube.

How did you come to start designing your own patterns?

After following a few amigurumi patterns I began to learn how to make the basic shapes and very quickly wanted to make the creatures from my own imagination. I began designing and writing down the patterns just for myself, but after a lot of encouragement from friends and family I opened an online shop to sell my patterns.

Can you remember what your first crochet project was? How did it turn out?

My first amigurumi project was a bunny wearing a dress. It was OK, as the proportions all sort of worked out fine, but I didn’t have any safety eyes, so I used black beads I had instead which made it look a bit creepy. Also, for years I made my amigurumi inside out – I got so confused by patterns trying to explain which way was right side out and always got it wrong.

Do you prefer making people or animals?

That’s far too hard to choose! I love the challenge of getting the right shapes to make cute animals, but making dolls and designing their little outfits is so much fun. I think my patterns are roughly half doll patterns and half animal patterns, so I really couldn’t pick!