My First Amigurumi – Georgina the Giraffe
This project is only my second crochet project and I’m very pleased with how it turned out.
Amigurumi is the “art of knitting or crocheting small stuffed animals.” I found this pattern on the Lion Brand website long before I ever took up crocheting (it’s a free pattern, but you’ll need to sign up for an account in order to get the pattern). I thought it was cute enough that I should learn to crochet just so I could make this giraffe.
Since this was my first project, I stuffed it to the point that it’s solid. Solid like a bowling pin. I’d already stitched the body up when I realized it would have been nice if it was a little softer. Oh well. Isn’t that what a baby’s mouth is for?
I followed the pattern exactly, all the way to the end when I had to crochet the horns (you crochet everything separately). You end up with 8 stitches that you have to decrease down to 4, and I was finding that I had gaps in my stitches (which I didn’t like) and I was having a hard time finding those four stitches in order to crochet the bottom part of the horns. So instead of decreasing to 4 stitches, I only decreased to 6. That made it so that I didn’t have any gaps in the stitches and crocheting those few rows was much easier with 6 stitches than it was with 4. Maybe this is something that will get easier the longer I crochet.
This giraffe worked up really quickly. If I’d had more time to devote to it, it probably could have been done in a week or two.
I’m trishc on Ravelry if you want to be friends!
What projects have you been working on lately?
| Tags: amigurumi, crochet, crocheting, giraffe 50 comments »
April 14th, 2009 at 6:14 am
Oh my gosh, that is so cute!!
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April 14th, 2009 at 6:15 am
So cute!
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April 14th, 2009 at 6:19 am
Cute! I’m sure she’ll soften up once she’s played with a bit. Congrats on your first project! Hope it won’t be your last
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April 14th, 2009 at 6:20 am
How adorable! Decreasing down to only a few stitches is always really difficult, just so you know. I have been crocheting in the round for years and I still find it really hard. As I said on twitter, I’m really impressed!
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April 14th, 2009 at 6:20 am
Okay, I… love it. Love it. I’m a crochet addict but have never made anything other than scarves, purses and the occasional flower! I should branch out!
Great job.
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April 14th, 2009 at 6:21 am
This is great. My daughter LOVES giraffes and I am feeling inspired to try this out myself (because the fact that I am up working at 11.20pm shows that I obviously have plenty of spare time…).
I will keep your tip on not getting too excited with the stuffing in mind.
Well done!
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April 14th, 2009 at 6:29 am
That is so cute. Great job.
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April 14th, 2009 at 6:30 am
Oh my goodness that is so adorable! I can crochet and knit, but Amiguri intimidates the fluffing out of me. I am VERY impressed, especially since it’s your very first project. Way to go!
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April 14th, 2009 at 6:31 am
Wow, that was a bad misspelling! Amigurumi. Sheez. Sorry.
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April 14th, 2009 at 6:33 am
Very cute. And it will soften up in time — it’s always best to over-stuff animals/cushions/etc. as much as possible when you make them, because their bodies will lose a lot of density over time. If you don’t have enough stuffing in the first place they’ll end up flat — but with an over-stuff, they’ll usually stay soft and sqooshable for a long time.
PS — Unrelated note: did you know that you have two checkboxes to be notified of follow-up comments via email? One is auto-checked and the other isn’t…
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April 14th, 2009 at 6:39 am
You did a super job! It’s adorable. And your 6 stitches is an individual variation proving your superior design skills.
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April 14th, 2009 at 6:48 am
I just discovered amigurumi! I am doing a knitted lamb while I try to learn crochet. The giraffe is great!
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April 14th, 2009 at 6:54 am
You are quite crafty! That giraffe is adorable!
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April 14th, 2009 at 7:03 am
That’s super cute, Trish. I’m STILL working on the blanket for my baby that I started in February, mostly because I basically stopped working on it sometime around mid-February and forgot to start back up again. I’m going to work on it today during lunch, though.
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April 14th, 2009 at 7:12 am
Trish, your giraffe is so cute. I used to crochet but don’t have much time for it anymore. When I see posts like this one though I want to pick up the habit again.
The only crafty project I am working on is my daughter’s one-year scrapbook. Still a work in progress and she is going to be 6 this year. In my defense, I have changed the theme three times over the years. Not sure why exactly but as she grows her personality changes so I guess I feel the need to change the theme each time.
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April 14th, 2009 at 7:16 am
Cute, cute! I’ve yet to try my hand at amigurumi. Been thinking I need to soon, though. I’ve got the pattern picked out!
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April 14th, 2009 at 7:19 am
Trish, that is the cutest giraffe ever! I love her (and I want one!).
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April 14th, 2009 at 8:00 am
That is wicked awesome. I made a few Care Bears. I actually bought a book. My first one was a practice one, because I wasn’t sure I could do it. I used some leftover yarn, so it is multi-colored. The other I made for my nephew. I think they turned out really cute. I would make more, but I get bored with crochet so it takes me too long to finish a project. Ha ha. I love your giraffe though.
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April 14th, 2009 at 8:08 am
Ha, he’s so darn cute! I’m more of a knitter than crocheter, but tend not to finish my projects. Bad me
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April 14th, 2009 at 8:38 am
That is sooo cute. I tried learning to knit once, and was an utter klutz at it. Same with cross-stitch- mine was always a bunch of knots. I don’t think I’d be much better at crochet! You’re so talented.
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April 14th, 2009 at 8:59 am
Oh wow. I’m not into knitting or crocheting at all, and that’s so cute that I almost want to learn. Of course, I sort of thing giraffes are the greatest things ever, anyway. But wow, he is ADORABLE.
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April 14th, 2009 at 9:20 am
It’s adorable! I once had to learn to knit for a school play, but I gave it up immediately after the play was over. I’ve always told myself that my total lack of skill had to do with splitting my attention between the knitting and the saying of lines. Cross-stitching’s more my thing.
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April 14th, 2009 at 9:49 am
Dude. That is fracking adorable.
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April 14th, 2009 at 10:26 am
Aww that giraffe is awesome! Great job! I’m still not sure enough of my crocheting ability to try amigurumi.
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April 14th, 2009 at 10:40 am
I love it!!!! You should be so proud of yourself. That little giraffe is quite an accomplishment and I know that a baby will love it!
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April 14th, 2009 at 11:11 am
Really cute and and I nominated you for a Lovely Blog award
http://truecrimebookreviews.blogspot.com/2009/04/lovely-blog-award.html
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April 14th, 2009 at 11:15 am
That’s cute! I sure wish I knew how to crochet.
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April 14th, 2009 at 12:29 pm
It is very cute. I am finally finishing the second sock for my hubby, Andrew. I am using 2 circulars. The only thing that scares the crap out of me is dpns. I reccomend Addi Turbos for circulars. I have a fantastic crochet frog pattern that I did if you want it.
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April 14th, 2009 at 12:36 pm
GREAT job and so very cute! The little one getting this will love you!!!
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April 14th, 2009 at 2:31 pm
That’s so cute! The last thing I knit was a mohawk hat, which I made about two weeks before it got too warm to wear it. Blah.
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April 14th, 2009 at 2:37 pm
This is quite possibly the cutest stuffed toy I have ever seen! I just learned to crochet, and would love to make something like this. I think you did an amazing job, and am going right now to check out the site where you got this pattern. Great Job!
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April 14th, 2009 at 3:04 pm
Cute! I neither knit nor crochet, but I do cross-stitch sometimes.
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April 14th, 2009 at 4:25 pm
Wow, great job especially for it being your second project. I’m surprised. I would have thought you’d been doing this a while. It’s just adorable. I normally stick to blankets and dish cloths. Someday I’ll get brave enough to do something else.
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April 14th, 2009 at 4:35 pm
That’s so damn cute Trish! Great job
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April 14th, 2009 at 4:56 pm
Like everyone else said – very cute! I like how concerned he looks. “how did i get here?” =)
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April 14th, 2009 at 5:43 pm
I love it!! So cute–lots of personality. Thanks for sharing the pictures
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April 14th, 2009 at 5:45 pm
nice second attempt.
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April 14th, 2009 at 6:44 pm
Very cute! I wish I had the patience for something like this!
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April 14th, 2009 at 8:24 pm
This is adorable! And, to be honest, a crochet project that I would actually want to get (for my son). My grandmother is always making us hideous things that no one want to wear … but this is cute! I’m not a crafty person … my “projects’ are my blogs!
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April 14th, 2009 at 8:27 pm
He’s adorable! Or is he a she?
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April 14th, 2009 at 10:36 pm
How cute! I never would have guessed this was only your second crochet project. It looks like you’ve been doing this for years! Great work.
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April 15th, 2009 at 10:13 am
how crafty are you!??!?! i had no idea you had such talents. i can’t manage to get a scarf together and here you are whipping off cute little animals. i’m greeeeen with envy.
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April 15th, 2009 at 12:21 pm
Adorable. I’m so jealous of ppl who can make things. I’m so bad at arts ‘n crafts!!
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April 16th, 2009 at 4:09 pm
That is so adorable! My daughter would love those? Thinking of selling any:?
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trish Reply:
April 16th, 2009 at 7:59 pm
Not until my friends stop having babies.
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April 16th, 2009 at 6:26 pm
Super cute! I haven’t started doing amigurumi, but I’ve got my eyes on a very cute manta ray that I could use some scrap yarn for.
Off to ravelry to friend you!
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April 18th, 2009 at 7:56 pm
He came out very cute! I’m working on one of those knitted elephants. I’m hoping to master it quickly since there seems to be a rash of baby showers coming up!
I’m on Ravelry too although as much as I used to be. I read faster than I knit. I’m Jennygirl. The next time I’m on there I’ll friend you.
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July 9th, 2009 at 10:49 pm
YOUR SECOND?!
Oh my goodness!
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July 10th, 2009 at 7:05 pm
Trish!
This is TOO cute! I WANT one! I am not at all crafty and couldn’t make one if my life depended on it! SO SWEET! I really really love it!
xoxo Amy
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July 22nd, 2009 at 1:39 pm
Hi, Trish!
Good luck on your future crocheting endeavors- your Georgina turned out adorable! 
I just finished one of these Georgina the Giraffes myself (my first amigurumi as well, though I have been an avid crocheter for about 15 years now) and LOVED the pattern because I thought it was so cute, too! I just thought I would add a word of comfort that you’re not alone in the difficulty of decreasing down to four stitches and crocheting those in a round. Even after 15 years of almost obsessive crocheting, I, too, found those 4 stitches difficult. I like your idea of doing 6 though – that sounds much easier!
Athena
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