Last weekend was the big Vancouver anime convention, Anime Evolution. It was awesome, great cosplays, lots of neat events and the dealer’s hall was cool. I think as with Tsukino, I most enjoyed the artists and crafter’s alley. The panel went really badly but really wonderfully at the same time. No projector, speakers or screen meant the helpful videos demonstrating techniques could not be seen, and more people than we had bargained for meant we had to either turn people away or run out of supplies (we chose the latter and improvised as we could), but it all came together beautiful. People were really happy, appreciative and enthusiastic and there were some amazing guardian angel types helping everyone else out with the techniques, since the demos weren’t visible by most people in the room.

I had a great time though and hope to do this again next year, armed of course with more supplies and more vigilance about chasing down projectors and things way ahead of time!

This pattern was the basis for the 2010 Amigurumi Workshops I did at Anime Evolution and Tsukino Con and is also the mascot for my website. It’s a fairly small and simple no-sew (for the body, the ears are sew on) pattern great for beginners that has step by step videos to help you on your way.

The videos were made to be shown at an in-person panel so they make references to “your kit” and things of that nature, but the techniques displayed remain relevant. There are different optional ears so you can make your peanut a cat, bear, dog or bunny or improvise things like hairdos or antennae to make any sort of weirdo or creature you like!

Click to get the Amigurumi Tutorial Peanut Pattern

Nintendo’s The Legend of Zelda : the Wind Waker is probably my favorite of the Zelda games. It’s a beautiful game with a great story, good music and a funny, weird, cute and fabulous bunch of characters. Toon Link is really expressive, cute but not too cute, child like and innocent but not over the top. I love it, but more importantly this game my kid has loved and played since she was 4, it’s one of her favorite childhood videogames and for that it has a special place in my heart and has cemented the Gamecube as a staple of our household. Toon Link has been the focus of several DS games, but I really hope Nintendo brings him out of console retirement soon.

This pattern has been a long time in the making and I dare say rivals my Bouncer in terms of intricate pieces and annoying details. If I had lots of spare time or was in prison or some such place, I’d go for different coloured Four Swords Links and add more accessories and enemies and of course Zelda, but for now this set is it. Some parts and details are optional and the accessories can be left out if you want to cut corners. I share the pattern for the whole thing, but be warned, it’s really long and may have some parts seeming complicated or confusing.

A Link was requested several times in the videogame thread so for those who asked, I am pleased to say, here you go If you tackle it and have questions or notice mistakes, let me know but if you could please use the comments, rather than contact me via email, other people who may experience similar head scratching will see your question and my answer, so it’s win-win.

Click to get the Amigurumi Legend of Zelda Toon Link Pattern