Curvy Crochet
Designing an amigurumi banana crochet pattern
Last year, I gave myself the challenging task of designing an amigurumi banana crochet pattern, and I learned a lot! In this post, you’ll find out more about the crochet designing process along with some top tips.
What made designing this amigurumi fruit challenging?
It was all about the curve.
I wanted to design a banana that was actually shaped like a real banana, without the need for a pipe-cleaner or wire inside to manually manipulate the shape. I was determined to figure out how to create the curve by using crochet stitches alone, and wow, at the beginning I got some seriously hilarious results! For proof, take a look at this reel on Instagram to see the various stages of banana designing, but I’ve also added some photos below just for fun.
Crochet design duration
This was a project that I worked on in the background, so I never worked on it full-time. It also involved a lot of frogging, and a lot of trial and error, so it did take me quite a while to get a design that I was happy with. I had started the project back in August 2020, and finished some time in late November 2020. Yup, it took me roughly four whole months to design what looks like a rather simple crochet pattern. Crochet designing does take time.
Lessons learned from designing the beaming banana
While designing, I definitely learned quite a few things about crocheting that I thought you might find useful.
Yarn colour choices matter
When I first started designing, I was trying to find a colour for the banana itself (the bit inside the peel) that was close to the real colour. I chose a cream-coloured yarn, and that was a huge mistake. Let’s just say it looked more like a particular body part than a banana. That was also due to my first shape iteration, which was extremely wonky. I quickly scrapped the cream and went for a bright white yarn instead. It was also a much better colour contrast to the bright yellow, and it looked a lot more like a kid's toy banana and not something you would buy from an adult shop. Colours can seriously make or break a crochet design.
The power of increase and decrease stitches in shaping your amigurumi
In the end, I managed to create the curve in this amigurumi banana by solely using single crochet increases and decreases. This was an eye opener for me. I was amazed by how much a 3D crochet shape can be changed by using these two relatively simple crochet stitches.
Upside and downside to crocheting in rows
This is something that one of my pattern testers pointed out to me. And seriously, if you're ever crochet designing, crochet testers are a must have! You can read more about pattern testers on my blog posts Pattern testing from a designer’s perspective an interview with crochet designer Nicole Chase and 10 things to consider before crochet pattern testing for the first time. But back to my main point, I learned that if you're crocheting in rows directly on to an amigurumi, the way your hook points makes a big difference. If you point your hook up towards the top of your project, the nice side of your rows will face downwards. However, if you turn your project upside down so your hook is facing the bottom of your project, the nice side of your rows will face upwards. I've added some pictures below to show how this works in relation to my beaming banana crochet design.
This is the way I crocheted the banana peels.
This is the way you could crochet the banana peel if you’d like the ‘nice side’ to face upwards when the peels are hanging down.
While this feedback was amazing, and taught me something new, I stuck with the nice side of the rows being under as this is what a real banana would look like. However, it made me add a note in the pattern for Crocheters who would like the nice side of the rows to face up. The things you learn!
Anyhow, I hope you've enjoyed reading about the crochet design process of this Beaming Banana amigurumi. If you'd like to crochet this amigurumi banana for yourself, you can get the free pattern here. I'd love to hear what you think, and would absolutely love to see your creations! You can find me @CillaCrochets on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, or email me directly here.
Until next time, happy crocheting,
Cilla xx
