It ended last week on Friday The first Hungarian CAL, the Szörnyi CAL, organized by Hungarian Amigurumi Designers. In this wickedly good collaborative crochet challenge 11 Hungarian designers created a monstrous pattern, which the participants had to crochet during the challenge. You can read about what CAL is and what Szörnyi CAL was like as a designer, organizer and participant below!
Photo: Own (Rebeka Novák-Szabó ev)
What is CAL?
Crochet Along, or CAL for short, is a common crochet challenge. The English meaning is crochet together, ie crochet the same pattern or patterns together with those who are also crochet enthusiasts and are attending the event. A CAL cannot only be of one type, not only according to a set of rules. The framework of the challenge is determined by the participating designers or designer, together with the rules of participation and performance. A CAL can be organized by only one designer, from one pattern or series of patterns, or several designers can team up for such an event. However, the point remains the same. The main character of the CAL is a specific crochet pattern or crochet patterns, of which the participants only receive details. After crocheting the available part and proving it in some way (photo or video documentation) and submitting it, you can receive the next part. The challenge was completed by the person who could crochet it from start to finish. If the participant did not succeed in crocheting it all the way through, that is after the event, the pattern can be purchased from the designer. This event is not only popular among amigurumi designers, but is also often held in connection with other crochet patterns.
A subspecies of CALs when the participants have no idea what they will get at the end of the challenge. This secret CAL. In such cases, the designer or designers do not show the figure, the participants can guess what they will get in the end at most on the way. This only adds to the excitement of the event, and the participants wait with even greater excitement to see what will happen in the end.
Why is it good to participate in such an event? Not just because you can meet new designers, respectively you can feel it that fantastic feeling that you are part of a big crochet family, but at the end of the challenge, if you have completed it you get a new crochet pattern or patterns for free.
Monstrous CAL
It was the first joint crochet challenge organized by the Hungarian Amigurumi Designers. I was personally present at the event as a designer, organizer and participant, so I share my experiences in this article.
Photos: Own (Rebeka Novák-Szabó ev)
As a designer
My monster check from the Monster CAL Jojo, the caring monster. My followers could already see a part of his sketch of the monster on May 31, 2022, when he peeked out of the notebook on the last day of Amigurumay in the picture of my future plans. Unfortunately, the pattern took a long time to come, as I struggled with sickness at the beginning of my pregnancy, and after that I couldn't crochet for a long time because I felt dizzy. This is still unbelievable and incomprehensible to me, but fortunately it has passed. After that, in addition to the many things to do, he also fell into oblivion this little monster, according to the original idea, would not have eaten the problems, but life brought him to be given this task.
My little son started kindergarten in February and attended nursery school before that, but the adjustment was not smooth. As a mother, I was obviously worried and wanted to help him somehow, so I remembered the drawn monster. I thought about that he would be a great caretaker! I already had the dimensions and the materials in my head, so all I had to do was sit down and crochet it. Relatively I finished it quickly, despite the fact that life with two children is not easy, but I was very happy that I could finally hold the finished piece in my hands. The first version was made of plush yarn, then because of the CAL, I redesigned it to a smaller size so that it wouldn't stand out from the others.
As an organizer
THE The idea of Szörny CAL was raised in 2022 among Hungarian amigurumi designers. That year, we wanted to organize it in September, but it wasn't just my life that turned out to be more complicated than planned, so we postponed it by mutual agreement. this year, after I was finished, I asked the other designers with Jojó if we should organize the Szörny CAL, because if not, I will publish my sample. Since many people were interested in the event based on my public opinion survey, we embarked on this joint adventure. After we had a fight we started brainstorming how to organize this challenge, in the end we were left with the fact that we can make a meaningful decision only when we see who has finished with his sample. Regarding the samples, we tried to make the figures 10-15 cm high. We set ourselves deadlines, which were September 1st. Until now, everyone had to design their monster and make the pattern. In the end, in the middle of August, we pushed this to September 15th, which was good for many of us, for example, I could only edit my sample then.
While the patterns were finalized and everyone was working hard to make the figure and the crochet pattern, we discussed the details. Unfortunately, as is usually the case with such a multi-character story, not everything was without conflict. There were many issues to be decided, there were things on which we did not agree, in the end we were left with the fact that we probably cannot satisfy everyone's wishes, so we looked for a compromise. In the questions that arose, everyone voted on what would be the best solution for them, and the majority vote decided, which everyone had to accept. After that, we announced the event, created a group for the location on Facebook, and the applications began.
When collecting and checking the applications, we had many tasks to check to see if everyone met the conditions necessary for participation. As you have experienced, this was not easy, but I think we tried to do everything possible so that those who wanted to participate could participate. Unfortunately, the technology failed us, but we did not want to change the conditions on the way. The application dumping week was the most tiring and that's when the differences between us arose the most. Many times, compliance and enforcement of the rules was the most delicate point on which we disagreed. I think that it is not advisable to change the participation conditions of an announced event on the fly, even if it causes difficulties or even inconveniences. However, not everyone could accept this conflict situation, that those followers who do not fulfill the conditions cannot participate. I think we all learned lessons from the week of application, we can take these experiences further and incorporate them into the joint crochet events of the future.
Unfortunately, my family got less of me that week, I worked a lot with my fellow designers to ensure that all applicants were entered in our register and that the checks went through. We discussed the questions continuously and everyone could vote on them to their heart's content. After the applications, we were able to sit back a bit, at least I feel that the pressure has already been transferred to the shoulders of the participants. Typically, I looked at the received pictures in the morning and in the evening and sent the 2nd part to those who completed the first half of my monster pattern flawlessly.
I would also like to thank my fellow designers for their help, participation in the organization and the super samples they contributed to this event. Thank you very much Zsuzsi Blahó(Poppy Crochet Design) IT and Excel consulting, Gyuris Bogi (Boog amigurumi) the design and your outstanding work during the application week, along with it Zsanett Varga (Soul Creator)'s contribution in the aggregation, control and Niki Hartmann of Budán (Niki's Crafts)'s sacrificial persistence in communicating with applicants and providing technical assistance. I think many participants are grateful to him for being able to participate in the event with his help! And last but not least, I am very grateful To Szilvi Domján-Prada (Sylvees Crochet Patterns) for organizing the final draw. As I wrote before, the organization of the event was not smooth and conflict-free, unfortunately there were disagreements between us, which we could not always discuss peacefully. Basically, though, I think most of the team was able to work together, think and organize. This event gave us all the opportunity to we get to know each other betterto see how we can work together in the future.
As a designer and organizer, it was especially great fun when I saw the different Yo-yos from the participants, I never dreamed that so many people would make my little monster. Thus, I would like to thank the participants for their kindness, the cutest figures and their perseverance!
As a participant
While organizing the event, I had already decided that I would make the monsters together with the participants. With the motive that my mother-in-law has few plushies for role-playing games, it seemed ideal to enrich her stuffed toy range with monsters. Unfortunately as the days went by I saw that I wouldn't be able to make them all, so I set up a sequence. Each family member could choose a monster for himself, luckily, all of them were ready. Other than my own I was able to crochet a total of five monsters, the fifth already past the deadline. While crocheting the monsters, I always imagined where they would hide in our house, so crocheting them was even more exciting for me. I hope that I will be able to crochet most of them by the end of the year, I will definitely share the monsters I make in the future on my social media pages!
Photo: Own (Rebeka Novák-Szabó ev)
First of all, very funny PlinkyI crocheted by Boog amigurumi. I really liked that the pattern can be varied. I chose which variation to make, but in the meantime I was already planning which version and how I would make it. It turned out to be very nice to us, my little son immediately fell in love with it and has slept with it several times since it was made. Although he invented Plinky to be a space snail, so we play with him a lot, and he usually eats rotten trötyni with frog's mouth, because that is his favorite. By the way, Plinky is the monster of the kitchen in our house, because he watches with prying eyes what we do and buy there and laughs at us if something goes wrong while cooking. That's why we like it that way 🙂 It's probably because we don't usually cook rotten trötyni.
You can buy the pattern at the link below!
Poopy was the second By SmoozY Crochet Patterns, the terribly shy monstrous. He is gorgeous in citrus colors and hides among the apples, pears, and bananas in the fruit bowl, trusting that he rarely needs to frighten him. Although we have a cold because we love fruits. During CAL, I saw countless Pörpis, in countless colors, and I really like the fact that the colors can be varied so well in this pattern. Somehow it always reminded me of some fruit or vegetable that I saw. I think there was a melon version, and also a pumpkin version. Perhaps Zita, the designer, was drawn to this as she has very good crocheted food patterns!
You can buy the pattern at the link below!
Photo: Own (Rebeka Novák-Szabó ev)
Photo: Own (Rebeka Novák-Szabó ev)
My third monster Blueberry volt Soul Creator's insanely fast pattern. I myself was surprised how quickly it was completed, I think this is such a typical "mother has no time for anything, but the husband has to do it" pattern. My husband chose him, he thought (besides Jojo of course) that he was the best monster. With a slightly inquisitive look, I imagined him at the bathroom, watching the evening brushing of his teeth and looking questioningly, are you sure you have washed thoroughly enough? By the way, her hair is a lot of fun, we also used it to tease the children, which made them laugh a lot.
You can buy the pattern at the link below!
Butt monstrous was the fourth in line, My Niki's Crafts pattern is a terribly colorful one I implemented it in design. During the challenge, I saw that Popo, who had been designed by Niki as a plain green color (very cute anyway), was thrown up with colorful stripes by the creative participants, and I immediately thought, oops! Those chenille yarns of mine have been waiting for a good little figure for a long time, of which there is just enough left that no whole figure would come out of them. Some really only have a few meters left. Well, I tied them together one after the other so that the next color matches the previous one, so I got a wonderfully colorful skein. Encouraged by this, I also jumped on him, and his body was there in 1 hour. The only reason her pattern took longer than Blueberry's was because it required more sewing. By the way, he is also ready very quickly. Unfortunately, her bottom didn't turn out to be as characterful as Niki's, so I still have room for improvement in shaping my bottom. I think he is a very striking figure, I honestly fell in love with him! With us, he hides by the gas boiler, switching on the heating, because sometimes it is cold, sometimes it is very hot, as his color shows!
The pattern is available for free at the link below.
Photo: Own (Rebeka Novák-Szabó ev)
Photo: Own (Rebeka Novák-Szabó ev)
BettiBettiami – as my little boy calls it - little boy monster Jeffry is a hell of a challengethe was of this common crochet. The crocheter can see at a glance that it is not a two-minute project, and even while crocheting, he is convinced that everything on offer is here. It had quite a lot of technical parts, which could give crocheters a lesson, personally, the stitches were my weaknesses again, as well as removing the many yarn ends. When I finished, I realized that Betti took this monster topic seriously. It created the dreaded figure of crocheters, which provoked a challenge, a struggle, sometimes a little grumbling, and finally provided the catharsis that larger or more complicated projects can usually provide. So it had all the crocheting feelings you could possibly have, so it was a real emotional rollercoaster. I think he's more of a crochet monster disguised as a little boy. For this reason, he hides in my project box, reminding me with his evil little smile that they are still here (long time ago) unfinished projects.
You can buy the pattern at the link below! (Discounted until November 19, 2023 with coupon code JEFFRY!)
The next monster I will cut my ax into will be Tarka based on the Baraka Crochet pattern. I think he was the scariest, so I want him to join our monster family as soon as possible! I hope you can see my version soon. I already got a candy-colored color-changing yarn for it, and it will definitely be hiding in the snack box at our place to scare me away. I hope you can keep it away permanently!
Summary
This was the first joint crochet challenge I participated in as a designer, organizer and participant, and I believe it was not the last. I gained a lot of experience, which will affect the future CALs I participate in or organize. In any case, it was very exciting from start to finish, it was nice to see how the event came together as a whole, how we worked together and got excited with the other designers, and finally I got to experience the excitement provided by CALs, how many games I can make by the set deadline to prepare. Finally, the monsters in the picture below pack up and move in with Grandma to take care of her so that no other, foreign monsters move in with her! Because a familiar monster is still better under the bed than an unknown one!
Papa Monster! Be good!
Photo: Own (Rebeka Novák-Szabó ev)
