This week I brought you again the creations of a very popular Hungarian amigurumi designer: the crochet patterns of Manuska. Many of her patterns were published in the creative-handicraft magazine a, which is very popular among crocheters in Hungary Practice Magazinein where he raised the standard of the newspaper with his unique style. Unfortunately, many people in Hungarian crochet groups do not even know that they are crocheting from a Manuska pattern. Many times, however, they only refer to their shared images as Praktikás or Crocheted from Praktikás anyone familiar with the designer's work will tell you at first glance that this was indeed designed by Manuska.
You can read below who Manuska is, what patterns she designed, and what made me crochet these girls even as a mother of boys!
Photo: Own (Rebeka Novák-Szabó ev)
Who is Manuska?
Manuska, or Orsolya Farkasvölgyi, is one of the most talented Hungarian amigurumi designers, whose crochet patterns are admired and loved worldwide. The designer, who enjoys great popularity in foreign circles, brought his feminism - which is not far from me - into his creativity. One of the reasons for this was to set an example for her daughter with those a with outstanding female personalities, who also defined and inspired him throughout his life. For these reasons, he designed quite a few personalities who live and lived in our world, who took on a role and fought in some form against the oppression of women and for women's rights. His outstanding talent is shown not only by his international recognition, but also by the fact that an English book publisher noticed his special characters, as a result of which the Little Crochet Heroes crochet pattern book. In this book 20 crochet patternsyou can find each character is a person who defines our history or really inspires us – both women and men. Last but not least, I would like to mention here that this is not just any talented Hungarian designer! With Manuska even a Forbes Magazine also conducted an interview, in which he tells the story of his business and his creations.
The undisclosed purpose of this recommendation is for crocheters to replace the previously mentioned Practical references with the names of the designers. Of course, you can also mention that the figure appeared in Praktika Magazin, but that's it credit above all goes to the designer who dreamed up and created the figure. So it's worth looking through the pages of the newspaper to see whose crochet pattern we created our latest amigurumi from. Fortunately, the Praktika Magazin is increasingly asking Hungarian designers to appear in the magazine, so we are sure to meet well-known Hungarian designers in addition to Manuska, such as Yarn forest (/yarnacadabra), Blue Yarn Crochet obsession Smoozy Crochet Patterns with his charming works.
Baby Emma and Philomena crochet patterns
I have been lucky enough to crochet two of Manuska's patterns so far, but I think I will definitely expand my repertoire from him, as his patterns are very refined and charming, really works for a small child. It's no accident, after all this is already an international standard!
I first met Manuska's works on Instagram, where 32 thousand followers watch his latest creations. When I first saw it I immediately fell in love with Emma's baby pattern. I hesitated a lot whether to crochet the doll or not, because why? I have a little boy, he won't care that much anyway. However, I finally realized that I could even make it for myself. So before I bought the pattern in Manuska's Etsy shop, I asked Orsi what yarn she used to crochet the baby's hair, so that I can get it before purchasing the sample. She helped me choose the bouchlé hair, so by specifying the exact parameters, I managed to select a yarn similar to the one in the sample. Unfortunately, it didn't turn out quite like that, as my yarn has more of a real hair effect, so the overall picture was a little different, but regardless it was a great pleasure to make it. Because it is Emma was one of my first babies, so then I learned a lot from her pattern: I struggled a lot with the design of the legs from the body, the importance of small decorations and the processing of threads. (fortunately, this is no longer a problem). In the pattern I really liked that I found clean, clear instructions, high-quality, useful pictures, which then helped me a lot in making the figure. Bouchle hair is a real challenge reported, as I had never worked with this kind of yarn before. And sure enough, that particular knife of mine almost broke. I crocheted completely blind, according to my memories, I found out where the eyes were in the last few rows. This part was one of the most exciting and challenging. After making my first Emma doll I immediately took the opportunity to crochet it again, only with the other hairstyle. I consider it a really professional solution that the designer thought that it is not necessary for anyone to accept this bouchle yarn and offered an alternative to doing the hair, which also suits the baby very well. I learned a lot from this pattern, so I would gladly recommend it to enterprising beginners or even more experienced crocheters! By the way it is also completed relatively quickly with him the man, like that you can quickly experience success Man.
Philomena was the second crochet pattern I purchased from Manuska's Etsy shop. This pattern was also love at first sight, so I was just looking for an opportunity to crochet it, which didn't take long. A dear friend of mine wanted to order a doll that looks a bit like her little girl and could surprise her with it on her upcoming birthday. Since I knew the girl and had her blonde, angelic curls in my mind's eye, I immediately thought that Philomena would look like her when she was blonde. We discussed it with my mother and she also liked my idea, so it was with great excitement that I started working on my second Manuska pattern. After purchasing the raw materials, I started crocheting immediately. The base of the doll was no longer a big challenge, but the rest of it was! It took a long time to crochet her hair, - although this end result was worth every minute of effort - it seemed I would never be ready for the feeling. As I remember an entire lock was consumed by the crown of her hair. Here, the biggest challenge was patiently crocheting the repeated curls, while her skirt was a really big technical challenge. I haven't crocheted a patterned skirt like this before the continuous color changes gave up the lesson. At the end after stitching I embroidered her face and I enjoyed this doll with complete satisfaction. I felt that it really added a lot to my crochet skills and also for my endurance, so until 100% I am sure that buying the sample was worth every HUF. Fortunately, Philomena won not only my liking, but the the ordering mother was also completely impressed, when he saw it. Later I got the feedback that the little girl liked it a lot too, so with this project I feel like everyone won. I have a new pattern and a lot of technical knowledge, the mother the joy of giving a gift, and the celebrated little girl a wonderful, unique, handmade, almost eternal friend.
Manuscript samples
Among Orsi's patterns, my favorite is His Christmas gnomes also appeared in Prakika, which I have seen from crocheters in countless Hungarian groups. It's what I've been eyeing for a very long time Paloma's baby, this looks like a real beachy project. Besides, I'm totally up to it wall decorationsfrom, they are incredibly beautiful, and I can imagine them in any children's room or crochet corner.
Of course, I have only highlighted a few examples, since among the 62 samples and sample packs currently available in the Etsy shop, every crocheter will surely find something that will make him want to buy a pattern and yarn right away.
Photos: Manuska (Orsolya Farkasvölgyi)
