Etsy seller Interview - RedPandaToy | Crochet Patterns, Tips, and Designers

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It has been a while since I posted an Interview. This is why I am extra excited about today’s post. I have found an amazing Etsy shop with such realistic crochet patterns, you will think that the animals are alive.

I am so grateful that Anya from RedPandaToy not only took her time to answer my questions, she also gave us two FREE patterns and a 25% discount on all of her other patterns. Check it out.

In Anya’s shop, you can find so many fluffy and realistic patterns, from bunnies, cats, dogs, to Christmas and Halloween patterns. Some of them even have video tutorials and German translations. Here is a discount code you can use: 25ANYA, but hurry, it is only valid until February 25th, and I am sure you don’t want to miss this great opportunity.

I ask all of the designers to share something about themselves. This is how Anya introduced herself:

My name is Anya. I am married and have 2 wonderful daughters of 26 and 6 years old. I also have 2 dogs (a Pomeranian and a Yorkshire Terrier and a cat). For more than 10 years, we moved every year with our entire extended family from one city to another because of my husband’s work. And all the things, our animals and a few bags of yarn and my tools, we carried with us. But in September 2020, we finally stopped at one place in the city of Belgorod. This is a very beautiful and clean city.

I already know this will be one very interesting interview. Read more about Anya below:

1. How did it all begin? Tell us your story.

My grandmother taught me how to crochet when I was 6 years old. Back then, I only crocheted napkins and clothes for dolls. Then I had a very long break from crocheting. I was working as an operating nurse in a hospital, and I didn’t have time to knit at all. But 6 years ago, when my second daughter was born, I wanted to crochet her small toys. And I started looking for forums on crocheting amigurumi. I started crocheting first with a thin, smooth yarn, and then I decided to try crocheting with mohair and I really liked such fluffy toys. At first, I crocheted according to the schemes of other authors, but then I really wanted to tie a sloth, but I did not find such a scheme for this animal then and decided to try to make a scheme myself. From that moment on, I started writing my own crochet patterns. My husband and my eldest daughter were supportive in this endeavor. My daughter’s favorite and most expensive toys are my first crocheted funny and not perfect toys.

2. What inspires you?

I love nature and animals very much. This is my main inspiration. My two dogs and a cat, my eldest daughter’s Labrador, dog shows, children’s books, illustrations, pets of my friends and acquaintances are also very inspiring for creativity.

3. How does your every day look like?

Every day is very busy! I would like to sleep longer, but I have to get up early in the morning: classes with my daughter (I teach her to crochet too), walks and taking care of my pets. I also do charity work – I feed homeless animals. We also took our cat from the street. Well, my favorite job is knitting. We’re also finishing the house, and I’m currently designing it. And soon I will have my own large workshop, which I have long dreamed of.

4. What is your favorite yarn?

I mainly crochet from Turkish Alize Kid Mohair or Italian kid mohair (get it here or here), and Angora Real 40. This is a very thin and fluffy thread. And she needs to knit in 3 or 4 threads. But I really like to experiment and constantly use new yarn. After all, toys made of different yarns, even connected according to the same scheme, look completely different. In general, you can knit any mohair or textured yarn.

5. Your creations look like they are alive.

What kind of technic do you use to make them?

There is nothing complicated in the technique, although many are afraid of this process. We knit like ordinary amigurumi toys with mohair yarn. And then the finished toy comb Velcro for clothes and toys for the animals. So it turns out to be a furry animal. Well, then we trim the tips of the paws and ears a little. My crochet patterns are very detailed with lots of photo and video lessons.