It was of course impossible for me to remain unimpressed when I saw such a cute version of a symbol used to describe death and illness for centuries; the Grim Reaper. Normally, crocheting this pattern would have brought me great joy. However, due to what I have read, watched and unfortunately experienced , I found myself thinking a lot about death while crocheting this toy. Death is always an unpleasant subject to think about. And at this stage of my life, I am living the years when I am most afraid of death.
| Quick Info | |
|---|---|
| Pattern Name | Grim Reaper Cat |
| Pattern Designer | LyraLuneDesigns |
| Difficulty Level | Intermediate |
| Materials Needed | Hook, Yarn, Yarn needle, Stitch marker, Fiberfill stuffing, Wire for the scythe and tail, Silver embroidery thread for the muzzle, A small button (11mm) |
| Free/Paid | Paid |
| Link | Etsy, Ravelry |
Therefore, I was a little taken aback when this concept, which is very difficult to think about without isolating myself, appeared before me in more than one place and with more than one face. However, this atmosphere, which I expected to lead me to dark places, suddenly brightened. It was as if the gray clouds dispersed and gave way to white fluffy clouds. Yes, they are still in front of the sun, but sometimes the sun is very dazzling. We need these clouds to see the colors of life better.
Over time, I realized that I could not enjoy living without death. I am convinced that death can also have a soft side, and that in some cases death can be a blessing and life can be a punishment. This dual interpretation of death suits very well to this cute-faced Grim Reaper Cat.
The Grim Reaper Cat is pretty cute and preparing this pattern, which is very fun to crochet, encouraged me to use my creativity. I admit that death is not always something to be feared or avoided. But still, while crocheting this toy, I wanted to crochet a version that was more reminiscent of life. And I imagined of a Forest Spirit Cat.
My Forest Spirit Cat is an entity who is seen with the arrival of spring, responsible for the greening of plants and the healthy growth of the young animals in her forest. You can recognize her immediately with her staff with white flowers blooming on it and her butterfly wings. It is not her job to protect the forest from those who harm it. She is only responsible for keeping it alive. She wanders from one end of the forest to the other and welcomes new spirits who are trying to get a foothold in the world with a warm embrace. All lives are unique and precious for her. In her forest, when she encounters inevitable death – like a crushed flower, a baby bird that has fallen from its nest, or a withered tree – she tries to collect the souls that are hanging on their bodies before the Grim Reaper does. So she will have a chance to bring those souls she has collected back to life next spring. Her wings shine brighter with the each soul she saves. She is the master of finding peaceful ways to protect her forest. I wrote the story of my little Forest Spirit Cat with it’s twists and turns. But that story might be too dark for this blog post. Maybe I will tell it one day when I have more time.
Because now it is time for me to examine the Grim Reaper Cat Pattern by Lyra Lune Design.
Materials I used:
For Grim Reaper Cat
Light Cream: YarnArt Jeans number 03
Dark Grey: YarnArt Jeans number 05
Dark Brown: YarnArt Jeans number 70
Light Grey: Alize Cotton Gold number 21
Green: Alize Cotton Gold number 485
Yellow: Alize Cotton Gold number 216
Mustard: Alize Cotton Gold number 02
Orange: Doqu number 3130
For Forest Spirit Cat
Green: Alize Cotton Gold number 485
Beige: YarnArt Jeans number 05
Light Brown: YarnArt Jeans number 71
Dark Brown: YarnArt Jeans number 70
Light Cream: YarnArt Jeans number 03
Mustard: YarnArt Jeans number 84
Light Green: YarnArt Jeans number 11
Tulip 2.5 mm crochet hook
This pattern has become one of my favorite crochet patterns. At first glance, you will realize that it the pattern has been prepared very carefully with details such as color choices and page layout. In the 37-page pdf, apart from the section where it is explained how to crochet the Grim Reaper cat, there are sections on abbreviations, materials, general advice and tips, and basic crochet techniques. The general advice and tips and basic crochet techniques sections are very informative. 16 basic techniques are explained with photographs. There is valuable information that can help you not only in this project but also in all your amigurumi projects.
The pattern is written in a very detailed and precise language. There are also photographs where you can see each stage. You do not need to get support from anywhere other than the pattern while crocheting.
The difficulty level of the pattern is determined as intermediate. In order to crochet a toy exactly the same as the visuals you see in the photographs, it will be beneficial for you to have some experience.
The owner of the pattern crocheted with a 2.25 mm crochet hook, I used a 2.5 mm crochet hook. My toy is 17 cm / 6.7 inches in size, just like in the pattern.
The parts I enjoyed crocheting the most were the coat and head. I love the color of the coat. Crocheting the wings was very enjoyable. I preferred crocheting this part especially when I was not at home. Its head has an unusual shape. In order for it to be regular, you need to make eye adjustments as explained in the pattern. But don’t be intimidated, it is very easy and very fun to crochet as long as you follow the advice in the pattern.
I used wire for the tail and scythe. It should definitely be used, it completes the look.
How the nose is sewn is very important for the facial expression to be the same. I had to sew the nose twice to make it as I wanted. Even the slight differences in the nose and eyes change the expression. I think my Forest Spirit Cat’s facial expression is a bit more serious. But that it suits her personality
While we are on the subject of Forest Spirit Cat, let me talk about her appearance a little. I chose a soft coat color for her. Of course, her wings should have been butterfly wings. Elegant but strong enough to resist the wind. I think her colors give her a noble style. I used Kerris Crochet’s Crochet Butterfly Pattern for her wings. I crocheted 4 crochet hooks and sewed them back and front to make two wings that are sturdy and fuller.
I used two patterns on RaffamusaDesigns.com for the flowers on her staff and the leaves. You can find the flowers here and the leaves here. I preferred to crochet a mustard colored leaf instead of a button. I think it turned out very nice this way.
As you can see from the photos, I had some problems with the whiskers, so I did not make whiskers for Forest Spirit Cat. she is a spirit, She will not need whiskers like ordinary cats. My glue was useless, so I could not give the whiskers the shape I wanted. Moreover, I took the photo on a very windy day. Still, I do not think it is a bad image for Grim Reaper Cat. His whiskers also gave a ragged appearance.
I salute the design of the pattern once again for making me live such a beautiful journey. Whether you give him meanings like me, write stories for him, or just crochet it and put it somewhere that pleases your eyes. Grim Reaper Cat pattern is a pattern that you should definitely crochet. It may not have given me as much pure joy as I expected, but a little sadness makes the joy more flavourful. For this reason, I plan to make many different versions, not just Forest Spirit Cat. If you have ideas, I am waiting for your comments. I hope you enjoy this pattern as much as I do..
Like the way Forest Spirit Cat found to reduce the effect of death, maybe we leave a trace behind us with our writings and the amigurumi figures we produce when the inevitable comes. Let this Grim Reaper Cat remind us to focus on living rather than running away from the presence of death. Let this writing of mine remain as a memory for my little son, the most wonderful soul in the world. May his life not be filled with gray clouds even when I am not with him. May his life be filled with partly cloudy and sunny days, which are my favorite weather: the clouds are pure white, the sky is deep blue, the colors are the most beautiful, the weather is neither cold nor hot. May life always be like warm spring wind that bring the scent of flowers for him.
