Amigurumi Penguin

This is my first amigurumi, and probably my last. My friend requested one and I thought it would be quick and easy, since it's crocheted. It was exactly the opposite--because the stitches are so small and tight, it takes a lot of force and meticulous attention to get the hook in the right place.
I used a pattern from Lion Brand Yarn (you have to create a login, but it only takes a minute). I didn't have any of those nifty plastic eyes, so I just knotted some of the black yarn and pulled the ends through the white circles.
I made a top hat and umbrella out of felt as an homage to Oswald Cobblepot, but I think he turned out much cuter than The Penguin. I puzzled for a while over how to make the umbrella, and I ended up gathering a circle of felt around a bent bobby pin, which worked pretty well.

Rocky Raccoon

I don't make a lot of stuffed animals, but I wanted to try some alternative stuffing methods I had been dreaming up. Most stuffed craft items use poly-fil, which has the perfect texture and is easy to handle, but it's made of synthetic material. I wanted to try something more earth-friendly, so I started saving all my fabric scraps that are too small for reuse. The result was decidedly lumpier than a normal stuffed animal, but it looks perfectly adorable and has a certain bucolic charm when you hug it.

The body is made from an old t-shirt and the details of felt. I used a sewing machine to put the body together, so it took almost no time at all. I crocheted a little beret and scarf just to give it some personality, and to cover up the not-so-clean seam connecting the neck to the body.