Introduction
This set of Christmas Robins was one of my commissioned pieces for Spoonie Survival Kits as part of their Spoonie Advent Calendar in 2019. I made 50 crochet Christmas robins to be included in the advent calendar. This meant starting my Christmas in the Spring in order to complete them for the September deadline.
What is a Spoonie?
If you are wondering what a ‘Spoonie’ is, a Spoonie is a term used within their chronic illness community for someone with a chronic illness. It is based on ‘Spoon Theory’ which explains the concept of daily energy budgets using spoons. For example, a person will start the day with 10 spoons which represent the amount of energy they have. Each task they complete will cost them a certain number of spoons e.g. getting up = 2 spoons, eating breakfast= 1 spoon and taking a shower = 4 spoons. You can carry spoons over to the next day or borrow from tomorrow’s spoons. However, borrowing spoons or expending too much energy can lead to a ‘crash’. The Spoon Theory is a popular way for people to explain their energy-limiting conditions to non-disabled people.
Making the robins
Now, back to the cute robins. To make such a large batch of plushies, I worked a production line of creating all the bodies first and then all the beaks, wings, tail and red breast. This saved me time overall as I didn’t need to switch between yarns or refer back to the pattern. Once I had made all the separate parts, I sewed them together and weaved in the many ends!
For this project, I used safety eyes to give a texture contrast with the dark brown of the body of the robin. Safety eyes are made of plastic with a snap on the back to prevent them from being pulled out from the front. The safety eyes not only provided a lovely contrast but also added a touch of realism to each robin, making their expressions come to life. I always enjoy this part of the process—the transformation from a collection of yarn and stuffing into a character with personality.
As I finished the final touches, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of accomplishment for making such a large batch. Seeing them all together, ready to be shared with others, is one of the most rewarding aspects of my work. Particularly when it comes to dontating items to a worthy cause. Whether these robins found homes as holiday decorations, gifts for loved ones, or additions to someone’s collection, I know they’ll bring a bit of joy and warmth.
“You are such a star, thank you Katherine.”- Pippa, Spoonie Survial Kits Founder
Thank you for following along on this project. Stay tuned for more updates and behind-the-scenes looks at my crochet adventures!
Please check out my comissions page if you would like to request an order for a chairty or community project.
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