I tested a Sweet Softies pattern...here's my review!

Hey everyone, happy 1st March 🤪

School has started (hence the long break between this post and my last one) but that doesn't mean crocheting is over and done with!

It's also MARCH! Which means it's now autumn (the best of all seasons) and will soon be my birthday in just over 2 months' time.

I'm celebrating 'pinch-punch-first day of the month" style with this special post! (I'm also annoyed that I had barely any time to post in February, so this is a very special post indeed)

Some of you will remember that I've had to stop holding market stalls for the time being due to a new outbreak of COVID in the community. Scary, but it leaves me with more time to focus on exploring more new amigurumi projects AND check off a few things from my crafting need-to-do list!

So it's with great excitement that I'm sharing this news with you...I recently had the amazing opportunity to be part of Sweet Softies' testing team for her newest amigurumi pattern: Rumi the Red Panda!

This is the first ever Sweet Softies pattern I have tested and certainly the first pattern I have tested that was part of a craft blogger's testing call. I have tested patterns in the past, but they were all for close friends of mine who also design their own crochet patterns (on a small basis). This is something a little bit newer for me, which I am very grateful to Jade (from Sweet Softies) for enabling me to take part in.

So, without further ado, let's jump into the review!

Rating (_/5 stars)

5/5 for written pattern simplicity and clarity
5/5 for yarn weight choice
5/5 for amigurumi design

Pattern Overview

Rumi the Red Panda is a large-sized amigurumi suited for super bulky weight yarn (#6) and a 6mm hook. The pattern is fairly straightforward and contains basic increase, decrease and single crochet stitches. There are several body parts that are made separately and sewn together at the end. Sewing and joining crocheted pieces together is definitely a skill worth having for this project.

The overall pattern is designed to be straightforward and the PDF pattern is simple to read and comprehend. The actual crochet directions are simple to follow (basic sc and inc) and the PDF pattern contains photo references to help you along! I loved the simplistic but versatile design of this panda.

Yarn I used

For this project, I stash-busted some of my bulky weight yarns at the bottom of my yarn box! I used:

velvet yarn in dark grey and pale pink (#6)
chenille yarn in cream white (#6)

I loved the soft texture and glossy ombre sheen of the velvet yarns. It definitely made the whole panda feel very luxe and almost like an artisan toy you would only find in tiny boutique shops in Paris. Working with velvet yarn is also highly satisfying and the feel of the strands slipping through the hook and your fingers is definitely a treat. I think it added to the aesthetic of the whole pattern and added "classy" to "cute and cuddly"!

Bear in mind that velvet yarn can be tricky to work with at the start. If you haven't had prior practice with it I wouldn't suggest starting your experience with this pattern - it has a lot of parts! I would recommend trying Sweet Softies' Octobuddy Calming Toy amigurumi pattern first, which is a lot simpler, quicker and also uses velvet yarn!

The chenille yarn was also a cool addition to my panda; it gave a woolly, fluffy and soft texture which contrasted nicely with the velvet. Lots of different yarn combinations can produce a nice sensory touch to this pattern - which would be great for younger kids!

For her panda, Jade used Bernat Blanket yarn (which I would also definitely recommend). It brought out such an adorable look for the panda and I would have loved to use it, only it's ALWAYS out of stock at my local craft store! (Plus the fact that I had to isolate for the first two days after I received the invite to test the pattern, so I was basically helpless.) I know once that yarn comes back on the shelves I will be grabbing a couple of colours to try out Rumi using it!

Other materials I used

Scissors
Yarn needle / tapestry needle
safety eyes (I used 10mm)
plastic nose (I embroidered mine on)
Stuffing

During the test...

I had heaps of fun! Between tuning in to online school + crocheting when my camera was off, I had a pretty good day making and finishing Rumi. I actually started the night before (the day I got the pattern) and made her head and part of her tail. Then the next day I finished all her parts and sewed them all together. #multitasking!
Because it was a pattern test, I did take a little longer than I usually do to finish a project because I was counting my stitches as I went along and checking them against the draft pattern I was sent.
I spent a significant amount of time playing around with the stuffing of the different parts. My advice is to follow Jade's advice in the pattern regarding each different part and how to stuff it, but also take into consideration your yarn type and personal preference. Stuff lightly, but make sure your panda still has a good, squeezable feel!

Post test thoughts

I took 6 hours-ish to finish Rumi.
Rumi stands at about 14-15 inches tall (toes to ears)
Super happy with the final product ! The velvet + chenille mix was amazing and I loved the blend of the textures, especially with the stripy tail. I loved the contour of the arms and legs - the rounded shape of the limbs gives a polished air to the whole panda!
Absolutely loved the pattern, as always. It was clear, accurate and easy to follow, as are all of Sweet Softies' patterns. It was an absolute treat to binge-crochet, which is really saying something as I don't often find a pattern that I'm willing to go into overdrive to finish!
I really appreciated the simplicity of this amigurumi in regard to how easy it was to crochet it. I would definitely suggest beginners giving this a go for a 2nd or 3rd jumbo yarn project!
I've made a photo gallery below to celebrate Rumi's debut - keep reading to find it!

Want this pattern? No worries! It's now available as a wonderful ad-free and super-helpful PDF pattern here on Sweet Softies' Ravelry page. The pattern is 30% off with the code SWEETRUMI until the 13th of March, 2022. Jump in there and grab your copy today! Thank you for supporting a hardworking designer's work 😊

Last things:

If you have any questions about this review, please contact me! (This can include pattern enquiries too, but I would also suggest going directly to Sweet Softies' website to contact her, since she wrote it)
I'd love to hear all your thoughts about this; feel free to comment below or contact me separately!
If you need tips on where to get started, or clarification about anything I've said in here, pleeease email me.