The Plushies… They Can Move!
At least, their arms and legs can.
Moveable Crochet Animals are on the horizon
A few months ago, actually, it might even have been a year ago, because time absolutely flies, I had an epiphany. There are so many toys, dolls, and plushies out there with articulated limbs. It made me wonder: Why can’t I do that with mine? Oh yes I am aware of how to use a button or string through the body but I dont think either of those ways really hold to all the extra love a person can give a plushie. Plus I wanted the mechanism to be hidden.
Unlocking the Mystery of Toy Joints
I wasn’t entirely sure what the mechanism was called at first. After falling down a deep internet search rabbit hole, I finally figured out the actual names of these devices and how they work. It turns out they generally fall into two categories: ball-and-socket joints or plastic safety joints.
- Ball-and-Socket Joints: These are typically used for cast-plastic action figures with highly articulated limbs. Think of the classic G.I. Joe figures—the ones where you can bend the elbows, rotate the wrists, and move the knees.
- Plastic Safety Joints: These were exactly what I was looking for! These are designed for plush and textiles, and I knew right away I wanted to start putting them into my crochet animals.
Trial, Error, and Tension
Once I knew the official name, I was finally able to search for them and make a purchase. The only problem? I had no idea what size I actually needed. To cover my bases, I bought a variety pack.
Of course, just my luck, they arrived in bags without any size labels. If I really want to know the exact millimeter size, I have to measure them manually (and let’s be honest, I’m probably not going to do that!).
To test them out, I crocheted one of my Belly Button Beast Bears. After some trial and error, I found the correct joint size—which was actually much smaller than I originally assumed. I can’t tell you how thrilled I was to watch a single leg move smoothly on a partially crocheted body!
A New Way to Crochet
Using joints meant changing my usual construction method. Typically, when I sew a leg directly onto a body, I keep the top of the leg wider. This gives me more stitches to attach to the body, making the limb sturdy.
With a safety joint, I had to do the exact opposite. I learned that I need to taper the top of the leg inward so that it snugly hugs the joint mechanism, eliminating the need to sew it to the body entirely.
See It in Action!
I made a quick little video below so you can see exactly what I’m talking about and watch the movement in action.
I am so excited to be offering these articulated plushies in my shop very soon, most likely starting with the Belly Button Beast series. Stay tuned!
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