PROFILE: RACHEL ZAIN

Rachel created her Donut Buddies to be engaging sensory toys

TOY story

Rachel Zain of Oodles of Crochet shares the story behind her love of amigurumi playthings, which has led her to create her very own range of child-friendly ‘buddies’

rochet’s not just for grown-ups!

CThat’s certainly the message behind Rachel Zain’s engaging range of amigurumi characters, from her plush Buddies collection to her popular Donut Buddy designs. There’s nothing more satisfying to Rachel than seeing her kids play with her creations, which are designed with children in mind. This goes double for her Donut Buddies, which are the creative result of her mission to capture the imagination of her son, who is non-verbal and autistic.

“I’ve always loved amigurumi, ever since my grandmother used to make them for me as a child,” she explains. “When I then had my own children, I wanted to carry on that tradition and I loved seeing them play with my creations. There is something about handmade toys that I find just magical.” SENSORY PLAY With this in mind, Rachel had researched toys for her non-verbal autistic son and, having found that many of the most suitable toys were sensory, she designed crocheted animal donuts – Donut Buddies – for him to play with. Children with autism often enjoy sensory toys, or toys that stimulate the senses through a variety of textures, interesting lighting displays, certain attractive sounds and other elements.

“It started off with me designing two or three characters, but I was so excited to see him play with them that I now have over 60 Donut Buddies in the collection with many more to come!” Rachel says. “When designing the Donut Buddies for my son, I knew I wanted something to keep him occupied but also to stimulate his brain, so I used crinkle paper in certain parts of the toys, and added bells and squeakers to bring a fun element to them. The donut shape is great for small hands as they are easy to grip onto, and babies love the circular shape, I find. I also layer the ‘icing’ on top of the donut to give it a textured feel. My son loves the bright-coloured Donut Buddies the most. He enjoys anything colourful and inviting.”

The Donut Buddies were not just a hit with Rachel’s family – so many others have now made them for their families and friends. “My Donut Buddies have been so popular! I believe it’s because of their fun character designs, and they are easy to grip hold of and stack,” says Rachel. They were such a resounding success that Rachel has collaborated with David & Charles to publish a book, Crochet Donut Buddies. “We worked really hard for over a year creating

a book of Donut Buddies [patterns] so everyone can enjoy them,” she says. “We have all put so much effort into the book to make it as fun and enjoyable as possible. There are 40 older designs and 10 brandnew ones in the book.”

With so many Donut Buddies to choose from, you’d think it might be difficult for Rachel to decide on a favourite, but she definitely has a clear winner. “My absolute favourite Donut Buddy has to be the Sunflower, as sunflowers are my favourite flower. I added a little bee detail that my son really enjoys, too.”

Each Donut Buddy usually takes around three to four hours to make, “so they’re pretty quick projects,” she explains. Rachel is also keen to stress that you don’t need to be a crochet expert to create one. “I always tell people to try amigurumi as it’s easier than it looks. If you know your basic stitches and can read a pattern, you’re good to go. ”

To create a new Donut Buddy, Rachel’s design process is simple. “I always write a list of new characters I would like to make and work from the list, choosing the one I want to make at that time. I sketch out what type of design I have in mind and create a Donut Buddy that resembles my drawings.”

QUIET TIME With so many new Donut Buddy patterns to her name, you’d be forgiven for thinking Rachel has a lot of time for crafting, but nothing could be further from the truth. “I’m a mum to two boys, one with autism, so crocheting has to fit into my way of life. I try to crochet of an evening mainly, as it’s when I get a little peace and quiet.

“My children love to see me make new toys, though, and my eldest always asks to see my progress. My typical designing day would be to plan what I have in mind the

night before, then sit of an evening and crochet up a storm.”

Rachel has a conservatory which she uses as her craft room; it’s where she stores all of her yarns, tools and materials. “I adore Scheepjes yarn, especially Stonewashed and Riverwashed yarn. They are my go-tos at the moment,” she says. “My favourite tools are the 2.5mm to 3.5mm crochet hooks. They’re great for amigurumi and for producing small, tight stitches. My favourite hooks are Clover Amour, as they glide through the stitches like butter and are easy on the hands.” And although her craft room is where her materials are stored, her favourite spot to crochet is actually on the sofa. “I enjoy putting on a movie or some music and working from there.”

COMPLETELY HOOKED “Crochet means so much to me. It makes me so happy. When I feel stressed or sad, I’ll whip out my hook and yarn and crochet to feel happy. I can knit as well as crochet, but I much prefer to crochet. My grandmother could also do both, but she preferred knitting, so I wanted to be different and crochet more. Now there’s no stopping me.”

As for the future, Rachel has plenty on her plate. “I have a lot more planned for after my much-needed break. I’ve now been trying to teach my left- handed son to crochet.

“I’d love to work more on my Plush Buddy Mini patterns, as they are so cute, and lots more Donut Buddies too!” Written by Lucy Evans

“There is something about handmade toys that I find just magical”

A few of her favourite things

When Rachel’s not making new Donut Buddies… “I love to go on long walks and use the gym. Walking, to me, is everything – I walk five to six miles a day. I love nature and to be outdoors. It’s also where I find my inspiration for my crochet work.” Visit www.oodlesofcrochet.etsy.com and @oodles_of_crochet on Instagram. Crochet Donut Buddies is published by David & Charles.