If you’re a Freddie Mercury fan, you probably have a few Queen albums and maybe even posters, but how about a crochet doll? Janine Holmes (of Moji-Moji Design) is an expert in amigurumi, the Japanese art of crocheting small, stuffed yarn creatures. Luckily for Queen aficionados out there, she created a pattern for creating your own DIY Freddie Mercury doll, and it’s available to download for free!
Holmes has loved working with textiles ever since she was a child. “I was card weaving when I was five with my Granny Elsie,” she recalls, “and knitting away by the time I was eight.” She continued crafting into adulthood, and earned a Master’s degree in Constructed Textile Design before successfully building her career within the fashion and textile industry. “I have been a freelance print designer for most of my working life,” she says, “but that has very much taken a back seat since discovering the joys of designing crochet patterns.”
Holmes’ portfolio of adorable crochet characters include cats, alpacas, and even monsters, but her pattern for the Freddie Mercury doll proved to be a favorite among fellow crafters. Since making the pattern available to download online for free, avid Mercury fans have been crafting their own mini, crocheted version of the music legend. Those who completed their dolls were invited to share photos of their final creation on Holmes’ Facebook page. Each textile Mercury is delightfully different, complete with slight variations on his iconic mustache, chest hair, and trademark yellow jacket.
Holmes hopes people who download her pattern will consider donating to Mercury Phoenix Trust, an organization that fights HIV/AIDS worldwide. The charity was founded by bandmates Brian May and Roger Taylor and Queen manager Jim Beach, in memory of Freddie Mercury.
Want to make your own crochet Freddie Mercury? Download Holmes’ free instructions here and check out more of her amigurumi creations on Instagram and Etsy.
Janice Holmes (of Moji-Moji Design) has created a pattern for creating your own DIY Freddie Mercury doll. Here are some of the crochet creations people have made so far.
Janine Holmes / Moji-Moji Design: Facebook | Instagram | Etsy
h/t: [Open Culture]
All images via Janine Holmes / Moji-Moji Design except where noted.
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