PSA Cast in Crochet: Zack

Hey foks, Meagan here!

As part of a yarny celebration of the upcoming Press Start Adventures DVD, I decided to make the cast in adorable, squishy plushie form!

Now, this isn’t the first time I’ve made yarn versions of these characters- in fact, if you own Press Start you’ve seen the “Japanese Dolls Commercial.” But I wanted to make something much more reminiscent of the animated series to celebrate the upcoming release, so I decided to go for a cuter, more simplified version of the main three characters.  It’s not quite amigurumi, but has the same spirit.

We’ll start with Zack, and over the next few days you’ll learn to make Sam and Lin-Ku as well!

For Zack you’ll need:

• Size G crochet hook
• Yellow, tan, red, brown, black, white and green yarn (black, white and green are for optional embroideredfeatures)
• Wide eyed enthusiasm

Body
Round One: with red, ch 2, 6sc in 2nd ch from hook, sl st to join, ch 1, turn
Round Two: 2sc in each sc around, sl st to join, ch 1, turn
Round Three: *2sc in 1st sc, sc in 2nd sc, repeat from * around, sl st to join, ch 1, turn
Round Four: sc around in back loop only, sl st to join, ch1, turn
Round Five-Ten: sc around, sl st to join, ch1, turn
Round Eleven: switch to tan yarn, sc around, sl st to join, ch 1, turn
Round Twelve-Fifteen: sc around, sl st to join, ch 1, turn
Round Sixteen: *sc, sc2tog in next sc, repeat from *around, sl st to join, ch 1, turn
Round Seventeen: repeat row sixteen
Fasten off

Head
Round One: with tan, ch 2, 6sc in 2nd ch from hook, sl st to join, ch1, turn
Round Two: 2sc in each sc around, sl st to join, ch 1, turn
Round Three: *2sc in 1st sc, sc in 2nd sc, repeat from * around, sl st to join, ch 1, turn
Round Four: sc around, sl st to join, ch1, turn
Round Five: * sc, sc2 tog, repeat from * around, sl st to join, ch 1, turn
Round Six: sc around, sl st to join, ch 1, turn
Fasten off

Arms- make 2
Round One: With tan, ch 2, 6sc in 2nd ch from hook
Round Two: sc around, sl st to join, ch 1, turn
Round Three: sc around, sl st to join, ch 1, turn
Fasten off

Stuff head. body and arms with fiberfill or yarn, sew together and weave in ends

Jacket- back
Row One: with red, ch 11, sc in 2nd ch from hook and each sc across, ch 1, turn
Row Two-Eight: sc across, ch 1, turn
Fasten Off

Jacket- front right
Row One: with red, ch 7, sc in 2nd ch from hook and each sc across, ch 1, turn
Row Two-Seven: repeat Row One
Fasten off

Jacket- front left:
Row One: with red, ch 7, sc in 2nd ch from hook and each sc across, ch 1, turn
Row Two-Eight: repeat Row One
Fasten off

Lay the figure on top of the back of the jacket, lay out the front right and left panels to either side for easystitching.  Stitch the side seams, leaving space for the arms and tightening up the yarn around the armsfor a snug fit.  Overlap the two fronts of the jacket and fold the edges over to create a “lapel,” sew lapeldown and stitch the left and front sides together in the middle for a snug fit.

Belt
With brown, ch 30 tightly, wrap around waist and tie into a firm knot, leaving ends dangling

Hair- Base
Round One: with yellow, ch 2 and 6sc in 2nd ch from hook, sl st to join, ch 1, turn
Round Two: 2sc in each sc around, sl st to join, ch 1, turn
Round Three: *2sc, sc, repeat from * around, sl st to join, fasten off

Hair- short piece- make 2
Row One: with yellow, ch 7, sc in 2nd ch from hook and each sc across, ch 1, turn
Row Two: *sc, sc2tog, repeat from * across, fasten off

Hair- long piece- make 4
Row One: with yellow, ch 7, sc in 2nd ch from hook and each sc across, ch 1, turn
Row Two: sc across, ch 1, turn
Row Three:  *sc, sc2tog, repeat from * across, fasten off

Stitch base of hair to head of figure.  Arrange hair pieces with short ends along the top of the head andblond hair, making sure to distribute them evenly so Zack doesn’t look like he has a bald patch.  Sitch allhair down, arranging as you go.  Cut a piece of red yarn and tie on for headband.

Embroider mouth and eyes, or just buy googly eyes for that wide-eyed naive look

Enjoy!