My first amigurumi pattern! Pikachu head keychain.

*Update on 22 June 2016*

GUYS! Please don't use this pattern anymore. Looking back at this pattern, it makes me cringe. HAH. But it's my first pattern after all. I have a better pattern for you here.

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Hello hello! I have tons of food reviews that are still in my draft stash. However, today I'm going to write something different. I'm so excited! Because it's my first attempt of creating an amigurumi on my own without referencing to written patterns! Although it may seem like a very simple thing, it's a big deal for me. I've only started out experimenting on little stuffs, taking baby steps. 

Pikachu, I choose you!

Googled images of pikachu and took this as a reference. 

I've only made the head because I wanna start small. Since it's just a head, I figured it fits to become a keychain!

My Pikachu keychain!

I've also written my very own simple pattern for this pikachu head keychain!

Materials used: 

3.5mm crochet hook 

Minlon Yellow and black yarn

Tapestry needle

DMC Black tapestry thread

Black and red felt cloth

Abbreviation
ch - chain
sk - skip stitch
sc - single crochet
inc - increase
dec - decrease
* or * * - repeat following pattern until row ends
* * xA - repeat instr inside for A times
MR - Magic ring


Some basic explanation for the pattern I have written 
"inc" means sc x2 in the next sc
"inc by 3" means sc x3 in the next sc
"2sc" means sc x1 in the next sc, repeat 2x
"2inc" means sc x2 in the next sc, repeat 2x

Head 

Row 1: 6sc in MR (6)

Row 2: *inc (12)

Row 3: *sc, inc* (18)

Row 4: *2sc, inc* (24)

Row 5-6: *sc (24)

Row 7: 9sc, *inc, sc*x4, 7sc(28)

Row 8: 11sc , *inc, 2sc*x3, 8sc(31)

Row 9-10: *sc (31)

Row 11: *3sc, dec*x3, sc, dec, sc, dec, *3sc, dec*x2 (30)

Row 12: 3sc, dec (24)

Row 13: 2sc, dec (18)

Begin stuffing.

Row 14: sc, dec (12)

Row 15: dec (6)

Row 16: *1sk, sc* (3)

Finish off and tuck in.

Ears (Make 2)

Start with black yarn.

Row 1: 3sc in MR (3)

Row 2: inc, 2sc (4)

Row 3: inc, 3sc (5)

Change to yellow yarn

Row 4: inc, 2sc, inc, sc (7)

Row 5: sc in each sc (7)

Row 6: dec, 5sc (6)

Finish off and leave a long tail for sewing.

As for the eyes and blusher, I cut the felt cloth and glued it on with contact glue. For the nose and mouth, I've used tapestry thread.

Though after admiring it for awhile I noticed that it could look better if I move the face a bit lower. Because the side profile didn't seem befitting. I also have a reference for it's side profile.

As you can see, the nose is at the tip of the curve.

So, I think it would look better if you do it this way.

Before surgery (left), After surgery (right) 

Excuse my very bad editing skill, this is the best I could do. It depends on your preference I guess. But anyhow, just voicing out my opinion. Hehe!

I hope I made sense. Thanks for reading!