What are
What are
Skräpkins?
Skräpkins?
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Under the name Skräpkins—derived from the Swedish word for rubbish, skräp—I breathe new life into "dead" yarns sourced from charity shops and vintage finds. By transforming reclaimed materials into whimsical creatures, I aim to keep beautiful fibers out of landfills, ensuring every one-of-a-kind creation is as sustainable as it is enchanting and diverts needless waste from landfills to create unique, eco-conscious creatures.
Every Skräpkin is a one-of-a-kind treasure, hand-stitched from the past to protect our future. Every-one is unique!
When I begin a skräpkins project, I first select the colour scheme. Quite often I find myself putting two different yarns together until I feel inspired. Once I have chosen the different yarns I select the style of Impkin I wish to create from Megan Lapp’s book, “Crochet Impkins” ISBN 978-0-8117-7160-3. Her basic pattern has the option for a sitting or standing Impkin, as well as two different arm styles to choose from. Generally, by the time I've chosen my colour scheme I have a good idea which pattern style I'm going to use. Now I can begin to create my Impkin.
Choosing the body style
The colour scheme for this Impkin would lead me to creating a wizard. Bags, walking stick, ears, hair, or even a flowing cloak could follow.
The start of a plump little mushroom
As I am creating the Impkin, It's personality slowly comes to me, and bit by bit I can develop it's personality further through the accessories or additions that I decide to add to it. Much of this I decide at the end of completing the Impkin body, when the colours of the yarn have more presence on the style and personality of my creation.
Once the body of the Impkin has been created I decide what accessories would compliment it's personality. Many of these accessories are created freehand such as skateboards, fishing rods, books, gathering bags, rucksacks, etc. Then I come to whether I want to add things such as flowers to the hats, hair, ears, antlers or even horns.
There are many items that have patterns; whether I follow a pattern exactly depends on whether it is suitable for the Impkin I am creating. As in the example of the Mad Hatter's hat pictured below right - the pattern for the hat wasn't big enough or tall enough so I extended it and expanded it. Below left is the hypnotic hat I made for Calavera, It was extended, expanded, has a unique swirl, and even tiny flowers.
More often than not, patterns are a very good starting point, but when you want your creations to be unique and have actual personality, like I do, then much of the time you find yourself making a lot of it up - none of the items pictured left had patterns. They were all fun to make but did involve quite a bit of frogging and re-doing!
My goblins, floppy katts, voodoo bunnies, and all the other bits & creatures I create, also follow patterns but for them it's really just about choosing colours. For me, it's all about my little Impkins! Or, should I say, my beloved Skräpkins!
If you would like to contact me with questions, comments, or whatever, drop me an email to skrapkin@protonmail.com
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