Hexipuffs for the Holidays

With the pandemic keeping the family apart more than usual this year, I wanted to craft small handknitted items to let people know I am thinking of them. This year, inspired by the Nintendo Switch and our identical cases, I chose to knit an assortment of hexipuffs with a Nintendo theme.

A collection of hexipuffs for ornaments or keychains.

The hexipuffs pattern is also known as The Beekeeper’s Quilt, by Tiny Owl Knits, available on Ravelry. I used this pattern as my base for all the hexipuffs. For the Mario-themed designs, I also used the duplicate stitch patterns Super Mario Bros. Character Charts by Erica Hardin, which is also available on Ravelry.

Some of the patterns I chose based on our crew’s love of Mario Party (the Star) and Mario Kart (Bob-omb).

Some patterns I chose based on their favorite characters (Mario and Yoshi).

And where I couldn’t find a pattern, I improvised and created my own (pokeball and ultra ball) based on another beloved series.

The original intention was for these hexipuffs to be a keychain so we could tell our Switch cases apart, but since I worked them up in worsted weight (which comprises the majority of my stash yarn), they’re a little large. These may make better holiday ornaments instead. I’ll let the recipients decide.

Each project worked up quickly, in about an hour or two. The hexipuff pattern’s simplicity was very fast to knit, and the bulk of my time was spent on the character embellishments using the duplicate stitch technique. Mistakes were hard to undo, so I needed double-check the pattern frequently to ensure success. That said, if you’re looking for a fun, quick homemade holiday gift for anyone on your list, consider hexipuffs!

Happy knitting!

Save the files, Resetti’s all smiles – Making the Mr. Resetti Mask

Nintendo’s Animal Crossing: New Leaf on the DS takes some of our favorite characters from the GameCube version and mingles them with a whole new cast. Mr. Resetti may be a little rough around the edges, and outright startling the first time you meet him, but he’s no doubt recognizable. I made a mask for my friend’s Mr. Resetti CosPlay Costume he wore at PAX East 2016. While at the convention,  a woman approached him with her three boys and said, “Are you Mr. Resetti? You made my kids cry when they were younger. Can I get a picture?” And that became their Christmas card.

Okay, maybe not their Christmas card, but it was a great mask. And I’m going to teach you how to make one of your own. Just try to leave the scaring children until they cry to the actual in-game character.

Mr. Resetti, of Nintendo’s Animal Crossing series, mask next to the Mr. Resetti amiibo.

 

Getting Started

Skill: Beginner

Project type: Papier-Mâché, painting

Time: Full weekend (8+ hrs or overnight dry time required)

Materials:

• Mask base (purchase at a craft store)
• Newspaper
  • Some pieces whole for shaping
  • Some pieces torn into 1-inch strips
• Glue (I prefer Elmer’s School Glue)
• Water
• Masking tape
• Scissors
• Paint brushes
• Acrylic paint
  • brown
  • black
  • white
• String or cord to tie mask
• Covering for workspace – this can get messy!
• paper / plastic bowls (optional)
  • For mixing glue / water
  • Holding shredded newspaper
  • Mixing / holding paint

Making the Mask Part 1:   Shape the Mask

First things first, you’ll need to make the mask look like shape of Mr. Resetti’s face. He’s got a long, pointy nose with little hairs. To shape the nose, take a piece of newspaper and roll it into a cone. Using masking tape, tape the cone shape together so it will not unravel. Sometimes it’s easier to shape the cone and tape it first, then cut the length to size with scissors. Then attach the cone to the mask with masking tape.

When the cone is in place the next step is to secure it to the mask using Papier-Mâché. To do this, first you need to mix the adhesive. There are many recipes available online, but this is the one is the one I prefer because it’s very simple:

Easy Papier-Mâché Mix

• 3 parts glue

• 1 part water

Mix these together until combined. You’ll want the substance to be fluid but not runny.

This is when things start to get a little messy – definitely make sure your workspace is covered, extra newspaper is a good option, and you’ve removed any jewelry or nice clothes. Keep the bowl with your glue mix close to your shredded newspaper strips.

Take one of the strips and dip it into the glue mixture. Using your fingers, wipe off the excess glue. If you have too thick of a layer it’ll delay your dry-time. Then apply the strip directly onto the mask. You’ll want to continue doing this until the mask is mostly covered. Take care to ensure that the cone is secured by multiple layers of Papier-Mâché across the front and underside of the mask. Don’t forget to secure it from the bottom. Also, be sure to wrap the cone completely, this will further secure the shape that was originally set by the masking tape. Try to smooth out any bubbles or rough edges while the glue is still wet.

Take care not to cover over the holes at the edge of the mask for tying the string later.  Leave the mask to dry for several hours, overnight is best.

Making the Mask Part 2: Painting the Face

When the mask is dry and Resetti’s nose has been shaped, it’s time to add the paint to really bring it together. First, prime the mask by painting a white base. This will coverup much of the print on the newspaper so it doesn’t show through, and ensures a more uniform final look. Depending on the newspaper you chose, you may need to do more than one coat of white allover the mask.

Let the mask dry between coats; typically a thin layer of acrylic paint will dry within 20-30 minutes. This is why I like to use acrylics for these kinds of projects, because acrylics have a very quick dry time and they’re easy to paint over if you make a mistake. I use the craft store’s basic acrylics line, typically running $3-7 a tube. Expensive paints are not necessary. I also have a lot of paint brushes for use with acrylics and watercolor paints. I take very good care of these brushes and because of this many of these brushes have lasted me for over 15 years.

Then it’s time for my favorite part: the decorative painting. The paint really brings the mask to life. Start with a medium brown paint, for Resetti a Sienna tone is good. Paint the mask brown all over, using two coats if necessary. Again, let the mask dry between coats. Then paint Mr. Resetti’s thick eyebrows with black paint above the eyeholes in the mask.  Don’t forget to add some thin black lines on his nose for his whiskers! Let it dry completely.

Add an elastic cord or some string to create ties for the mask. I used hemp string for a rustic look, with two 12-inch long pieces on either side that could easily be tied together behind the head. If you choose to use elastic, measure twice and sew the ends for a stronger hold.

Making of a Mask: Lucina’s “Marth” Mask

When we first meet Lucina in Nintendo’s Fire Emblem: Awakening, she appears disguised as the legendary hero Marth wearing a dark navy mask that shields her eyes. Though the design initially appears complex, by breaking it down into manageable parts, it’s not too challenging to create your own. Here are easy-to-follow instructions for a mask you can make in a weekend.

Getting Started

Skill: Beginner

Project type: Papier-Mâché, painting

Time: Full weekend (8+ hrs or overnight dry time required)

Materials:

• Mask base (purchase at a craft store)
• Newspaper, torn into 1-inch strips
• Poster-board or thick paper for shaping
• Glue (I prefer Elmer’s School Glue)
• Water
• Masking tape
• Scissors
• Paint brushes
• Acrylic paint
  • brown
  • black
  • white
• String or cord to tie mask
• Covering for workspace – this can get messy!
• paper / plastic bowls (optional)
  • For mixing glue / water
  • Holding shredded newspaper
  • Mixing / holding paint

Step 1: Shaping

Cut two identical pieces to create the lower mask.

Attach them to the bottom of the mask using masking tape.

Start with the mask base, available at most craft stores, this saves you a significant amount of time and is totally worth it, especially if this is your first mask. Using the poster-board, create the lower edge of Lucina’s mask by tracing a shape that looks similar to the lower half of a butterfly’s wing. Cut the shape out, and use it to trace an identical one for the other side. With the two shapes cut, tape them to the bottom of the mask base using masking tape.

Step 2: Papier-Mâché

Messy but worth the effort – Papier-Mâché strengthens your mask.

Definitely take a few minutes to prep your workspace, because this step can get very messy. We’ll use Papier-Mâché to secure the poster-board cutouts to the mask and create a well-balanced piece. Use a paper bowl to mix the Papier-Mâché. There are many recipes available online, but this is the one is the one I prefer because it’s very simple:

Easy Papier-Mâché Mix

• 3 parts glue

• 1 part water

Mix these together until combined. You’ll want the substance to be fluid but not runny.

Dip the strips of newspaper into the glue mixture, using your fingers to remove the excess. Gently apply the strips to the mask, concentrating on covering the poster-board for support and securing where it attaches to the mask. Take care to smooth any ridges or air bubbles out while the glue is wet. TIP: Don’t cover the holes for the ribbon to tie the mask on, or you’ll have to punch them through later.

Let dry completely, for 6-8 hours or overnight.

Step 3: Apply a Base Coat

Newspaper is great for using in Papier-Mâché because its thin, inexpensive, and a great way to recycle. The downside? The black ink will show through projects unless you apply a solid base coat. It’s worth the extra effort.

Paint the entire mask white. I like acrylics because they’re easy to use and dry fast. Let the mask dry completely, 1-3 hours depending on how thick of a layer you’ve painted. Apply a second coat of white paint across the entire mask. This will ensure that your base coat is even, and will make your decorative paint colors appear more uniform across the mask. Let dry completely.

Step 4: Painting – The Fun Part

Three CosPlay Masks with a white base to cover over the ink from the newspaper

Navy base coat on Lucina’s Mask

Here the detailing is first painted in white and then painted over with the gold to emphasize the color.

My favorite part of the mask project: Painting! For the Lucina mask, begin with a base of dark Navy blue. If you have navy paint – great! If not, mix small (and I mean tiny!) amounts of black paint in with a dollop of primary blue until you reach the desired shade. It’s better to start small and mix more black in, than to go in too strong and waste a lot of blue paint to get the hue right. I like to use a larger brush for this part.

When the navy dries, using a small brush, paint the detail in white. This thin white layer will dry quickly, and then you can go over it with gold. I find that this method is easier than trying to keep white boarders while painting the mask navy. It does require a little more patience and a steady hand, but the results are worth it. Even though acrylics layer really well, I find that the white base allows the color to pop more – so the white base will help the gold paint stand out better. Let dry completely.

Step 5: Finishing Touches

The completed Lucina CosPlay Mask

The mask isn’t complete without a way to wear it. Here are a few options arranged by difficulty:

Easy:  Purchase a pre-strung mask, it’ll already be fit to size and ready to wear

Medium:  Cut two lengths of string and tie the ends of each through the holes. Leave the second ends loose to tie around the head to wear.

Hard:  Cut elastic cord 1-2 inches longer than the snug length around head. Thread an end through the mask hold and hand sew to attach. Repeat on the other side, ensuring that the mask will fit snugly on the face without falling off or giving the wearer a headache.

Now your mask is ready to wear.

Challenge your fate, and happy crafting!