Join us as Pica Pau shares the inspiration behind her new yarn line and tells us why Cotton 8/7 is perfect for your next amigurumi project. Get a behind-the-scenes look at her creative process and passion for crochet!
We recently had the pleasure of chatting with Yan Schenkel, the creative force behind Pica Pau, about and her new yarn line, which includes Cotton 8/7 by Pica Pau and Nude Cotton 8/7 by Pica Pau. For those of you who are new to her work, Pica Pau has spent over 16 years creating adorable and whimsical amigurumi characters, and she is nothing short of inspiring. 🥰💖
In this Q&A, we explore the color palettes of the new yarns, Yan's love for TV shows, and the passion she pours into every project, showing that crochet is more than just a hobby for her – it’s a way of life. 🧶
Read the Exclusive Chat with Pica Pau Here
1. Hey, Pica Pau! We’re so excited to chat with you today! For those who might be new to your work, can you share a little about yourself and what you love about crochet and amigurumi?
“Of course! My name is Yan Schenkel, and I was born and have lived in Buenos Aires, Argentina, for almost 45 years. I studied arts and design, so my passion for shape and color comes from that. I'm also a huge fan of cartoons, children's stories, comics, and fantasy and science fiction series and films, so my near-need to create characters that could be part of a story comes from there.
I owe my love for yarns and making things with my hands to my family, both my mother, with her desire to experiment with whatever technique was in fashion at the time, and my father, who taught me how to weave macramé, tie knots, and use carpentry tools.”
“Before I was 25, I never paid much attention to crochet, but one day a classmate refreshed me on some stitches I'd learned as a child. By 2009, I had started designing my own characters, and that's when Pica Pau was born, a name in Portuguese that means ‘woodpecker.’ It obviously started as a hobby, something I did while studying and working as a language teacher... It wasn't until two or three years later that it became a ‘full-time job.’
And here I am, 16 years later. Besides being good for me, the repetitive motion of crochet has almost become a necessity.”
2. We’d love to learn more about you! Is there something that most people might not know?
"I'm on the autism spectrum, and I’m constantly watching TV shows on repeat in the background. I need something in the background while I crochet, or I get distracted too easily.
And it’s not just any TV show: it’s all 12 of the Star Trek series. Most of them have between 5 and 7 seasons each, and I’ve watched some of them in full more than five times. Obviously, these aren’t the only shows I watch; anything science fiction, period drama, or even Gilmore Girls is also part of my crocheting routine.
I don’t think I can crochet for long without something else going on so I’m always watching a TV show. In fact, the new amigurumi characters I’m designing with the new Cotton 8/7 have been named after a show called Severance."
"Another thing I do is organize my workspace according to the colors I’m working with. I like to rearrange things like books, notebooks, yarns, toys, or decorations based on the color schemes I’m currently using or planning to use. This helps me not only visualize the combinations that work but also understand how the colors interact with each other."
3. Alright, let’s dive in! In collaboration with Hobbii, you’re launching two new cotton yarns. What are you most excited about?
"I’m happy with everything! It’s a beautiful cotton yarn of excellent quality, so soft and fluffy, yet it holds its shape so well. And the colors, I just love how they turned out! I think I’ve said this before, but in my opinion, the yarns really feel like they were meant to be together.
Of course, I dream of adding a few more colors in the future. I’m really delighted with how everything has come together."
4. For those who are still getting familiar with yarn thicknesses, can you break down what the "8/7" thickness means?
"Well, as the name suggests, 8/7 is in between 8/6 and 8/8. All the strands in these yarns have the same thickness of 8, but while some are spun with 6 strands, others are spun with 8 strands. The 8/7 yarns, however, are spun with 7 strands, which is where the '7' comes from.
When I started crocheting, I used a yarn with that thickness, 7 strands, and it worked perfectly with my 2.75 hook, the only crochet hook I had. At the time, I didn’t know anything about yarn nomenclature or strand counts; I just knew it was perfect for me.
Then I tried working with 6-strand yarn, which is more popular and comes in more colors, but I found that not only did I have to adjust the tension, but the toys turned out too small for my liking."
The 8/8 yarn, despite being a cotton I’ve used a lot in recent years, is a bit thick. I love making giant toys, but I’ve realized that 8/8 isn’t the most comfortable to crochet with.
Of course, it’s always going to be a personal choice, but after more than 16 years of crocheting the same stitch and experimenting with different yarn weights, I feel that 8/7 is THE ideal weight for crochet toys or amigurumi."
5. The colors are absolutely gorgeous! Tell us about the thoughts behind the two different collections of shades.
"Thank you! The colored palette is something very personal to me. It’s a collection I’ve been putting together for years. It's a part of my world and my characters. I think these colors translate into a fairly timeless collection – after all, they've survived 16 years of color fashions.
As for the nude shades, I think they’re a fairly successful attempt to fill the shortage of human and earth tones in cotton yarns. I know there will always be colors left out because it’s impossible to cover the entire spectrum of what we perceive as skin tones, as each one has a world of undertones – violets, reds, and yellows. That said, I think, and I hope, these 25 shades are a good start. I tried to focus on three main undertone families and aimed to offer a broad range of saturation and depth within each family."
“For me, the idea wasn't just to try to cover that spectrum of human skin colors, it’s also about designing for animal characters. After all, not all bears have the same color, nor do horses or any other animals. If we who design animals were left with just two or three brown colors, I can’t imagine how limiting that would be for those who crochet dolls or other designs. That’s why I’m very happy with the new nude color palette.”
6. Ok, let’s talk amigurumi! What makes Cotton 8/7 so great for amigurumi? It seems like it’s a match made in heaven for those cute, little creations!
"Basically, cotton is a yarn with very little to no elasticity, so it stretches very little and doesn’t deform. When we’re making a toy, that’s exactly what we want: something that retains its shape. Cotton is also a natural fiber, very soft to the touch and hypoallergenic, which makes it ideal for the main audience of these creatures – children.
Plus, the final amigurumi character turns out just how I like it; it has the perfect size, it’s soft, and the matte colors blend together perfectly. Cotton 8/7 is truly the perfect cotton yarn for amigurumi, if I may say so, hehe."
7. The five new amigurumi patterns are all so unique! Do you have a favorite, or one that you just can’t wait for your others to try?
"I think people will really enjoy crocheting Dylan the Ladybug and Harmony the Pig because they’re both super cute and quick to crochet, even with Dylan’s Jacquard face.
Irving the Donkey and Helly the Lamb are two more classic patterns, perfect for those who enjoy making accessories and clothing – and they’re also interchangeable with other characters I’ve designed for Hobbii.
And finally, my favorite is Mark the Duck. I love his face, the colors, and, of course, I have a soft spot for crocheting birds!”
8. Looking ahead, what’s next for you in the world of crochet and amigurumi?
“Next thing, besides another Cotton 8/7 by Pica Pau project coming out relatively soon, is my next book. I've been thinking about it for a long time but haven't had time to devote any attention to it, so it's really something I hope to start soon. I really enjoy making books.”
9. Finally, what do you hope people will take away from these new yarns and patterns?
"Joy. I hope they truly enjoy crocheting with the cotton yarn, experimenting with these colors that can be hard to find in traditional palettes, and exploring all the possibilities of the nude shades. I also hope they learn something new from the characters and the techniques, but most importantly, I want them to find joy in creating them."
10. Is there anything else we should know?
"I’d love for people to take a moment to appreciate and enjoy all the work that goes into these projects – not just mine, but everyone involved. I know they’re still products, or just another series of new crocheted characters, but the people behind them put a lot of care and love into their work. We truly want the people on the other side to enjoy what we create."
Ready to Try Out the New Yarns from Pica Pau?
Ready to start your next project with the new Cotton 8/7 by Pica Pau? Whether you’re diving into amigurumi or trying out a new crochet pattern, it will be a dream working with Cotton 8/7 by Pica Pau and Nude Cotton 8/7 by Pica Pau.
Plus, check out the new patterns that Pica Pau has designed to match these stunning yarns, including adorable creatures like Dylan the Ladybug, Harmony the Pig, and more!
Click here to go to the patterns
