lemmings!
Okay, I can’t spin out the suspense any longer – I have to show you what I’ve made… It seems like there are a lot of Mario or PacMan inspired crafts going on at the moment, but I can’t imagine why nobody has thought to make these before: amigurumi Lemmings!
Gamers of the ’90s probably remember the classic Lemmings video game franchise – those hapless green-haired troops who followed each other in a line and would walk straight off a cliff to their doom if you didn’t create a path to safety for them. It was an original and engaging puzzle/strategy game with really cute music. I used to love playing it on my cousins’ Amiga, and later the tiny black-and-white version on my original GameBoy.
The way to play the game was to assign skills to some of the many lemmings in order to help as many as possible to safely navigate their surroundings and make it through each level. There were 9 different skills:
- Walker: The basic model lemming. Walks and walks until he hits a wall or falls off a cliff
- Blocker: Stops other lemmings from passing
- Miner: Digs a tunnel with his trusty pickaxe
- Floater: Falls from any height without damage thanks to his handy umbrella
- Builder: Builds a bridge using the boards he carries in his backpack
There were also Digger, Climber, Basher & Bomber lemmings, but I didn’t make those because they didn’t have any interesting props.
Please click through to see the full-size image – it looks so much better that way!
I crocheted all the Lemmings using my free Mop Top Mascots pattern, and I improvised their accessories to make them into the appropriate lemming. I crocheted around floral wire to make the pickaxe and umbrella handle, and I made a little stand for Builder’s bridge out of black polymer clay (a crocheted bridge isn’t stiff enough to support a lemming!). I also made a stand out of floral wire for Floater (you can see the base of it in the group shot), so he really does hang in the air.
Click through to see the full-size image
It was such a fun project. My favourite parts to make were the umbrella and the builder’s backpack – tiny accessories are just so cute!
Retro-game geek June signing off… Please leave me a comment if you like my Lemmings!
ETA: Just to make it clear, if you’d like to make your own lemmings, the basic lemming body uses my Mop Top Mascots pattern, and you can improvise your own accessories for them!
ETA: Bowing to pressure, I’ve added details for how I made the accessories in the next post…
ETA: If you are interested in commissioning any lemmings from me, please see this post! I can no longer take commissions – please see my FAQ for a possible alternative option.
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Henk said
Awesome, great memories of this classic game, and since my wife picked p crochet, I regularly look for patterns for her to try. These Lemmings would be great, I’d love to have one in my car, or on top of my computer screen.
What is needed to make those? And once again, nice job!
Greetings, from the Netherlands
Yolande said
Omg !!!! Awesome ! Would you agree to sell some set of those ? They’re sooooooo cute !!!! My favorites one are the blocker and the builder.
Trust me, I really enjoyed my visit in your world of nature-inspired crochet. Thanks so much for sharing. And please let me know.
=^_^=
June said
Yolande, I’m afraid I can no longer accept commissions for crocheted pieces, but please see my FAQ for a possible alternative option 🙂
Tania said
Wow, these are amazing! And I love the way you photographed them. I realize I’m commenting on an old post, but just had to!
judy said
I enjoyed seeing this on stumbleupon and reading all the other comments that were left
PopoZero said
They are sooooo cute…
Brings me far in the past ooohhh yes… 😀
I just visit “nerdigurumi blog” and i am so happy i am not the only one in the world who love old (and less old) games and amigurumi,so why not marry them together…
Your lemmings are the cutest thing for a geek-birthday, i think.
<3
Ariel said
Do you sell those? I would really love to buy a set from u!!
Contact me on tota5forever@gmail.com if interested
Shaun said
My gran’s made some a bit like yours – I persuaded her to try them! They’ve come out quite well, I think: www.shauncampbell.co.uk/blog/?p=15
JS said
Thought you might be interested to know that HUNDREDS of these little critters are now doing all sorts of Lemming’y things around the information technology building of Helsinki University of Technology.
Elaborate practical jokes are a tradition in Finnish technology schools, and the girls crafts club of HUT IT students has apparently been crocheting these things for FIVE MONTHS in secret… best pics I’ve seen of the prank are at idis.1g.fi/kuvat/Lemmings/ and blog of the conspirators chronicling the planning of the “strike” at virkut.blogspot.com/ (but it’s all in Finnish)
Walt Snider said
I’d love to buy the builder!
Angelica Bays said
Hey June!!
i don’t know how i got onto this page, but i’m glad I did. I’ve been trying to figure out how I’m going tofashion ami eyeglasses for a custom order…
Floral wire! Genius! Thanks so much for the tip!
vian said
These are absolutely, adorably, nostalgically inspired! Off to buy yarn now. I might even attempt a bomber with a number above its head. (“Oh no!”)
Shadee said
Ok these are just amazing 🙂
It doesn’t just sort of look like them, they’re spot on.
Awesome creative way to bring back some nostalgia. Great work! 😀
Taymar said
I’ve blogged begging my readers to make me these 🙂
Jen said
Very cute. I’d forgotten about that game, it was fun! Thanks for the reminder!
Abby said
Those are so adorable!
Joliie said
Bloody brilliant 🙂
the expression is just great, leeets go!
June said
Tyler: I’ve emailed you 🙂
Jenny said
Brilliant!
Tyler Wagner said
Hi! These are awesome! I organise a Lemmings theme camp for a burning-man-type festival in Spain. A night-time shot of our shade structure (inspired by the exit door with torches):
www.tolaris.com/gallery/Nowhere_2007_event/tyler3623
You can see one of us in the background, with blue jumpsuit and green hair.
Unfortunately, none of us have crochet experience, but we’re willing to pay for yours. Are you interested in making more and selling them? I would love a complete set for our camp.
pigliapost said
Awesome!
jajdks said
how can i play lemmings i really want to play
June said
jajdks, you can play a port of the original Lemmings game online here or here 🙂
Ruth said
Absolutely adorable.
Great interpretation of the little creatures, love their hair! and the colors you chose. Imaginative accessories!
Congratulations, they are winners!!
Ozzer said
Simply fantastic
Jo said
I used to play the computer games too. The lemmings are so cute. This post makes me want to create some of my own to display or to give away as gifts 🙂
Meg said
I just saw these on Craftster and said OH MY GOD. You have no idea how much I wish I knew how to crochet now. I seriously would BUY a set from you, this used to be a favorite game of mine. I always thought they were so cute. If you ever would consider selling a set, please please please contact me.
nimoloth said
Genius! I love Lemmings! Between you and Roman Sock, I have got to learn to crochet!
Redd said
OMG!
These are SO freaking adorable!
I must find that green yarn!!
melissa said
I Love, Love, Love these! So cute!!!! (I used to play and play this game…)
June said
Thank you, guys! Check my next post for more details of how I made the accessories…
danielle said
I love lemmings! I really miss playing the game, too (though in other comments, online lemmings was mentioned, so maybe…) 🙂
Aveen said
These are the coolest thing I’ve seen in years! Great idea. If I can find some green fluffy yarn for the hair I’ll have to make myself a pet lemming.
Kristen said
Hi June,
I totally love this pattern. I already made a little lemming! My boyfriend and his family are big video game fans and ever since I showed him my finished lemming he has start to play the free online lemmings game which he said reminds him of the old days when he used to play it as a child. I am considering making him a big gang of them and was wondering if you’d consider sharing your patterns for the back bag, umbrella, and pick. I’m not sure how you switched colors to make the umbrella. Thanks so much for the help and thanks for sharing this cute pattern.
Tomer said
Absolutely amazing!
Ruhammie said
I remember playing lemmings ALL THE TIME!! These are AWESOME!!! I SO need to make one for my mom and brother, we were all addicted. Thanks for sharing such a creative idea!
Jana said
Awesome! to cute for words! I agree the accessories are more than half the fun! Can’t wait to make some of my own!
Maya said
OMG, these are made of win.
One used to be able to play Lemmings online … if you google ‘DHTML Lemmings’ you might still find it is up?
Annkari said
When I showed your Mop Top Mascots pattern to my husband yesterday, he immediately exclaimed: “Lemmings!” 😀
Thanks for the cute pattern!
Krista said
I don’t believe what I’m seeing. Lemmings?! I idolized these little guys as a child! I spend, goodness… HOURS on the computer saving my lemmings from a certain doom. They are just as I remember them; long-snouted, fuzzy-haired, blue sack-bodied critters with umbrellas and steps! I will be making these. You have officially made my day. Quite officially.
…wait. Will I be making these? Do you plan on sharing…? Pleeeaaaase? 😉
Camelama said
Oh. My. God. My friends and I played this so much! I love it!
Puglette said
oh my, June those are perfect! My hubby and I got a chuckle out of these…he and our daughter used to spend hours playing lemmings…I was not very good at the game but I always thought they were so cute!
hugs,
puglette
:o)
Rachel said
Check out www.consoleclassix.com and you canplay all those great old games on your computer!
Glenda said
OMG! I wasted sooooo much time playing Lemmings! My daughter and I used to argue over who was going to play each evening! Now I’ll have to spend my evenings crocheting them! They are great! The attitudes are perfect!
eve said
Lemmings yay! I forgot all about them!! Are you going to sell the patterns? I might have to dust off my crochet needles for these babies…
Misty said
I love your lemmings! I have never seen the game but it sounds like so much fun. I always love seeing the things that inspire you…you have such a talent for creating fantastic amigurumi!
Allie said
Oh my god! this brings back such memories! I remember playing lemmings on my brother’s sega. It was the only game I could actually beat. I love them. I’m going to have to make some and send them to my brother. Great idea, better than Mario!
Josefin said
Not sure if I have played lemmings or not, since I know I have played other games with the same name…
Anyway, they are so great! I really like the one with the umbrella! Well done! 😀
Christy DeKoning said
June these are to die for.
I love the blocker.
I have no idea what Lemmings are (being not so video-game-savvy) but I just want to play with them all. Makes me wish there was a top to my iMac lol (for displaying funky things like this)
christy
Mandi said
*GASP* Oh my GOSH those are fantastic!!