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Crochet models are trending on the 3D model repositories, and it’s easy to see why. They succeed in imitating the look and feel of sewn objects with a yarn texture, which gives these prints an adorable aesthetic.

If you’re a Nintendo fan, the words “sewn” and “yarn texture” are bound to strike a chord, as the Kirby franchise embraced an irresistibly charming hand-crafted style for several games now.

This Kirby model showcases this perfectly with its fully textured surface throughout the model. The design prints at about 87 mm tall and 94 mm wide, small enough to fit on just about any print bed while still large enough to proudly display on your desk or game room. Of course, you can feel free to scale the model to your liking. Just remember to scale all of the eight different pieces to the same ratio so they fit together.

The designer included print profiles for both Bambu Lab’s AMS and setups that don’t include it (or similar multi-material units). No matter what your 3D printing setup looks like, all parts are printed individually and then have to be assembled. For our print, no supports were required, and minimal cleanup was needed once the prints were finished. The eyes were able to friction-fit into place, while the mouth and feet required glue to assemble.

Printing Tips

All parts are separated by color for convenience — All parts are separated by color for ease (Source: Opie Cain via All3DP; Model: NaraaPrints via MakerWorld)

While the crochet design may make this model seem complicated, it’s actually a very straightforward print.

The majority of the files have flat surfaces that keep them secure during printing and are oriented to avoid the use of supports. That said, the section of the body where the feet connect does have some harsher overhangs. If you don’t trust your printer’s cooling capabilities, you may want to include a couple of tree supports for this part. Once the feet are attached, however, you won’t notice any imperfections.

For the smaller detail pieces, using a layer height of around 0.08-0.12 mm will give you a smoother surface finish with less stair-stepping, which the eyes are especially susceptible to. The body and feet can be printed at a standard 0.2-mm layer height, as the crochet pattern does a good job of hiding the layer lines.

Who’s the Creator?

Designer NaraaPrints has created quite a few different crochet-effect models, with designs ranging from video game and anime characters to seasonal holiday decorations. If you’re a fan of adorable crochet models, you can find even more designs through NaraaPrints’ Patreon.