About This Bobby the Pencil Amigurumi Pattern
Bobby the Pencil showcases exceptional technical skill with intricate color changes throughout the body that replicate the iconic yellow and ivory stripe pattern found on classic wooden pencils. The pattern begins with the black pencil tip and smoothly transitions through multiple color sections using strategic changes that create clean lines. What makes this pattern truly unique is the dimensional mouth construction - you'll create an opening using chain stitches and slip stitches worked in back loops only, then sew in a separate black inner mouth piece and pink tongue for incredible three-dimensional detail. The gray metal band is created using back post single crochet for authentic texture, and the pink eraser top is shaped with careful increases and decreases.
The pattern features wire-reinforced poseable arms with adorable little thumbs, allowing you to position Bobby in various creative poses. Detailed embroidery adds personality with white eye highlights, expressive eyebrows, and a sweet nose that brings this stationary character to life.
Why You'll Love This Bobby the Pencil Amigurumi Pattern
I'm absolutely head over heels for this Bobby the Pencil pattern because it transforms such an ordinary everyday object into the most charming character with so much personality. There's something incredibly satisfying about working through those precise color changes that create the yellow stripes against the ivory background - when you see that authentic pencil pattern emerging, you'll feel like a true amigurumi artist. The mouth construction is pure genius and unlike anything I've worked before - creating that open mouth with the dimensional interior and little pink tongue sticking out adds such character and charm. I especially love the challenge of the back post single crochet sections that create the realistic metal band texture. Working with wire to make the arms poseable means Bobby can wave, point, or be positioned holding things, which opens up endless display possibilities. The tiny thumbs on the hands are such a sweet detail that shows real craftsmanship. Embroidering Bobby's expressive face is where the magic really happens - those eyebrows and eye highlights give him such personality that he practically comes alive. This isn't just a pencil; it's a little friend with attitude who'll inspire creativity on any desk or shelf. Every writer, artist, teacher, or student in your life needs a Bobby!
Switch Things Up
I absolutely love personalizing Bobby for different occasions and recipients by changing his color scheme and accessories. For a more artistic vibe, I make Bobby look like colored pencils by using the entire body in a single vibrant color - deep purple, bright red, electric blue, or grass green - while keeping the black tip, gray band, and pink eraser. This creates a whole set of rainbow pencil friends that look amazing displayed together. For mechanical pencil versions, I work the entire body in gray or silver tones, skip the wood-striped section entirely, and add small black lines with embroidery to mimic the grip texture.
Seasonal variations bring Bobby to different celebrations throughout the year. A Christmas pencil uses red and green stripes instead of yellow and ivory, with the eraser worked in white like a snow cap. For Halloween, orange and black stripes with a purple eraser create a spooky stationary friend. Valentine's Day Bobbys work beautifully in pink and white stripes with a red eraser - I even embroider little hearts onto the body. Back-to-school versions can feature school colors, making them perfect personalized gifts for teachers or students.
Size variations are fun to experiment with too. Using thread weight yarn and a 1mm hook creates tiny 8cm pencils perfect as keychains, zipper pulls, or bag charms - just skip the wire armature for these mini versions. Going larger with bulky yarn and a 4mm hook produces a 25cm Bobby that works as a decorative pillow or doorstop. I've even made giant 40cm versions using super bulky yarn that kids love as quirky floor cushions.
The facial expressions can be customized endlessly through embroidery changes. Sleepy Bobby gets closed curved lines for eyes and a small yawning mouth. Surprised Bobby has wide round eyes with raised eyebrows. Grumpy Bobby gets angled eyebrows and a frowning expression. You can even add accessories like tiny crocheted glasses, a miniature hat, or a little bowtie. For teacher gifts, I sometimes embroider "World's Best Teacher" or grade levels onto the pink eraser section using backstitch with contrasting thread. The possibilities are as endless as your imagination!
Common Mistakes & How to Fix Them
✗ Not maintaining consistent color change technique when creating the yellow stripe pattern, resulting in uneven or messy color transitions throughout the pencil body
✗ Incorrectly working the slip stitch round for the mouth opening by missing the back loops only instruction, creating improper texture
✗ Forgetting to sew the inner mouth piece before completing too many body rounds, making it difficult to access and attach securely
✗ Not trimming and properly isolating wire ends with band-aids before inserting into body, which can poke through fabric and cause injury
✗ Placing plastic eyes at wrong position relative to mouth upper line, throwing off the entire facial expression and proportion
✗ Overstuffing the arms which should remain unstuffed to allow wire movement and proper posing flexibility throughout use
