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Hi! My name is Amanda and I am the owner of Hey Meeko.

I have always been into creative hobbies. When I was 11, I started creating jewelry pieces such as necklaces, bracelets, and earrings. I then moved on to creating polymer clay charms and Perler beading.

When the lockdown began in 2020, my workplace was closed, and I wasn't able to work anymore. For a while, like many others, I was playing Animal Crossing on Nintendo Switch, not knowing how to occupy myself, until l started looking for a hobby.

I started learning how to crochet with the amigurumi technique. After a few months of trying, I gave up, until I decided to pick it up again. From there, my journey of creating crochet Animal Crossing or Pokemon characters started. Soon enough I started making chubby-style animals such as whales, which is one of the more popular crochet plushies.

I began to share my work online, created an Instagram account, and decided to start a side hustle to see how it would go. I have since branched out to have a table at anime conventions and markets, and I started accepting custom orders as well. I love creating cute, chubby crochet creations that people can squish, cuddle, or 'cute up' a part of their everyday life with.

More info: heymeeko.com | Instagram | Etsy

#1

Our Other Popular Item, Chonky Dinosaur

Crochet plush toy in hand, designed to 'cute up' people's days, featuring a soft, fluffy dinosaur with pink cheeks.

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What inspires me is a variety of things. This could be anything from a cartoon, animations or even just photos of cute animals.

My customers also give me loads of inspiration in the things they request! Sometimes when I make a custom, they request something that I've never worked on before and it inspires to make more characters or designs!

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    #3

    Started Off Crocheting Pokemon Like Oddish

    Crochet Oddish-inspired toys in terracotta pots on a white background, showcasing creative side hustle crafts.

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    Sometimes I create polls to engage with the community to see what they would like to see created from me and create new designs from there.

    At first when I started crocheting, I faced challenges in the types of yarn I was using and making sure I was counting rows and stitches correctly! To be honest, I still make mistakes and have to unwind the project and restart again. It definitely takes practice and I do owe it to my determination back then to keep improving and finding a style that suited me that makes me enjoy crocheting and creating even more.

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    #5

    Custom Order Idea From A Friend That Wanted A Giant Whale Crochet Plush, It Is Now One Of My Most Popular Plushies

    Woman holding a handmade crochet whale with a cute expression, showcasing a creative side hustle.

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    #6

    Crochet Pot Plant Sprout Buddies

    Crochet cat and chick in pots, showcasing a side hustle for adding cuteness to people's days.

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    It can be a balancing act when creating customs and working on inventory for my conventions.

    I currently have a waiting list for custom orders and let them know an estimate timeframe on when I am able to work on their order.

    I tend to prepare as much as I can with conventions but as I also have other work, I have to balance life and work and set time aside - it can be stressful at times thinking I may not have enough stock! But I enjoy every step of the way!

    #7

    Crochet Pot Plant Sprout Buddy

    Hand holding a crocheted duck in a pot, showcasing cute crochet creations for a side hustle.

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    I hope that I can start creating and selling my own patterns for Hey Meeko in future! I have been asked a few times and I am terrible at writing down patterns (they are usually just stored in my head) but I definitely would like to do this one day and share my cute chubby creations to the world. I would love to branch out to some cute crochet baby wear but that may take awhile before I get there!

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    #13

    Cute Tiny Bunny

    Crochet bunny with yarn, showcasing a side hustle craft to brighten people's days.

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    Boba_Queen7
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

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    #14

    Crochet Pot Plant Sprout Buddies That Don't Need Water

    Crocheted plush toys in pots: a yellow chick, brown bear, and blue character with leaves. Cute handmade crafts side hustle.

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    #16

    Size Comparison Of Mini Keychain Whale vs. Giant Crochet Whale

    Crochet whale plushies in soft blue and white, showcasing a cute design for a side hustle.

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    #17

    Teacup Sized Crochet Whales

    Cute crochet whales in pastel colors lined up on a wooden floor.

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