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BLOG Nº 17The Reversible Collection
A reversible amigurumi is two toys in one: a closed shape that turns inside out to reveal a different character. Flip a Poké Ball and Charmander appears; flip him back and he disappears into the ball. It is the design that built SageandSilky, and it is still the thing people message us about most. This is the full collection, how the mechanism works, and the order we would suggest making them in.
How a reversible plushie actually works
Every reversible design is two hollow shapes joined at a single opening. Shape A (the ball) is worked first. Shape B (the character) is worked from the same opening in the opposite direction. When you push B through the opening, A closes around it and becomes the outside. Neither half is stuffed the way a normal amigurumi is — the stuffing is a soft core that stays inside whichever shape is currently the outside.
What makes it work or fail is the size of the opening. Too small and the flip is a fight; too big and the ball never closes cleanly. Every pattern in the collection specifies the exact stitch count of that opening and the round where you stop increasing. Follow those two numbers and the flip is smooth every time.
The collection, in order of difficulty
MOD Nº 17 — Charmander Reversible Poké Ball
The original. Red-and-white ball on one side, Charmander with his flame tail on the other. This is the pattern most people make first, and it is the one we recommend starting with: the ball half is simple stripes, the character half is a classic head-and-body shape, and the flame is a separate piece attached last. Around four hours for a confident beginner.
MOD Nº 32 — Ditto Reversible
Ditto is a blob — which makes him the friendliest character shape to crochet. The reversible version turns a Poké Ball into Ditto’s famous smiling face. Fewer separate pieces than Charmander, one color for the whole character side, and the face is embroidered after the flip so placement is easy. A great second project.
MOD Nº 18 — Gengar Reversible
Gengar adds spikes and a wide grin. The spikes are worked directly into the body rounds rather than sewn on, which is the technique you will reuse for every ‘shaped’ character afterwards. Intermediate; expect an evening and a half.
MOD Nº 14 — Reversible Mood Octopus
Not a Pokémon — a happy octopus that flips to a grumpy octopus. This is the design that made the mechanism famous online, and ours uses eight tentacles worked in a continuous spiral so there is no sewing at all. The face colors are worked in, not embroidered. Beginner-friendly despite the tentacles.
MOD Nº 08 — Reversible Tulip Fairy
A SageandSilky Original you will not find anywhere else: a closed tulip bud that opens into a small fairy. The petals are the reversible shell and the fairy body is the inside. It is the most delicate pattern in the collection and the one with the most color changes. Confident intermediate.
The 62-in-1 and 92-in-1 bundles
If you want the Pokémon-inspired universe without buying pattern by pattern, the bundles collect dozens of mini amigurumi — not reversibles, but the same style and the same photographed instructions. Many makers buy the 62-in-1 as their ‘library’ and add reversibles one at a time.
Yarn, hook and stuffing for reversibles
- Yarn: a smooth DK or worsted cotton blend. Cotton keeps the ball’s shape; pure acrylic gets floppy after a few flips.
- Hook: one size smaller than the yarn label suggests. Tight fabric is what makes the ball hold its shape with a soft core.
- Stuffing: less than you think. Fill to about 70%. The core needs room to move when the piece is flipped.
- Safety eyes: only on the character side, and placed before the two halves are joined. Embroidered eyes are the safer choice for toys given to small children.
Why we number them
Every pattern in the SageandSilky universe carries a MOD Nº — a model number that never changes. It means you can collect them the way people collect the characters themselves, tell us exactly which one you are stuck on, and see at a glance which ones you have made. The Reversible Collection currently runs MOD Nº 08, 14, 17, 18 and 32, with new reissues announced first to VIP collectors.
Start with Charmander or Ditto, make the octopus for fun, and save the Tulip Fairy for when you want to show off.
How the reversibles fit the rest of the universe
The Reversible Collection sits inside a larger, numbered set: Amigurumi, Animals, Dolls, Flowers, Home Decor and Seasonal make up the Crochet Patterns family, and the Originals — the designs that exist only here — are where every reversible lives. When you see a MOD Nº on a pattern page, a Pinterest board or a Journal cover, it is the same system. The numbers are meant to be collected, and reversibles are the pieces most collectors go after first because each one is two characters in a single evening’s work.
Common questions before your first flip
- Does it stretch out with use? A little, if worked loosely. One hook size smaller than the label and a firm — not tight — tension keeps the shell crisp through hundreds of flips.
- Can I add safety eyes to both sides? Not recommended; a hard eye on the inside presses against the shell when the piece is closed. Use embroidered features on at least one side.
- Which yarn weight? DK for pocket-sized, worsted for palm-sized. Every pattern lists finished dimensions for both.
- How long does one take? Charmander and Ditto: one long evening each. Octopus: two hours. Gengar and the Tulip Fairy: a weekend.
Start with the one whose character you love most — motivation finishes more plushies than skill does. And when you finish one, flip it a few times before you weave in the last tail: if the opening feels tight, loosen the final round now, while the fix is still one minute instead of one evening.