It’s been a running joke that Link from the Legend of Zelda is short, but I made him really, REALLY short. Ya know, little hero, big adventures.
Little Link is one of the first critters I crocheted way back in 2012, a one-and-done kind of project because it took SO much time for me to hand-stitch all the details. And to this day, it’s still one of my favorite projects that I’ve made for myself.
I based him specifically on Link from Ocarina of Time, the first Legend of Zelda game that I played from beginning to end. I crafted a tiny master sword for him, painstakingly embroidered the details onto his Hylian shield, and practiced crocheting a cone shape in multiple ways to get his hat just right. I even made sure he carried his shield on his right arm so he could have his sword on his left, since Link is left-handed in Ocarina of Time (he’d only become right-handed after the introduction of the Nintendo Wii).
He was one of the earlier critters that I made. I made a lot of mistakes along the way, but little Link’s still one of my favorites because I learned a lot in the process. Little Link doesn’t need a makeover, because this tiny hero of time is perfect just the way he is. But he could use a new photoshoot, so I brought him out again for a refresher! Always love seeing the side-by-side comparisons from my first photos to the newer ones.
I’d say he’s looking pretty good for having a 28-year legacy from when Ocarina of Time was released! He hasn’t aged one bit for being a guy who goes back and forth between being a kid and an adult just by playing a song. Keep it up, Link, we’ll revisit another photoshoot again in time!
