Crocheted Orangutan

I love orangutans (blame Terry Pratchett!), but I've never found any toys that look like a real orang. I've been wanting to make a life-sized realistic baby orang for years, and I was lucky enough to find the perfect yarn to use for the fur! I crocheted my orang freeform, with various armatures inside (pipe cleaners, plastic bead armature, and wires - see the photos to give you an idea) to make him totally poseable.

The hardest part was getting the face right - it took me three attempts to strike the right balance. The first was too cartoonish, and the second was more realistic, but really ugly! I finally crocheted and sculpted a face that I hope captures the 'soul' I was aiming for.