Introduction: Mass Effect Crochet: Tali'Zorah

About: I like sewing and crafts,and trying new things. I'm vegetarian and always looking for new recipes. My cat's name is Mirko and likes to be in the centre of things, so you will see him in several of my instruc…

Here is my second Crocheted Mass Effect squad mate Tali Zorah vas Normandy.  Next to Liara, she is my second favourite squad mate to take out on missions.  I also made her defence drone Chatika vas Paus.  You can often hear her yelling "Go for the optics, Chatika! Go for the optics!" during the game, which, if you are a Bioware fan, you'd know is a reference to something Minsc says in Baldur's gate II.

The pattern is similar to the Liara I made previously using the same head, torso, leg and arm patterns, only differing in the yarn colours;  so if you made Liara this should be easy. I was thinking about giving her an omnitool as well, but didn't get around to it, perhaps I will add it later. I am thinking about making Femshep  next if I have some time (and get some orange yarn for her hair) .

Step 1: What You Will Need

Yarn weight 4*:
  • Purple
  • Yellow/gold
  • White
  • Grey
  • Black
Other:
  • 2.25mm crochet hook
  • Yarn needles
  • Polyfil/fibrefil stuffing of some sort
  • Purple, pink, light pink, grey, and black felt
  • Silver metallic pen and fabric for trim
  • Glue

            Rnd         round
            ch(s)       chain stitch(s)
            sc            single crochet
            sl st         slip stitch
            st(s)        stitch(s)
            sc2tog    decrease by crocheting 2 stitches together

*About the yarn weight, the purple is definitely a 4, the other colours I picked up at a dollar store and they seem to be somewhere between a 3 and a 4 weight.

Step 2: Head (mask)

Starting with purple yarn (watch for yarn colour change in Rnd2 and 5)

Rnd1: Magic Circle 6

Rnd2: (switch to grey yarn) 2sc in sc 12st(s)

Rnd3: *2sc in sc, sc, repeat from * -18st(s)

Rnd4: *2sc in sc, sc, sc, repeat from * -24st(s)

Rnd5:(switch back to purple)*2sc in sc, sc, sc, sc repeat from * -30st(s)

Rnd6: *2sc in sc, sc, sc, sc, sc repeat from * -36st(s)

Rnd7-15: sc in sc, -36st(s)

Rnd16: *sc2tog, sc, sc, sc, sc repeat -30st(s)

Rnd17: *sc2tog, sc, sc, sc, repeat -24st(s)

Rnd18: *sc2tog, sc, sc, repeat -18st(s)

Rnd19: *sc2tog, sc, repeat -12st(s) Now is a good time to stuff.

Rnd20: sc2tog in rest

Fasten off. Leave tail.

Step 3: Head (mask Plates)

Straight plates (make 2)
With grey yarn

Row1: 9ch(s), turn 8sts
Row2: sc in ch -8sts
Row3-11: sc in sc -8sts

Round plates (make 2)
With grey yarn

Row1: MC 6, ch1, turn -6sts
Row2: sc in sc, ch1, turn -6sts
Row3: 2sc in sc, ch1, turn -12sts
Row4: *2sc in sc, sc, repeat from *, ch1, turn -18sts
Row5: *2sc in sc, sc, sc, repeat from *, ch1, turn  -24sts


Sew the grey plates to the sides of the head (mask).  The straight plates should extend from the grey circle on the head and the semicircles should extend toward the front of the head.  The scarf will cover part of the plates so the don't worry if it looks a bit odd right now.

Step 4: Torso

Starting with yellow yarn (watch for yarn colour change in Rnd6 and 7)

Rnd1: Magic Circle 6

Rnd2: 2sc in sc -12st(s)

Rnd3: *2sc in sc, sc, repeat from * -18st(s)

Rnd4: *2sc in sc, sc, sc, repeat from * -24st(s)

Rnd5: sc in sc  -24st(s)

Rnd6: sc in sc (first 6sc with black yarn, next 17sc with yellow then last sc with black) -24st(s)

Rnd7: sc in sc (first 6sc with yellow yarn, rest with black) -24st(s)

Rnd8-12:(continue with black yarn) sc in sc -24st(s)

Rnd13: *2sc in sc, sc, sc, sc repeat from * -30st(s)

Rnd14: sc in sc, 30st(s)

Rnd15: *2sc in sc, sc, sc, sc, sc repeat from * -36st(s)

Rnd16-18: sc in sc, -36st(s)

Rnd19: *sc2tog, sc, sc, sc, sc repeat -30st(s)

Rnd20: *sc2tog, sc, sc, sc, repeat -24st(s)

Rnd21: *sc2tog, sc, sc, repeat -18st(s)

Rnd22: *sc2tog, sc, repeat -12st(s) Now is a good time to stuff.

Rnd23: sc2tog in rest

Fasten off. Leave tail.

Step 5: Legs and Feet

Feet

With black yarn, make 2.

Rnd1: Magic Circle 6

Rnd2: 2sc in sc -12st(s)

Rnd3: *2sc in sc, sc, repeat -18st(s)

Rnd4: *2sc in sc, sc, sc, repeat -24st(s)

Rnd5-6: sc in sc, -24st(s)

Rnd7: *sc2tog, sc, sc, repeat -18st(s)

Rnd8: *sc2tog, sc, repeat -12st(s) Stuff .

Rnd9: sc2tog in rest

Fasten off. Leave tail.

Legs

With black yarn, make 2.

Rnd1: Magic Circle 4

Rnd2: 2sc in sc -8st(s)

Rnd3: 2sc in first, sc, sc, sc, 2sc in next, sc, sc, sc -10st(s)

Rnd4-7: sc in sc -10st(s)

Rnd8-10: sc in sc -10st(s)

Rnd11: sc2tog in first, sc, sc, sc, sc2tog in next, sc, sc, sc -8st(s) Stuff.

Rnd12: sc2tog in each

Fasten off, Leave tail.

Sew the feet to the legs.

Step 6: Arms

Starting with black yarn, make 2 (watch for yarn colour change in Rnd6 ).

Rnd1: Magic Circle 4

Rnd2: 2sc in sc -8st(s)

Rnd3-5: sc in sc -8st(s)

Switch to purple yarn

Rnd6-12: sc in sc, -8st(s)

Stuff it. Fasten off. Leave tail.

Sew the arms to the sides of the torso (black end at the top), they should be attached near the top in the yellow area.  Sew the legs to the front so that the body is in a sitting position.

Step 7: Scarf Fabric

With the silver metallic pen start drawing the swirly patterns on the purple yarn.  (A quick Google image search can provide examples of the patterns on her scarf).  I covered a full sheet of felt with the pattern to provide enough material for the scarf and the leg wraps (I didn't need that much -it is just easier this way).  Felt is not the best material for drawing on, I needed to frequently remove the fluff from the nib of the pen.

Once that was done, I cut the material in the shape below and covered the front edge with silver fabric trim as well as two stripes down the centre.

Step 8: Adding Scarf

If you haven't done so already attach Tali's head.  The grey circle should be down towards the front with the plates at the side. 

Step 9: Other Embellishments

With the grey and black felt I added a few more embellishments to Tali's enviro suit, they include black wrist armor, grey leg armour, a three piece belt and a tie(strap) for her scarf.  I also added straps to the back as well.  These where just glued on.

Step 10: Chatika Vas Paus

With white yarn

Rnd1: Magic circle 5

Rnd2: 2sc in first 4 sc , 3sc in last -11st(s)

Rnd3: 2sc, sc, sc , 2sc, sc, 2sc, sc, 2sc, sc, 2sc, sc -16st(s)

Rnd4: sc, sc, 2sc, sc, sc, sc, 2sc, sc, sc, sc, 2sc, sc, sc, sc, 2sc, sc -20 st(s)

Rnd5: sc in first 7 sc, 2sc, sc in next 9 sc, 2sc, sc in next 2 sc -22 st(s)

Rnd6: sc, sc, 2sc, sc in next 10 sc, 2sc, sc in last 8 sc  -24 st(s)

Rnd7:  sc in sc -24st(s)

Rnd8: sc in next 7, sc2tog, sc in next 10, sc2tog, sc in next 3 -20 st(s)

Rnd9: sc in next 3, sc2tog, sc in next 9 sc2tog, sc in next 6 -16 st(s)

Rnd10: sc,  sc2tog, sc in next 3, sc2tog, sc in next 3, sc2tog, sc in next 3, sc2tog, sc in next 2 -11 st(s)

Rnd11: sc2tog, sc , sc2tog, sc , sc2tog, sc ,sc2tog, sc in next 2,sc2tog, sc -5 st(s)

Fasten off. Weave in ends.

Cut pink and light pink felt pieces as in image 3 and glue them onto the white ball.  If you want to incorporate an LED like I did with Glyph, you can find the instructions here.