I found the concept of a temperature project really interesting, but a bit dull at the same time. That was until I became an aunt and found this amazing project from KarinvdB. Her project is way better documented than mine, so do not hesitate to go and have look.:
https://www.ravelry.com/projects/KarinvdB/amineko-crocheted-cat-24

I decided to go with a giraffe as it was already a tall project and need at least 365 rows for mine. Even though I bought a pattern, I had to completely rewrite it to make sure I had enough rows (took me a whole afternoon to adapt!!). I have used this blog to help me with the conversion as I am not a crochet expert nor a born mathematician.
http://myskillsguide.blogspot.com/2012/07/how-to-enlarge-amigurumi-technique.html

The year starts at the feet and end up at the ear. Arms are just a repeat of the body. At the start of the body and closing of the head, I used 3 rounds of the same colour (count as 1 day) as it would have been too complicated to change colour in those areas. The pattern was designed for the feet, hands, nose and horns to be a different colour, but I’m glad I kept it as is, as the white tone down the rainbow colours.

I spent nearly 18 months on this project, but it could have been quicker if I had stuck to it and not let it sleep for months here and there. I have not counted the hours spent on this giraffe, but surely it’s the hundreds of hours. KarinvdB said in her project she would never do such a project again, I would feel the same if my sister was not pregnant again and I want to be a fair aunt and spoil those kids equally!

Quick tips:

• I used the stuffing from cheap pillows I got at Wal-Mart, way cheaper than buying Polyfill.
• For the neck to be able to support the head, I used one of those Styrofoam pool noodle from the dollar store. Cheap and efficient. The noodle goes from mid-belly to the top of the neck. To make sure that noodle doesn’t slide down the body over time, I have sewn it in about one inch down from the top.

The cardigan worn by my niece is Lush from Tin Can Knits: https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/lush-5