I made this at the request of my then-three-year-old. He saw a picture of a whale something like this, and with that 1000% confidence that kids have in their parents, assumed I could easily make it for him. (Note: It was not easy.) How can you say no to that?

My then-three-year-old is a now-nine-year-old, and he still loves this guy. He sleeps with him every night and says he’s going to pass him along to his own kids. Makes all those hours I spent tearing my hair out completely worthwhile.