Artist Completed Massive 10-Foot Crocheted Appa Toy

Shayla Palmer finished the large-scale crochet project for an Avatar Legends gaming tournament in New York City.

Updated on Oct. 12, 2026 in Needlework

Artist Completed Massive 10-Foot Crocheted Appa Toy

Live Poll

Would you dedicate several weeks of intensive daily work to complete a single personal craft project?

Artist Shayla Palmer has completed a 10-foot-long crocheted Appa toy commissioned for an Avatar Legends tournament. The massive plush was displayed at OS NY on Oct. 9, 2026.

Why it matters

The project highlights the increasing intersection between niche fiber arts and major gaming culture. Black Flag NYC commissioned the piece to serve as a featured installation for competitive gaming events.

The crocheted Appa toy measures 10 feet in length and required 10 to 16 hours of daily labor over 16 days. Palmer currently maintains a social media presence with 650k TikTok followers and 1.1 million Instagram followers.

The players

Shayla Palmer

Shayla Palmer is a textile artist known for her social media presence and large-scale crochet installations.

Black Flag NYC

Black Flag NYC is an organization that coordinated the commissioning of the project for a game tournament.

Paramount Games Studio

Paramount Games Studio is a gaming company that hosted the Avatar Legends tournament.

The details

To meet the project deadline, Palmer worked daily for 16 consecutive days while managing construction errors through frequent improvisation. Paramount Games Studio hosted the display, integrating the handmade figure into their tournament at OS NY.

Sept. 19, 2026: Shayla Palmer began the Appa crochet project.
Oct. 9, 2026: The Avatar Legends tournament occurred at OS NY.

Culture Shift

This project follows a growing trend where gaming studios hire independent fiber artists to create physical displays for tournament venues. This move represents a shift toward authentic, handmade aesthetic elements within high-production esports environments.

For residents in New York City, this installation highlights the increasing visibility of independent craft artists at local gaming events. Attendees of future tournaments at OS NY can anticipate a shift toward more tactile, custom-made environmental designs.

The takeaway

The project serves as a reminder of how high-intensity projects require adaptability and problem-solving skills throughout the construction process. Aspiring artists can look to this commission as an example of blending specialized hobby skills with commercial event production.