The kodama is a shy forest creature, believed to live in certain trees.

While no one knows what good they bring, those who attempt to cut down a tree housing a kodama will most certainly meet with great misfortune. Thus, such trees are often marked with a shimenawa rope.

The spirits, rooted deeply in Japanese folklore, made an eerie-cute appearance as tiny white rattle-heads  in Hayao Miyazaki’s Princess Mononoke.

こんばんは… (Konbanwa)

わたしはたいくつしています… (Watashi wa taikutsu shiteimasu)

Make your own Kodama-chan!

Materials

• 2.50 mm hook
• Similar sized yarn (white)
• Darning needle
• 1 x 4mm brad (black)
• 1 x 6mm brad (black)
• 1 x 8mm brad (black)
• Polyester fiberfill
• Small pebbles (to weigh Kodama-chan down)

Head

With white yarn:

Round 1: 6 sc in magic circle (6)

Round 2: 2 sc in each sc around (12)

Round 3: *2 sc, sc in next sc*, repeat 6 times (18)

Round 4: *2sc, sc in next 2 sc*, repeat 6 times (24)

Round 5: *2 sc, sc in next 3 sc*, repeat 6 times (30)

Round 6: *2 sc, sc in next 4 sc*, repeat 6 times (36)

Round 7: *2 sc, sc in next 5 sc*, repeat 6 times (42)

Round 8: *2 sc, sc in next 6 sc*, repeat 6 times (48)

Round 9: *2 sc, sc in next 7 sc*, repeat 6 times (54)

Round 10 – 16: Sc in each sc around (54)

Round 17: *Inv dec, sc in next 7 sc*, repeat 6 times (48)

Round 18: * Inv dec, sc in next 6 sc*, repeat 6 times (42)

Round 19: * Inv dec, sc in next 5 sc*, repeat 6 times (36)

Pop in the black brads for the eyes – the 8mm brad should fall right below round 12, and the 6mm, below round 13. There should be a space of 11 stitches between the eyes. For the tiny mouth,  pop in the 4mm brad on the 17th row, centred between the eyes.

Round 20: * Inv dec, sc in next 4 sc*, repeat 6 times (30)

Round 21: *Inv dec, sc in next 3 sc*, repeat 6 times (24)

Round 22: *Inv dec, sc in next 2 sc*, repeat 6 times (18)

Begin stuffing the head.

Round 23: *Inv dec, sc in next 1 sc*, repeat 6 times (12)

Round 24: Inv dec all around (6)

Fasten off and weave in ends.

Body

With white yarn:

Round 1: 6 sc in magic circle (6)

Round 2: 2 sc in each sc around (12)

Round 3: *2 sc, sc in next sc*, repeat 6 times (18)

Round 4: *2sc, sc in next 2 sc*, repeat 6 times (24)

Round 5 – 10: Sc in each sc around (24)

Fasten off and weave in ends.

Begin stuffing the body. Add some pebbles to weigh Kodama-chan down.

Arms (make 2)

With white yarn:

Round 1: 7 sc in magic circle (7)

Round 2 – 6: Sc in each sc around (7)

Fasten off and leave a long end for sewing.

Legs (make 2)

With white yarn:

Round 1: 7 sc in magic circle (7)

Round 2 – 5: Sc in each sc around (7)

Fasten off and leave a long end for sewing.

Assembly

• Sew on the body.
• Sew on the legs.
• Sew on the arms.
• Ta da!

As this is an original amiguruMEI pattern, kindly do not claim it as your own. If you plan to sell the amigurumi made from this pattern, I would be delighted to have you mention amiguruMEI as the pattern provider. You may place a link to this pattern from your site, but please do not repost it onto your page. Remember to share a picture of your own kawaii versions of Kodama-chan with amiguruMEI!

おやすみ なさい … (Oyasumi nasai)