Pippi-chan: Psst, wanna see my treasure?

Pippi-chan: Tada!

Pippi-chan: Are you ready?

Mei-chan: Yikes!

Pippi-chan: Heh heh heh…

Pippi-chan is bored.

Guess what happens next – presenting an original amiguruMEI stop-motion adventure!

Music: Everyday by Buddy Holly

Mei-chan: *grumble grumble*

Panda Oji-chan: Wow, Mei-chan! What’s that all about?

Mei-chan: Huh? Oh…just thinking about my gifts this year, is all…

Panda Oji-chan: Bad year?

Panda Oji-chan: Maybe these will cheer you up…

…

…

Mei-chan: On second thought…things are starting to look up…

Mei-chan: Hey, lookie here guys!

Mei-chan: Like em? They’re homemade, especially for you two!

Mei-chan: …Wait, where are you going?

…

Mei-chan: A present for me? Oooh!

…

…

Mei-chan: A new hat! Awh…you shouldn’t have!

…

Mei-chan: I’m really touched by the effort guys…erm…you don’t think this is too much?

…

Mei-chan: I guess not…but I have a better idea!

Mei-chan: Let’s share the hat, ok? Sharing is caring, after all!

Komaneko-chan: Merry Christmas Mei-chan!

Komaneko-chan: Look what I got you!

…

Komaneko-chan: They say: “When it comes to gifts, it’s the thought that counts!”

Komaneko-chan: And I was thinking…maybe when I run out of yarn, I could come borrow some?

Mei-chan: ???!

Mei-chan: Frosty the snowman! Lalalalalalala…

Mei-chan: Oh hey guys! Right on time!

Mei-chan: Think you can help finish Frosty’s scarf?

Mei-chan: I just have to go check on something in the oven. I’ll be right back!

…

10 minutes later…

Mei-chan: Oh deary me…

Welcome to amiguruMEI’s first giveaway do, in conjunction with Christmas and the spirit of giving, of course!

We have five Sleeping Totoros up for grabs and the best part is, anyone can win!

Taking part is easy – just visit Super Cute Kawaii, which is one of my favourite daily site haunts, and follow the super-easy instructions listed on the amiguruMEI giveaway post here.

You have one week (only ONE week) to up your chances of owning an original amiguruMEI handmade Sleeping Totoro, so がんばってね (do your best)!

*Yawn*

*Zzzzzzzzzzz*

おやすみ なさい (Good night).

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)

For those who are often fooled by her sweet wooly demeanour, one must know that Marcelle was once a famous trapeze artist.

She has since left the circus, in hopes of finding greener pastures.

Bonjour!

Panda Oji-chan: Please, can you draw me a sheep?

Mei-chan: I love France! I’d dare say it’s the second best place to the Ghibli Museum!

Komaneko-chan: Nyah! (A gift that looks just like you! Like it?)

Say cheesu!

P/S Check back next week for a brand new amiguruMEI crochet adventure!

The fun-loving cartoon character first appeared as a greeting card design in 1977 – way before Mei-chan was born, of course.

Strawberry Shortcake has since been given a makeover, evolving first into a tomboy-looking adventure-seeker, and later into a wide-eyed, pink-haired people-pleaser.

Some of her friends from Strawberryland were also given new last names (Raspberry Tart to Torte) and the berry hero herself was last rumoured to have stolen Huckleberry Pie’s pet dog, Pupcake.

Panda Oji-chan: What’s that?

Mei-chan: Not what. Who. It’s Strawberry Shortcake.

…

Panda Oji-chan: Wanna come play?

Mei-chan: I’m busy.

…

…

…

…

…

Three hours later ~ Mei-chan: Done!

Mei-chan: Now you have one and I…

…

Mei-chan: Mmmrmmmrmmmrmmm.

Meanwhile…