For those who can’t get enough of Aka-chan and Ookami-chan, be sure to look out for Simply Crochet magazine’s Issue 10, coming soon — yes, we’re in the magazine again!
In the mean time, enjoy this great introduction to the kawaii duo: another cool stop-motion made by the amazing Simply Crochet team!
Have you met the Tako-Yaki brothers?
The bear siblings love seafood and they love it raw (sashimi notwithstanding).
They’re great at swimming and love a good challenge when it comes to chasing after funny looking fish.
On a good sunny day, you may just catch them suntanning by the river, or up in the trees snacking on nuts.
P/S amiguruMEI’s original Tako-Yaki patterns can be found in Issue 07 of Simply Crochet Magazine. See if you can spot the cuties in the pictures below:
Ohayou!
Awhile ago, we organised our very first Sleeping Totoro amiguruMEI giveaway.
Due to the numerous requests from amigurumi and Studio Ghibli lovers around the world, we’d like to share this original pattern with you, so you too can make your own kawaii Sleeping Totoro!
The pattern is easy enough for beginners, and the end result would make any anime fan a happy camper!
Enjoy!
Abbreviations
Materials
Body
With grey yarn:
Round 1: Sc 6 in magic ring {6}.
Round 2: [Inc] around {12}.
Round 3: [Inc, sc 1] around {18}.
Round 4: [Inc, sc 2] around {24}.
Round 5: [Inc, sc 3] around {30}.
Round 6: [Inc, sc 4] around {36}.
Round 7-18: Sc around {36}.
Round 19: [Inv dec, sc 4] around {30}.
Round 20: [Inv dec, sc 3] around {24}.
Round 21: [Inv dec, sc 2] around {18}.
Stuff head.
Round 22: [Inv dec, sc 1] around {12}.
Round 23: [Inv dec] around {6}.
Fasten off and weave in ends.
Tummy
With white yarn:
Round 1: Sc 6 in magic ring {6}.
Round 2: [Inc] around {12}.
Round 3: [Inc, sc 1] around {18}.
Round 4: [Inc, sc 2] around {24}.
Round 5: [Inc, sc 3] around {30}.
Fasten off by making slip stitches in the next 3 sts. Leave a long tail for sewing.
Ears (make 2)
With grey yarn:
Round 1: Sc 3 in magic ring {3}.
Round 2: [Inc] around {6}.
Round 3-5: Sc around {6}.
Fasten off and leave a long tail for sewing.
Tail
With grey yarn:
Round 1: Sc 6 in magic ring {6}.
Round 2: [Inc] around {12}.
Round 3: Sc around {12}.
Round 4: [Inv dec] around {6}.
Fasten off and leave a long tail for sewing.
Assembly
As this is an original amiguruMEI pattern, kindly do not claim it as your own. 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 Sleeping Totoro with us!
お久しぶりですね! (It’s been a long time!)
We’d like to share a snippet of amiguruMEI’s collaboration with Simply Crochet Magazine in the UK.
Little Chiyo-chan was selected as an amigurumi feature of the month and boy, were we excited!
A big thank you goes out to the wonderful team at Simply Crochet, who made a cute video of Chiyo-chan here.
Stay tuned for more fun collaborations, the most recent of which is a never-before-seen amiguruMEI pattern, now available in Simply Crochet Issue 07!
Konnichiwa!
We’re super excited that our very own Chiyo-chan is making her UK debut in the fantabulous Simply Crochet magazine!
The full amigurumi pattern will be in Issue Five, set to be released next week!
For another look at Chiyo-chan and her newfound stardom, check out the super-cute stop-motion video made by the wonderful Simply Crochet team below!
It’s been a year since we shared our first pattern, Sayo & Nara-chan.
Easter is almost here again and this time, we have Haru-chan and her pet chick, Chioux, to join us for the celebration.
Spring is Haru-chan’s favourite season of the year. She is a big fan of jelly-filled chocolate and cute little animals. Her free time is spent rescuing stray animals – lil’ Chioux being one of them. That happened a long time ago, one cold, rainy day.
Now the two are the best of friends and all ready for some Easter fun!
Abbreviations
Materials
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 – 13: Sc in each sc around (42)
Round 14: *Inv dec, sc in next 5 sc*, repeat 6 times (36)
Round 15: *Inv dec, sc in next 4 sc*, repeat 6 times (30)
Round 16: * Inv dec, sc in next 3 sc*, repeat 6 times (24)
Round 17: * Inv dec, sc in next 2 sc*, repeat 6 times (18)
Begin stuffing the head.
Round 18: * Inv dec, sc in next 1 sc*, repeat 6 times (12)
Round 19: Inv dec all around (6)
Fasten off and weave in ends.
Designing the face
Eyes:
Nose & mouth:
With dark brown sewing thread:
Hood
With cyan 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: *2 sc, 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 – 14: Sc in each sc around (42)
Place the finished head inside the hood then continue with the next round.
Round 15: *Inv dec, sc in next 5 sc*, repeat 6 times (36)
Round 16: Sc in each sc around (36)
Round 17: *Inv dec, sc in next 4 sc*, repeat 6 times (30)
Fasten off and leave a long end for sewing.
Using a backstitch, secure the hood in place and trim excess yarn.
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: *2 sc, sc in next 2 sc*, repeat 6 times (24)
Round 5 – 8: Sc in each sc around (24)
Round 9: * Inv dec, sc in next 2 sc*, repeat 6 times (18)
Fasten off and leave a long end for sewing.
Stuff with polyester fibre.
Ears (make 2)
With white yarn and 1.75mm hook:
Round 1: 3 sc in magic circle (3)
Round 2: 2 sc in each sc around (6)
Round 3: *2 sc, sc in next sc*, repeat 3 times (9)
Round 4 – 9: Sc in each sc around (9)
Fasten off and leave a long end for sewing.
Arms (make 2)
With white yarn and 1.75mm hook:
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 and 1.75mm hook:
Round 1: 5 sc in magic circle (5)
Round 2: 2 sc in each sc around (10)
Round 3: Sc in each sc around (10)
Fasten off and leave a long end for sewing.
Tail
With white yarn and 1.75mm hook:
Round 1: 7 sc in magic circle (7)
Fasten off (ss to first st) and leave a long end for sewing.
Pet chick (body)
With pastel yellow yarn and 1.75mm hook:
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 – 6: Sc in each sc around (18)
Round 7: * Inv dec, sc in next sc*, repeat 6 times (12)
Stuff with polyester fibre.
Round 8: Inv dec all around (6)
Fasten off and leave a long end for sewing.
Pet chick (beak)
With mustard yellow embroidery thread and 1.75mm hook:
Round 1: 3 sc in magic circle (3)
Fasten off and leave a long end for sewing.
Flatten the piece and sew it into the body of the pet chick, below Round 4.
Assembly
As this is an original amiguruMEI pattern, kindly do not claim it as your own. 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 Haru-chan and tiny Chioux with us!
Materials
Body
With white yarn and a 2.50mm hook:
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 – 24: Sc in each sc around (54)
Pop in the eyes – it should fall below the 11th row, with 9 stitches in between.
With dark brown embroidery floss, sew on the nose/mouth, centred between the eyes.
Round 25: *Inv dec, sc in next 7 sc*, repeat 6 times (48)
Round 26: * Inv dec, sc in next 6 sc*, repeat 6 times (42)
Round 27: * Inv dec, sc in next 5 sc*, repeat 6 times (36)
Round 28: * Inv dec, sc in next 4 sc*, repeat 6 times (30)
Round 29: *Inv dec, sc in next 3 sc*, repeat 6 times (24)
Round 30: *Inv dec, sc in next 2 sc*, repeat 6 times (18)
Begin stuffing the body. Add some small pebbles so Molang-san will stand upright on its own. Top off with more stuffing.
Round 31: *Inv dec, sc in next 1 sc*, repeat 6 times (12)
Round 32: Inv dec all around (6)
Fasten off and weave in ends.
Ears (make 2)
With white yarn and a 1.75mm hook:
Round 1: 5 sc in magic circle (5)
Round 2 – 4: Sc in each sc around (5)
Fasten off and leave a long end for sewing.
Arms (make 2)
With white yarn and a 1.75mm hook:
Round 1: 5 sc in magic circle (5)
Round 2 – 4: Sc in each sc around (5)
Fasten off and leave a long end for sewing.
Feet (make 2)
With white yarn and a 1.75mm hook:
Round 1: 7 sc in magic circle (7)
Round 2: Sc in each sc around (7)
Fasten off and leave a long end for sewing.
Tail
With white yarn and a 1.75mm hook:
Round 1: 7 sc in magic circle (7)
Round 2: Sc in each sc around (7)
Fasten off and leave a long end for sewing.
Assembly
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 Molang-san with amiguruMEI!
Psst! Here’s how we do our invisible decreases:
1) Insert your hook into the front loop of the first stitch (2 loops on hook). Do not yarn over.
2) Then insert your hook into the front loop of the next stitch. According to June Gilbank of Planet June, “To do this, you’ll need to swing the hook down first so you can insert the hook under the front loop (3 loops on hook).”
3) Yarn over and draw through all three loops on the hook. Invisible decrease completed!
Materials
Eyes (make two)
With black embroidery floss and a 1.75mm hook:
Chain 4
Round 1: Starting in second chain from hook, sc in the next 2sc, 3sc in the last sc.
Round 2: Rotate the foundation row, don’t turn it. Sc in the next 2sc, 3sc in the last sc.
Fasten off and leave a long end for sewing. Weave in the shorter end of the thread to neaten any gaps.
With white embroidery floss and a darning needle, sew about 8 times over one of the stitches, near the top of each eye.
Head
With rose pink 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: *2 sc, sc in next 8 sc*, repeat 6 times (60)
Round 11 – 12: Sc in each sc around (60)
Change colour to white, using the jogless crochet technique via Amigurumi To Go’s video tutorial here.
Round 13 – 20: Sc in each sc around (60)
Round 21: *Inv dec, sc in next 8 sc*, repeat 6 times (54)
Start sewing on the eyes – they should fall below Round 15. There should be 8 stitches between the eyes.
In the centre, sew on the nose and mouth. Use the carpet needle for this so you can go in-between stitches.
Round 22: *Inv dec, sc in next 7 sc*, repeat 6 times (48)
Round 23: * Inv dec, sc in next 6 sc*, repeat 6 times (42)
Round 24: * Inv dec, sc in next 5 sc*, repeat 6 times (36)
Round 25: * Inv dec, sc in next 4 sc*, repeat 6 times (30)
Round 26: *Inv dec, sc in next 3 sc*, repeat 6 times (24)
Round 27: *Inv dec, sc in next 2 sc*, repeat 6 times (18)
Begin stuffing the head.
Round 28: *Inv dec, sc in next 1 sc*, repeat 6 times (12)
Round 29: 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 – 9: Sc in each sc around (24)
Round 10: * Inv dec, sc in next 2 sc*, repeat 6 times (18)
Fasten off and weave in ends.
Dress
With pastel pink yarn and a 1.75mm hook:
Chain 26. Depending on the type of yarn you’re using, you may have more or less chain stitches. Just remember to measure the length of the chain against Pandapple-chan’s body.
Slip stitch to first chain to form loop.
Round 1 – 2: Sc in each sc around (25).
Change colour to pastel yellow.
Round 3: Sc in each sc around (25).
Round 4: *2 sc, sc in next sc*, repeat all around. (It’s perfectly alright if your last stitch happen to be a 2sc)
Change colour to pastel green.
Round 5 – 6: Sc in each sc around.
Change colour to pastel blue.
Round 7 – 8: Sc in each sc around.
Fasten off and leave a long end for sewing.
Arms (make 2)
With black yarn:
Round 1: 6 sc in magic circle (6)
Round 2 – 6: Sc in each sc around (6)
Fasten off and leave a long end for sewing.
Legs (make 2)
With black yarn:
Round 1: 5 sc in magic circle (5)
Round 2: 2 sc in each sc around (10)
Round 3 – 4: Sc in each sc around (10)
Round 5: Sc2together all around (5)
Fasten off and leave a long end for sewing.
Ears (make two)
With black 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: Sc in each sc around (18)
Round 5: *Inv dec, sc in next sc*, repeat 6 times (12)
Fasten off and leave a long end for sewing.
Leaf
With apple green yarn:
Round 1: 3 sc in magic circle (3)
Round 2: 2 sc in each sc around (6)
Round 3: *2 sc, sc in next sc*, repeat 3 times (9)
Round 4 – 5: Sc in each sc around (9)
Round 6: *Sc2together, sc in next 1 sc*, repeat 3 times (6)
Fasten off and leave a long end for sewing.
Apple stem
With black yarn:
Chain 12.
Fasten off and leave a long end for sewing.
Weave the tail end of the yarn in between each chain to fill up any gaps.
Tail
With black yarn and a 1.75mm hook:
Round 1: 5 sc in magic circle (5)
Round 2: Sc in each sc around (5)
Fasten off and leave a long end for sewing.
Apple indentation
Cut a piece of rose pink yarn, about 6 inches in length.
Thread the yarn through from the bottom part of Pandapple-chan’s head, to the top part of the head, in the centre.
Make one stitch and go back down to the bottom of the head. Gently tug on the yarn to create a slight indentation.
Knot off ends.
Assembly
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 Pandapple-chan with amiguruMEI!
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.
Materials
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
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!
Kogepan-chan is a burnt red bean bun character created by San-X.
The adorable brown bread boy is often in a foul mood – you would be too, if you were left forgotten in a sauna 30 minutes past your tolerance for furnace-hot air!
Learn more about Kogepan-chan in these super hilarious and kawaii videos we found on YouTube!
Materials
Head
With bread brown 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 white brads for the eyes – it should fall right below round 13. There should be a space of nine stitches between the eyes.
With black embroidery floss, sew two small lines in the centre of the face. These will be the nose and mouth.
With pink thread, sew three shorter diagonal lines below each eye to give Kogepan-chan a flustered look.
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 bread brown 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 so Kogepan-chan can sit upright on his own.
Arms (make 2)
With bread brown 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 bread brown 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
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 Kogepan-chan with amiguruMEI!
P/S: Kogepan-chan will have a new friend next week! Brand new free pattern coming up!
