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!

Make your own Haru-chan and baby Chioux!

 Abbreviations

• Ch: chain
• Sc: single crochet
• Dc: double crochet
• Inv dec: invisible decrease

Materials

• 2.50 mm hook
• 1.75mm hook
• Similar sized yarn in white, cyan and pastel yellow
• Embroidery thread in mustard yellow
• Sewing thread in dark brown
• Blue brads
• Pink felt
• Sewing needle
• Darning needle
• Polyester fiberfill

 

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:

• Pop in the blue brads below Round 10.
• There should be 6 stitches in between each eye.
• With your dark brown sewing thread, sew a small diagonal stitch from the side-centre to the top-centre of each eye.
• Knot the ends off at the bottom of the head, which will be hidden later on when you place the head in the hood.

 

Nose & mouth:

With dark brown sewing thread:

• Thread your needle through from the bottom of the head to the centre between the eyes on Round 10.
• Sew a vertical line to the bottom of Round 11.
• Make small backstitches to the left and right of this line to form curves for the mouth.
• Knot the ends off at the bottom of the head.

 

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

• Sew the body onto the hood (that should now contain the head).
• Sew the arms onto the front of the body, right below the hood.
• Sew on the legs.
• Sew on the tail.
• Sew on the ears – give the pieces a slight pinch to mould them into shape.
• Give the pet chick a pair of eyes – use the dark brown sewing thread to make a small horizontal line, one stitch away, to the left and right of the beak.
• Sew the pet chick onto Haru-chan’s hood. Let it peek out from between her ears.
• Cut two small round pieces of pink felt and glue them onto the cheeks.