Simple Totoro pattern

Hello!
I wasn't here for a long time, due to lot of schoolwork and... lack of ideas! :)

Today I bring to you a simple Totoro pattern. I was requested to create a amigurumi Totoro keyring for a friend of mine, but all the patterns I saw on the Internet were for a too big or too small softie.
So, here's the one I created - you should be able to make your own Totoro even if you've just began crocheting.

My Neighbor Totoro is a 1988 Japanese animated fantasy film written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki and produced by Studio Ghibli. The film follows the two young daughters of a professor and their interactions with friendly wood spirits in postwar rural Japan.(source: wikipedia.org)

Pattern:

use hooks and yarn of your choice.

We start with making the egg-shaped body, from head to bottom.

1. magic ring, 5 (5)
2. inc in each st (10)

3. sc in each st (10)
4. *sc, inc* around (15)
5. *2 sc, inc* (20)
6. sc in each st (20)
7. *sc, inc* around (30)
8. sc in each st (30)
9. *sc, inc* around (45)
10. - 13. sc in each st (45)
14. *4 sc, inc* around (48)
15. - 18. sc in each st around (48)
13. *4 sc, dec* (45)
14. sc in each st (45)
15. *sc, dec* around (30)
16. sc in each st (30)
17. *sc, dec* around (15)
18. decrease around to close.

Ears (make 2) :
with smaller hook.
1. ch 3, sc in 2nd  and 3rd sc from hook. (2)
2. ch 2, turn, sc in each (2)
3. ch 2, turn, inc in each st (4)
4. - 7. ch 2, turn, hdc in each st (4)
Bend it in half (vertically), so it'll shape an ear :)
Sew it to the body.

Tail:

with same hook as used for ears.
1. ch 3, sc in 2nd  and 3rd sc from hook. (2)
2. ch 2, turn, sc in each (2)
3. ch 2, turn, inc in each st (4)
4. - 8. ch 2, turn, hdc in each st (4)
sew to the bottom of the body.

sew (or glue) eyes, mouth and belly, created from felt or other white (or any color you like your Totoro to be) material. 
Remember to make the "^ ^ ^"s on his belly :)

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Aurora Mini Doll Pattern + my mothers works

Hi everyone! I finally made another doll pattern, this time with hair, dress and joining legs tutorials!
I always wanted to make a tiny doll, enough small to keep her in a purse or even use as a keychain. She turned out a bit bigger than I expected, but I still like her looks. 

I hope you'll like her :)




The pattern is very easy, the only things you need to know to make her are:

*...* - repeat around until you have the number of stitches that is in brackets.

sc - single crochet

st - stitch

sl st - slip stitch

dec - 2 stitches togeter, sc2tog

inc - 2 single crochets in one stitch.

how to make magic (adjustable)  ring

Pattern for the Aurora Mini Doll:

Notes:

- Before sewing head to body, work on face and hair. It's harder to make them when the doll parts are sewn together.

- When sewing a doll, you can wrap some yarn between head and body, to make it less wobbly.

HEAD:

1. magic ring, 4 sc in ring

2. increase around (8)

3. *sc, inc* (12)

4. *2 sc, inc*  (16)

5. *3 sc, inc* (20)

6. - 10. sc in each st around (20) 

11. *3 sc, dec* (16)

12. *2 sc, dec* (12)

13. *sc, dec* (8)

14. sl st, leave long tail for sewing.

LEGS:

1. magic ring, 4 sc in ring (4)

2. *sc, inc* (6)

3. *2 sc, inc* (8)

4. - 8. sc in each st (8) 

stuff and make second leg:

1. magic ring, 4 sc in ring (4)

2. *sc, inc* (6)

3. *2 sc, inc* (8)

4. - 8. sc in each st (8) 

do not fasten off second leg.

Join it to the other leg with a sl st. Change to dress color and crochet a round of scs on joined legs (16) as shown on photos:

BODY:

1. - 4. sc in each st (16)

5. *6 sc, dec* (14)

6. *5 sc, dec* (12)

7. sc in each st (12)

start stuffing body here

8. *4 sc, dec* (10)

9. sc in each st (10)

10. *3 sc, dec* (8)

11. sc in each st (8)

finish stuffing body, sl st, leave a long tail for sewing.

ARMS:

1. magic ring, 4 sc in ring (4)

2. *sc, inc* (6)

3. one inc around (7)

4. - 6. sc in each (7)

7. one dec around (6)

8. sc in each st (6)

Sl st, leave a long tail for sewing.

Arms do not need stuffing.

SKIRT:

Change hook to smaller one. You can also change color of yarn if you wish.

1. (working in front loops of 3rd round of the body) sc in each st. (16) join round with a sl st, ch 2, turn

2. inc in each st (32) join with sl st, but don't make ch 2 and don't turn!

3. *sc, inc* around (48)

4. sc in each st (48)

change yarn to edging color:

5. *11 sc, inc*  (52) join with a sl st

You can also add decorative frills:

ch 6, attach to next st with sl, repeat around.

FACE:

For face you can use felt, french knots, sequins, buttons, anything you like.

I made the doll's face with glued on felt shapes.
You can also use safety eyes, if you know where to buy tiny ones :)

HAIR:

You can make hair your own way - there's a lot of great tutorials on the internet.

The techinque I use here is:

1. Wrap some yarn around a book.

2. Cut one side of it
3. Divide yarn into some groups

4. Sew it to the dolls head with the similar color thread

Sew the doll now.  

The final doll should look like this, but you can improvise too!

Please do not redistribute this pattern without giving me a credit :)

Announcement:

Me and my mother finally decided to make an Etsy shop! We don't have anything in store yet, so I'll put up the link when we'll list something to sell. 

My mom is a maker of wonderful, decorative clothespins, made with technique of decoupage. Here you can see one of my favorite sets, which will be available for sale soon.

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Viola and Lydia

Hi everyone!
In this post I want to introduce someone to you - their names are Viola and Lydia, they were "born" in May, 2012. One of them is from my improvised pattern, the second one is made of Free Spirit Doll Pattern.

Viola is the blonde one, while Lydia is a lovely brunette.

I like them both very much, neverminding the fact they took me so much time and work (I am very unpatient, so try to imagine how happy I was when I finished them after some hours of working)

Viola was kind of spontaneous work - one day I was very bored and I made a head. I forgot about it and it landed in my yarn basket.  After some months I found her head and thought I should finally do something...
I have about 4 heads lying on my shelf and waiting for their bodies...

And some of Violet's details:

Ps. I received a Spring Fairy pattern from Lous Labors to test - I can't wait to make one! :]

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Ida Pattern (basic female doll)

Hello everyone! Here's my first pattern, which I wanted to publish. It's called "Ida Doll" and it's body only, so you can make face and hair your favorite way. If you don't know how to crochet doll clothes - some patterns will be available soon :)

Here are some useful tutorials, if my explanations aren't enough:
- Joining legs
- Attaching hair
- Attaching hair 2

You can use yarn and hook of your choice, depending on how big you want the doll to be.
I used Altin Basak Miya yarn (134 yards/50g, 8ply) and 1.25 mm hook.
Stuff the doll with cottonwool, yarn scraps or whatever you like.

inc = 2sc in one st
dec = sc2tog
sl st = slip stitch
*...* = repeat until you have the number of stitches that is written in brackets

.

DOLL PATTERN:

Head:

Working from top to bottom.

1. magic ring, 5 sc in ring (5)

2. inc in each st (10)

3. *inc, sc* (15)

4. *inc, 2 sc* (20)

5. *inc, 3 sc* (25)

6. - 12. sc in each st (25) 

- start stuffing here

13. *3 sc, dec* (20)

14. *2 sc, dec* (15) 

- stuff more

15. *sc, dec* (10)

Fasten off with a sl st, leaving a long tail for sewing.

Body:

We start with making two separate legs, working from the toe.

Tips:  If you want your doll to have shoes already, start with a contrasting color and change to skin color after some rounds. You can put pipecleaners inside the legs, so you can bend them.

1. magic ring, 5 sc in ring (5)

2. inc in each st (10)

3. - 4. - sc in each st (10)

5. dec, sc in next 7 sts. (8)

6. - 14. sc in each st (8)

Stuff leg, fasten off with a sl st. Leave a short tail (you should hide it in the body later.)

Make second leg.

Hold legs together, insert hook through one loop in each and yarn over.

Continue crocheting on stitches of both legs, until you have 16 stitches - this is how the body starts.

1. - 7. sc in each st (16)

8. dec, 6 sc, dec, 6 sc (14)

9. - 15. sc in each st (14)

16. dec, 5 sc, dec, 5 sc (12)

17. sc in each st (12)

Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing.

Arms (make two):

1. magic ring, 5 sc in ring (5)

2. inc in each st (10)

3. - 6. sc in each st (10)

7. dec, 3 sc, dec, 3 sc (8)

8. sc in each st (8)

9. dec, 2 sc, dec, 2 sc (6)

10. - 16. sc in each st (6)

Fasten off with a sl st, leaving a long tail for sewing. When you have two arms, sew them to body. You can stuff them or put pipecleaners in them, too.

Sew parts together, make face, clothes, hair and enjoy your new doll!

Clothing patterns will be available soon :)

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Hello!

Hello everyone and welcome to Hook and Stitch!

I wanted to finally make my own site about crocheted dolls and toys, so here it is!

Crochet is a very popular technique, you can craft a lot of things using yarns and hook - from bookmarks and phone cozies to jewelry, clothes and toys.
Although the blog will focus on dolls and softies, the other stuff probably will be mentioned too.

I'm going to post my own patterns and creations here,
write useful tips for newbies in amigurumi doll crocheting, and finally - babble about random interesting things :)

You can also find a lot of interesting links here!


Ps. : On this photo you can see my creation, a doll called Viola. It's made out of wonderful pattern by Beth Ann Weber.

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