Crochet Your Favorite Amigurumi Characters!

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Crocheting Totoro: Giving Him a Body
   • Creating a Magic Ring
   • Crocheting in Continuous Spirals
   • Creating Totoro's Bean-Shaped Body
   • Achieving the Squished Look
3. Adding Features: The Eyes
   • Using a Magic Ring to Start
   • Creating the Eyes with an Increase Round
4. Crafting Totoro's Arms
   • Shaping the Arms with a Chained Ring
   • Increasing and Decreasing to Create the Tapered Shape
   • Attaching and Sewing the Arms
5. Designing Totoro's Ears
   • Creating Simplified Version of Arrow-Shaped Ears
   • Positioning and Sewing the Ears
6. Assembling Totoro: Sewing the Pieces Together
   • Using Pins for Alignment
   • Sewing the Pieces to Create Totoro's Body
7. Final Touches: Embroidering the Features and Adding Claws
   • Embroidering the Belly and Arrows
   • Adding Claws to Totoro's Paws
8. Stuffing and Finishing
   • Stuffing Totoro with Polyester Filling
   • Concealing the Tail and Finalizing the Details
9. Conclusion

Crocheting Totoro: Bringing Him to Life

Crocheting Totoro is a delightful project that allows you to create your own adorable version of the beloved character. In this article, we will guide you through the steps of crocheting Totoro's body, adding features like eyes and arms, and assembling all the pieces to create a cuddly companion. So let's grab our crochet hooks and get started!

1. Introduction

Totoro, the lovable forest spirit from the Studio Ghibli film, is an iconic character that captures the hearts of fans around the world. Crocheting your own Totoro allows you to have a unique handmade creation that can be cherished or gifted to fellow Totoro enthusiasts.

2. Crocheting Totoro: Giving Him a Body

The first step in creating your Totoro is to give him a body. We'll start by creating a magic ring, a technique commonly used in amigurumi crochet. The magic ring provides a seamless and adjustable starting point for crocheting in the round.

Next, we'll crochet in continuous spirals to shape Totoro's body. Increasing the number of stitches in each round will gradually create a circular disc, giving Totoro his recognizable bean-shaped body.

To achieve the squished look that makes Totoro so adorable, we'll focus on increasing every third round for a certain number of rounds. This will create a slight taper towards the top, resembling a squished barrel or chubby bird.

Pros:

• The magic ring technique ensures a tight and secure starting point for the body.
• Crocheting in continuous spirals creates a seamless appearance without visible seams or joins.

Cons:

• Increasing every third round may require careful counting and tracking of rounds to maintain consistency.

In this step, it's crucial to make sure the increases are evenly spaced to maintain Totoro's proportions. A well-proportioned body will be the foundation for adding his other features in the later steps.

3. Adding Features: The Eyes

The eyes are a defining feature of Totoro's face, and crocheting them adds life and personality to your creation. Start by creating another magic ring to form the base of each eye. You'll then crochet a single round with increases to shape the eyes.

Pros:

• The magic ring technique ensures a secure and tight starting point for the eyes.
• Crocheting the eyes separately allows for more control over their shape and placement.

Cons:

• Creating the eyes requires careful counting and tracking of stitches to maintain symmetry.

Once you've completed both eyes, fasten off and weave in any loose ends. The eyes can be attached later during the assembly process, but having them ready ensures you have all the components to bring Totoro to life.

4. Crafting Totoro's Arms

Totoro's arms are another important feature that gives him a huggable and cuddly appearance. To create the arms, we'll use a chained ring method to create a flat end, tapering up towards the shoulder.

Start by chaining a certain number of stitches to form the ring, then join them to create a round. This round will serve as the base for crocheting up to the shoulder.

Pros:

• The chained ring method provides a sturdy and secure foundation for the arms.
• Crocheting the arms separately allows for easier attachment and positioning during assembly.

Cons:

• Creating the chained ring may require some practice for beginners.

To shape the arms, we'll use a combination of increasing and decreasing stitches. By increasing the stitches in the first few rounds and then decreasing them, we can achieve the tapered shape of Totoro's arms.

Remember to crochet a spare arm to ensure you have a matching pair. It's always a good idea to have backups in case of any mishaps or mistakes.

5. Designing Totoro's Ears

Totoro's distinctive ears add charm and character to his overall appearance. While the original design features arrow-shaped ears, we'll be creating a simplified version that resembles tiny mittens. These adorable ears will give Totoro a touch of uniqueness.

Pros:

• The simplified ear design is easier and quicker to crochet.
• The mittens-like shape of the ears adds a cute and playful element to Totoro's look.

Cons:

• The simplified version may not capture the exact shape of Totoro's original ears.

Once you've crocheted the ears, it's time to position and sew them onto Totoro's head. The positioning may require some adjustments to achieve a balanced and visually pleasing result.

6. Assembling Totoro: Sewing the Pieces Together

Now that we have all the individual pieces ready, it's time to bring Totoro together. Start by using pins to temporarily secure the pieces in place before sewing. This ensures that everything is aligned correctly before making any permanent attachments.

Pros:

• Pinning the pieces allows for adjustments and ensures accurate placement before sewing.
• Sewing the pieces creates a sturdy and durable finished product.

Cons:

• Pinning and sewing may require some practice and patience for beginners.

Using a needle and thread or a yarn needle, sew the pieces together to create Totoro's body. Take your time and focus on making secure and even stitches. Finishing this step brings Totoro closer to completion and reveals his recognizable shape.

7. Final Touches: Embroidering the Features and Adding Claws

The final details will give Totoro his unique personality. Embroider Totoro's belly and his signature arrows with a contrasting color of yarn or embroidery floss. This adds depth and enhances the overall craftsmanship of the amigurumi.

To complete the look, add claws to Totoro's paws. These small details make a difference in capturing the essence of Totoro's character. Take your time with the embroidery and claw attachments for the best results.

8. Stuffing and Finishing

With Totoro nearly complete, it's time to stuff him with polyester filling. Use a high loft polyester filling to achieve a soft and huggable result. Make sure to distribute the filling evenly to maintain Totoro's shape and cuddliness.

After stuffing, finish off any loose ends and conceal the tail within the body. This ensures a neat and finished look. Pay attention to the details and take pride in perfecting Totoro's appearance.

9. Conclusion

Crocheting Totoro is a delightful and rewarding project for fans of amigurumi and Studio Ghibli alike. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can create your own adorable Totoro plushie that captures the spirit of the beloved character. Enjoy the process, and embrace the joy of bringing Totoro to life through the craft of crochet.