got me in stitches

1 row: time for a break!

2 weeks: alright half way there…

3 months: finally done!!

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Nightmare Before Christmas

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Hello everyone! Merry Christmas and happy holidays! I’ve received some requests for a pattern of my Giant Totoro. I haven’t posted this before mostly because I had never written the pattern down. It is just a remake of a previously known pattern on Purl Bee that will be linked below. I hope you enjoy, please show me photos if you do finish the pattern, and don’t forget to be creative and have fun. It’s such a fun and easy pattern! Mine lives on my couch and never fails to entertain. Let me know if anyone has any questions!

Pattern notes:

This pattern is done mostly with the Purl Bee Big Cuddle Bunny body. You follow that pattern until you reach the ears, then you knit Totoro’s ears.

For the belly, you can either do the circle pattern written below, or crochet a large circle that fits the belly of the Totoro you have made. I personally cannot crochet as well, so I did a knit circle. You can also use felt or even knit the white into the belly as you knit the body. It’s your choice!

Also this pattern can be worked in any gauge on any size needle. Below is what I used, but you can use anything!

What you’ll need:

I used second-hand yarn for the white of the belly, so I don’t know the exact type it is. Any white yarn will do, even if it’s a different gauge. I’ll remind you: a lot of this project was winging it to see what I could do. Just be creative! 1 Skein.

For the body I used Softee Chunky Yarn in Grey Heather from Bernat Yarns. About 5 skeins.

10 mm 24in circular needles.

Pattern:

After following the body pattern on Purl Bee, do as they say for setting up the ears.

“Remove the stitch marker, and slip the last 5 stitches you knit onto a double pointed needle.

With a second double pointed needle, knit the next 5 stitches

Rearrange these 10 stitches onto three double pointed needles (3 stitches on two and 4 stitches on the third). Join for working in the round.”

After this is when you go away from the pattern. Stuff most of the way now.

Knit one row

KFB all stitches. 20 sts

Knit one row

KFB all stitches. 30 sts

Knit one row.

Decrease round: k3, k2tog all the way around

Knit one row

K2, k2tog

Knit one row

K1, k2tog

K2tog all the way around

Take yarn needle, loop through stitches and tie off all the remaining stitches.

Repeat for other ear.

At this point you’ll want to finish stuffing it. Make sure to use a lot. I used two bags of stuffing I got from a craft store. On my first attempt at this pattern I didn’t stuff it enough and it eventually started sagging! I had to open it up and restuff it. D:

Kitchener stitch the opening between the ears.

Belly:

I followed the pattern for the beginning of the Totoro in the Purl Bee pattern, but instead of purls I knit. It’s just a personal preference, since I don’t really like the way purls look. You can do whatever you want! Below is from the original pattern. Make sure to keep an eye on how big it is in comparison to your Totoro!

“…cast on 8 stitches.

Place a stitch marker and join for working in the round, being careful to not twist your stitches.

Round 1: Knit into the front and back (kfb) 8 times. (16 stitches)

Round 2: Purl.

Round 3: *P1, kfb, repeat from * to end of round. (24 stitches)

Round 4: Purl.

Round 5: *P2, kfb, repeat from * to end of round. (32 stitches)

Round 6: Purl.

Round 7: *P3, kfb, repeat from * to end of round. (40 stitches)

Round 8: Purl.

Round 9: *P4, kfb, repeat from * to end of round. (48 stitches)

Round 10: Purl.

Round 11: *P5, kfb, repeat from * to end of round. (56 stitches)

Switching to the circular needle…

Round 12: Purl.

Round 13: *P13, kfb, repeat from * to end of round. (60 stitches)

Purl 6 rounds.”

Details:

Follow the circle pattern for the eyes, or use felt or just use your tapestry needle to sew it in directly onto the Totoro! Whichever you prefer!

Don’t forget whiskers, with black yarn just sew it straight on (or felt, or even black pipe cleaners). Same with the nose. I used this same method for the ^ shapes on its belly. You can sew those on like I have, or do intarsia on the belly pattern. Again, I preferred to sew it but use whatever method you want!

Tail:

Lastly, for the tail I just used circular needles to cast on stitches on the butt of the doll. Just do however many you need to make the size you want.

Knit 6 rounds

Decrease like you would a hat.

k2, k2tog

knit round

k1, k2tog

knit round

k2tog

Lace through last stitches with tapestry needle and close up. Make sure to stuff before you close it up!

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