White Totoro

I made these 'tree spirits' after watching 'My Neighbor Totoro'- a 1988 Japanese anime film written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki and produced by Studio Ghibli.
The film follows the two young girls of a professor and their interactions with friendly wood/tree spirits in postwar rural Japan.
The girls in the film remind me of my two little girls. I stumbled across the pattern for the white totoro after a search on utube for the theme song.

My girls are thrilled that they have their own 'tree spirits'.
My next challenge is to make the big one.


White Totoro Crochet Pattern

Materials:
White yarn, double knitting (US sport or worsted?)
Small amount of pink yarn for feet
Small amount of black embroidery thread for eyes
Stuffing
1 pair 9mm black safety eyes
Embroidery needle
3.5mm hook (US E hook)

Abbreviations:
ch = chain
st = stitch or stitches
sc = single crochet (US), double crochet (UK)
hdc = half double crochet (US), half treble (UK)
ss = slip stitch
inc = increase
inc 2 = increase by working 2 sc into one st
dec = decrease
dec 2 = decrease 2 st down to one
FO = finish off

Instructions:
Work in continuous rounds. Most rounds are written in the format:
Round number: [work a number of sc, increase or decrease by one st] x however many times (leaving however many st that round).

Ears (make 2):
1: Ch 2, 4sc into 1st ch, link to 1st sc with slip st.
2: [1sc, inc 2] x 2 (6st)
3: [2sc, inc 2] x 2 (8st)
4-5: Work 8sc for 2 rounds
6: [3sc, inc 2] x 2 (10st)
7-8: Work 10sc for 2 rounds
9: [4sc, inc 2] x 2 (12st)
10: Work 12sc for 1 round
FO one ear only
When second ear is complete join the two ears together at the base by doing round 11 and crocheting 24sc. If there is any gap between them use the tail of yarn from the first ear to neaten up. Continue with the body:
12: [3sc, inc 2] x 6 (30st)
13-15: Work 30sc for 3 rounds
16: [4sc, inc 2] x 6 (36st)
17-27: Work 36sc for 11 rounds
* Fix eyes in now, see below
28: [4sc, dec 2] x 6 (30st)
29: [3sc, dec 2] x 6 (24st)
30: [2sc, dec 2] x 6 (18st)
31: [1sc, dec 2] x 6 (12st)
32: [dec 2] x 6 (6st)
33: [dec 2] until hole is small enough to be sewn closed

Tail:
1: Ch 2, 6sc into 1st ch
2: [1sc, inc 2] x 3 (9st)
3: [2sc, inc 2] x 3 (12st)
4: Work 12sc for 1 round
5: [3sc, inc 2] x 3 (15st)
6: Work 15sc for 1 round, FO

Feet (pink yarn, make 2):
[Ch 4, miss 1, ss into next 3.] x 3
ss into 1st ch to make bird-type foot shape.

Eyes (white yarn, make 2):
1: Ch 2, 8sc into 1st ch, link to 1st sc with slip st, FO. Make sure there is a hole in the centre to put safety eyes through.

*Fit the eyes while there is still room to put your hand inside the body. Put the safety eyes through the centre of the white crocheted parts (you could use circles of white felt). Position on about round 14/15. Stuff fairly well, then complete the body until there is just a small hole left.
Sew edges of white parts of eyes to the body. Use black embroidery thread to outline the eyes.
Stuff body firmly and sew shut.
Stuff tail firmly and sew to body.
Sew feet to body.

http://heavens-hellcat.livejournal.com/730.html