A Crocheted Mochi

Remember your favourite shows when you were a kid? Ah, fond memories. I wonder how many were actually super annoying for our parents to watch with us? (I’m looking at you, Barney and Caillou.) I was fortunate enough to grow up with such Canadian classics as Fred Penner, Mr. Dressup, Polka Dot Door, Today’s Special and The Elephant Show, and I feel like those hold up.

Well, I found a new adorable kids show that I enjoyed quite thoroughly. Ada and I watched Waffles and Mochi and it is totally charming. I was immediately talking in the Beaker-esque voice of Mochi and wanting to eat tomatoes. It’s a Michelle Obama show, and as we all know, the Obamas can do no wrong.

I also realized that I needed to crochet Mochi. Like, immediately.

And here is Ada enjoying Mochi while we watched the show. (You can’t appreciate it from the photo, but I am doing Mochi noises throughout.)

After weeks and weeks of feeling accomplished if I managed to take Ada for a walk during the day and/or wear clothes without dried spit up on them, I had a random burst of productivity and wrote up the pattern!

Here is the pattern, but I’ve also linked the pdf version later on.

What You’ll need:

• Acrylic, worsted weight 4 ply yarn in pink and a little in black
• Hook Size: Size F / 5 / 3.75mm
• Polyester fiberfill stuffing
• Safety eyes (or you can embroider on the eyes)

Pattern:

Mochi is done in spiral rounds. Consider placing a stitch marker on the starting Sc of each row so that you don’t lose track of which row you’re working on.

To begin, Ch 2.

Row 1: 6 Sc in second chain from hook. (6 St)

Row 2: 2 Sc in each stitch around. (12 St)

Row 3: 2 Sc in next stitch. (2 Sc in next stitch. Sc in next stitch.) Repeat () 4 more times. 2 Sc in next stitch. (19 St)

Row 4: (Sc in next 2 stitches. 2 Sc in next stitch.) Repeat () 5 more times. Sc in next stitch. (25 St)

Row 5: Sc in next stitch. (2 Sc in next stitch. Sc in next 3 stitches.) Repeat () 5 more times. (31 St)

For Rows 6 and 7, the abbreviation ‘Inc’ represents ‘2 Sc in next stitch.’

Row 6: Sc in next 3 stitches, Inc, Sc in next 4 stitches, Inc, Sc in next 3 stitches, Inc, Sc in next 3 stitches, Inc, Sc in next 4 stitches, Inc, Sc in next 3 stitches, Inc, Sc in next 4 stitches, Inc. (38 St)

Row 7: Sc in next 6 stitches, Inc, Sc in next 9 stitches, Inc, Sc in next 7 stitches, Inc, Sc in next 9 stitches, Inc, Sc in next 3 stitches. (42 St)

Row 8-11: Sc in each stitch around. (42 St)

Row 12: (Sc in next 5 stitches. ScDec over next two stitches.) Repeat () around. (36 St)

Row 13: (Sc in next 4 stitches. ScDec over next two stitches.) Repeat () around. (30 St)

Row 14: (Sc in next 3 stitches. ScDec over next two stitches.) Repeat () around. (24 St)

Row 15: (Sc in next 2 stitches. ScDec over next two stitches.) Repeat () around. (18 St)

Around this point, you should turn your piece ‘right’ side out (or ‘V’ side out) and attach the safety eyes between Row 8 and 9, with three stitches between them.

Also, begin stuffing your piece as you continue the remaining rows.

Row 16: (Sc in next stitch. ScDec over next two stitches.) Repeat () around. (12 St)

Row 17: ScDec four times. (4 St) Note: this is an unfinished row intentionally. There are 4 stitches from the previous row left unworked.

Fasten off yarn leaving a long tail. Weave the tail through each of the last four stitches (from Row 17) and pull tightly to close.

Finishing Touches:

Stitch on little eyebrows above each eye as well as a little smile using black yarn or embroidery floss. The mouth should be placed between the eyes on Row 10. Or, you could cut out a tiny felt smile and glue it on instead of stitching one.

Crochet MochiDownload

I tried to get Ada to pose nicely with Mochi… so, here is a montage of photos demonstrating how babies don’t like to be told what to do: