Saturday 14 April 2012

All the Totoros!

I love the Miyazaki/Studio Ghibli film My Neighbour Totoro, and the Totoros themselves, adorable monsters with features reminiscent of rabbits and cats, that come in three different sizes and colours. A giant grey one about twice the height of a person, a blue one about the size of a cat and a small white one about half that size. If you haven't seen the film, I urge you to give it a try, it's totally delightful.

A few years back I made a blue and a white Totoro, and wrote up the patterns on my livejournal (White Totoro , Blue Totoro ). Since then I've been wanting to make a grey one, and to perfect the original two patterns. In the end I did that, and also adapted the pattern for the white Totoro to make a small blue one to go with the grey one, and a tiny white one to complete the set.

This might be easier to explain in photos!

Here's the large grey Totoro, which is about 9" tall, with the small blue Totoro (4.25" tall) and the tiny white one (1.75"). To be honest, the two smaller ones aren't quite to scale with the grey one, but it would have been too difficult to make a white one small enough without changing the type of yarn, which I didn't want to do.


These are the updated blue and white Totoros. The blue one is about 8" tall and the white one is 4.25" tall. When I started remaking them I changed them quite a bit - I obviously crochet a lot tighter now that I did when I made them originally. The grey Totoro and this blue one have a similar pattern, the grey one is a bit taller but the ears are shorter.
The white Totoro and the small blue one are the same pattern, just with extra elements (tummy, arms) for the blue one.


Here you can see the two different sizes of blue and white Totoros, I'm happy that I got the scale pretty much right for both sets.




I also made a little leaf for the grey Totoro, to help keep off the rain.



You can download the patterns free from Ravelry:









Tiny White Totoro (the leaf pattern can be found with the Grey Totoro)



**Edit 2021 - unfortunately, these patterns are no longer available to download from Ravelry. 

87 comments:

Bigbluebed said...

Oh thank you! We love Tortoro in this house so I will be making on (if not all) of these! Alix xx

Tatkis said...

They all are sooo cute! I love Totoro's :))
Thanks for the links!

Hugs,
Tatyana

LucyRavenscar said...

Thanks! I hope you enjoy making them - just ask if you have any problems.

Rhiannon said...

Hi Lucy,

What sort of yarn do you recommend for the Totoros? I have some cheap acrylic yarn in my stash that would be a good colour for the bigger blue one, but am worried it might be too stretchy for amigurami, what sort of yarn mix would you normally use?

Great selection of characters by the way, I love Totoro!

LucyRavenscar said...

Cheap acrylic is just what you need! It doesn't stretch much so it's perfect for amigurumis.

Attic24 said...

Hello!
Have just found your site while searching for crochet Creatures, and i LOVE these cuties! have never heard of Totoros, but am keen to find out more. I had a go last night at making the small white one, your pattern was beautifully written and very easy to follow, such a relief as I usually find written patterns hard work.
I am planning making a version of this for a friend, I want to make the body and ears longer and thinner, and construct it in colourful rows/stripes instead of the traditional spiral amigurumi. Would it be ok if I do this using your pattern as a starting point? Will be writing about it on my blog (Attic24) and will of course give full credit and links back to you. Please do drop me a line, i'd love to hear from you ♥
Lucexxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

CODY CLARK said...

Absolutely dying here. These look like a great first project! If I can manage this, I am totally buying the star wars pattern for my husband for Christmas. Here's hoping I'm not too doltish to manage this!

LucyRavenscar said...

Attic24 - somehow I totally missed your message! I hope you see this, but I would be very happy for you to play with any of the totoro patterns. I'm glad you found the white one easy to follow. If you haven't watched My Neighbour Totoro you should definitely give it a try, it's a really wonderful film. By the way, I love your blog, always makes me want to make something colourful!

Cody - thank you! I hope you find it easy to make any of these, just ask if you have any problems.

mirwena said...

Thank You soooo much!!! I know mine is in so many places off but.... LOVE IT! :D
http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb43/mirwena/totoro_zpsf0d16893.jpg

LucyRavenscar said...

Thanks Anna, and yours looks great!

Toby said...

I didn't think I'd actually finish this pattern because I tend to put something down and not pick it up for years, but I ended up finishing all three! My friends and I have been taking Totoro out and about and we even made him an Instagram at http://www.instagram.com/totorosadventures

LucyRavenscar said...

Toby, that's so cool! I've put a link to it on my Facebook.

silentblair said...

I just want to thank you for your amazing patterns. I'm printing this one out as we speak and can't wait to start it!
One other thank you...
Thanks for taking the time to put page numbers in you PDF's. It's not a terribly big thing, but this touch just shows how much you care.

THANK YOU!

LucyRavenscar said...

Thanks! I print out my own patterns to test them, and I soon realised that page numbers were a neccessity!

Joan said...

Love all of these ,thanks for sharing the pattern , yes I also agree page numbers are a great help, and you,ve got a comment from attic 24

LucyRavenscar said...

Thanks Joan!

Unknown said...

I want to buy. How much?

LucyRavenscar said...

Sorry, I just write patterns, I don't make the toys to sell.

Lucret Isignat said...

I love these- will be making for Meg's birthday!!

Alina said...

Hello :D Thanks for sharing this pattern <3 I love to crochet and I love anime too <3 I hope you don't mind if I post a link to your blog (and specifically a link to your post with Totoro pattern) on my crochet blog too? :D Here is the link to my blog : http://alinahime.blogspot.dk/ :D

LucyRavenscar said...

Thanks Flame_angel! I'm glad you've enjoyed my patterns, and I'm very happy for you to share them.

Octo said...

Hi Lucy,
I'm french and I wanted to tell you someone translate your patterns in our language. I have read you was ok with this translation... That's great ! Tks

Salut Lucy,
Je suis française et je voulais te dire que quelqu'un a traduit tes modèles dans notre langue. J'ai lu que tu avais donné ton accord pour cette traduction ... c'est génial ! Merci

http://www.planete-laine.com/2013/08/modele-gratuit-crochet-totoro-amigurumi.html

http://www.planete-laine.com/2013/10/modele-crochet-gratuit-amigurumi-totoro-gris.html

http://www.planete-laine.com/2013/08/modele-crochet-gratuit-petits-totoros-patron.html

LucyRavenscar said...

Thanks for posting the links - I have put the translations on Ravelry but not here. It's great to have someone translate my patterns!

Unknown said...

Can you post how to knit these? They are ADORABLE!

LucyRavenscar said...

Sorry, I don't knit, I only crochet. If you click on the links at the end of the post you'll go to the crochet patterns, otherwise you might have to search to find knitting patterns for Totoro.

Anonymous said...

Absolute love....I am VERY new to crocheting and this looked like something I could accomplish. Plus it makes a great Xmas gift for a friend. But I was curious if you could clarify, which loops front/back/both I (we) should be using when building the rows. I have just started but I didn't want to get too far if I had to start over. Thank you!

LucyRavenscar said...

On the whole you should work through both loops, the pattern will say if there's any places where you work in back or front loops only. Have fun with the pattern, and just ask if you have any more questions.

Unknown said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
LucyRavenscar said...

You're joining the two ears together by crocheting around both of them. When it says '1st st' or '4th st' you're counting the stitches in the round. So, the 1st st of first ear is the st right after the last st, where you fastened off. Instead of continuing to crochet in the second ear, you keep the loop on your hook but start to crochet, as described, in the first ear for 15 st. Then, having missed 3 st on the second ear, you crochet 15 st in the second ear, which takes you to the end of the round.

I hope that helps!

Unknown said...

Thanks so much! Super easy to follow. I finished the grey one and it was a success! Now I was requiered to make it to another girl in the family :)

Anonymous said...

hey lucy

i just have a question about the eyes.
you said work 9 half double crochet into the chain.
im not sure how to do that. i've attempted to do it but i dont think starting the round with half double crochet is possible.
did you mean 9 single crochets instead?

thanks

LucyRavenscar said...

You're working the hdc into the first chain you made, the third chain away from the hook, so it's perfectly possible to do. If you find it awkward to work all 9 into one chain, I would make a chain loop to work into - chain 3 or 4 and join with a slipstitch to make a loop. Ch 2 and work the 9 hdc into the loop.

Anonymous said...

thanks for the reply lucy! i actually figured it out and did 9 hdc in a magic circle instead. worked out great.

Anna K. said...

Hey Lucy!

Thank you so much for these patterns, they are very easy to follow. The totoros look adorable, so I had to do them all. Here are two links to my blog, if you want to see how I managed :)

http://www.lily.fi/blogit/anna-k/virkattu-totoro-ja-sananen-animesta

http://www.lily.fi/blogit/anna-k/totorolle-kaverit

Greetings from Finland,

Anna

LucyRavenscar said...

They look great! I especially love the photos taken outside in the tree.

Ed and Co. said...

Thank you very much for sharing your patterns. They are perfect and terrific! Here is a French Totoro!

http://ed-and-co-handmade.blogspot.fr/2014/04/mon-voisin-totoro.html

Edwige

LucyRavenscar said...

Thank you! Your French Totoro looks very cute, I like the way you've posed him.

Unknown said...

I want to make these for my in-utero-twins and their big brother. I noticed that the patterns call for double-knit weight yarn, but all I have is worsted weight. Has anyone made these with worsted weight instead? I imagine they'd come out bigger. Would I increase the hook size if using worsted weight? Should I use the hook size the yarn package recommends? I just don't want these to come out a lot bigger than the pattern...

LucyRavenscar said...

I think lots of people have made these using worsted weight yarn. I don't think it's much thicker than DK (we don't get it here in the UK), but a slightly larger hook would probably be a good idea. If you look at the patterns on Ravelry you can click on 'Projects' at the top, and other people who have made them will say what yarn and hooks they used.

Anonymous said...

I made this into a rattle for my niece. My sister and I grew up looking at My Neighbor Totoro, so she should love it.

This was the first crochet project I've done with written instructions (as opposed to a video). It was really easy to understand, and it came out so cute. I'm so happy I know how to make ears and tails now.

LucyRavenscar said...

That's such a cute idea!

Jannette said...

Thank you so much for letting people have these patterns for free.
My family love Totoro, and I am looking forward to crocheting all of these for my 11yo daughter. You are a star.

LucyRavenscar said...

Thank you Jannette, have fun making them.

minazu.ruka said...

I love your Totoro pattern and I'm making all three of them for my sister for christmas.

I just have a small problem understanding how to do the leaf. I'm pracically at the end and right now it looks like a wavy circle with a kind ov v shape where I had to turn for the rounds. as the last two rounds were shorter than the rounds before...
Now it says ss into edge of row and into the dip at the top of the leaf. I'm actually not entirely sure what I should do with that ^^;

I made a photo to show you how it looks right now
http://imgur.com/KprGk6D

LucyRavenscar said...

I can't see your photo at the moment, but the leaf is round with a little 'v' where the stalk goes. The edges will be slightly wavy, though the last two rows have 47 st, so not fewer stitches than the rounds and rows before. To make the stalk you need to get yourself to the middles of the 'v', that's why you use a couple of slip stitches to work along the edge of the 'v'.

minazu.ruka said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
minazu.ruka said...

Okay I think my problem is with the 'miss next st' when it says ch1, turn miss next st. is that next st the loop of the slipstitch or the last sc we did? because in row 5 it's 39 stitches and when I make the 9 increases (2+3)x9=45 + 1 sc+1ss I get 47 stitches but if I went with the 39 stitches and took the miss a stitch as the slipstitch I end up with one stitch too much because 39 +9 is 48 and not 47

LucyRavenscar said...

On row 5, where it says 'miss next st' you're missing the ss. So, in row 5 you start with 32 st, you miss one and so lose it (31 st), then you do 8 increases, 31 + 8 = 39 st.
In row 6 you you start with 39 st, you miss one and so lose it (38 st), then you do 9 increases, 38 + 9 = 47 st.
The confusion might be where the start of the round/row is. Once you've done the ss at the start of row 5, then turned, that ss becomes the beginning of the new row.

minazu.ruka said...

yes that was exactly the problem I had ^^ but now I got it and managed to finish my leaf ^^ now for the two small totoros XD

LucyRavenscar said...

Excellent!

Kristin said...

I made the big Totoro for my brother for Christmas. You're pattern is spot on and it came out amazing!!! Thank you!

LucyRavenscar said...

Thanks, I hope he liked it!

Ramona said...

Hello!
Thank you for this pattern! I made the big Totoro and it turned out great, I love it!
I posted it on my blog and liked your pattern, I hope it's okay. :)

http://hellolovelyghost.blogspot.de/2016/02/diy-totoro-amigurumi.html

LucyRavenscar said...

Thank you! Your Totoro looks very cute and cuddly.

Anonymous said...

Me encantaron. Son impecables. Mil gracias los haré todos
I love them all. They are impecable. Thanks a lot I will make all of them

LucyRavenscar said...

Thank you! I hope you enjoy making them.

Emmy said...

Hi Lucy, thank you so much for your patterns, I'm having a great time making the Totoros for my son. I'm having a bit of a problem with the tiny white one though. Round 1 is 6 St, in round 2 there are 4 increases around the pop stitches, how does that add up to 12? Hope you can help me here, thanks.

LucyRavenscar said...

Hi Emmy, there are six increases because you work the 5dc pop and an sc into the same stitch, twice.

Emmy said...

Wow, that was a quick reply! Thanks, I'm going to start again!

Anonymous said...

Hi...Lucy...I am having a problem on crochet the Totoro leaf...at the Row 7, after the 45st, as into the edge of row and into the dip at the top of leaf...... .and making the stalk...from where to start the ch3? can u explain more details?

LucyRavenscar said...

The last stitch in row 7 should take to into the dip at the top of the leaf - if it doesn't you might have miscounted somewhere, but you should be able to do another slip stitch or so to get you there. tHen you ch 3 and make the stalk.

Robert Costelloe said...

You don't make any of these for purchase do you? I really want to buy the set for my new niece but can't say I am educated in the arts of knitting/crochet in any way whatsoever!

LucyRavenscar said...

Sorry, I don't make them to sell myself. I don't mind other people making and selling them though, so if you searched on Etsy you might find some there.

Anonymous said...

Hello Lucy,

Thank you for writing such lovely patterns :)

I am currently making the Grey totoro, please may i ask hpw far apart you placed the eyes?

Thank you,

Kathy x

LucyRavenscar said...

Hi Kathy, Thanks! I didn't write it down at the time, but judging by the photos, I would say 14 stitches apart.

Anonymous said...

Thank you kindly for you speedy reply :) x

Unknown said...

thankyou so much they are so cute :D

Hazel Simpson said...

Just finished making the grey totoro. My son loves it! Now I've got to make the blue and white ones for my daughter. Your patterns are amazing, thank you.

Anonymous said...

I have just finished the body for the large blue one, but the shape is not correct. How do I stuff it to get the correct shape?

Thank you!

LucyRavenscar said...

Thanks Hazel!

LucyRavenscar said...

Stuffing a large piece is quite hard work. Use a bit of stuffing at a time and push it right to the top. As you add more, use something like the handle of a wooden spoon to keep pushing it in firmly. When it seems like it's fully stuffed, keep stuffing until you really can't get any more in. Just make sure you don't stretch the stitches so that the stuffing shows through.

Anonymous said...

That's what I did but it looks like a big spherical ball. It does not have a flat head and the stomach is about the same size as the head.is there anything else I can try to do to fix it? Or should I try starting over?

LucyRavenscar said...

It sounds like your stitches might be a little loose so the fabric is stretching just a bit. You could take all the stuffing out and try again, or it might be best to start over.

Unknown said...

Hey Lucy! I'm having a lot of difficulty with stuffing the grey totoro, I made two versions - one with cheap acrylic yarn and another with a softer yarn. With both I struggle for the stuffing to even out and leaves it looking lumpy and misshapen. Should I be using a smaller hook? What kind of stuffing did you use? Any tips? Thank you in advance!

Nighthawk85 said...

Hi LucyRavenscar!
i wanted to ask your permission to sell the finish product. Giving you credit for the pattern,of course. let me know!

Anonymous said...

cute

Nina said...

Hello! I made the grey Totoro a few years ago and I would like to do another one for my niece this time. Unfortunately I can't find the pattern to buy anywhere... Is it no longer available??? Thanks in advance!

Unknown said...

Hi! Would love to make a grey Totoro for my sister's birthday. Where do you think I can download the pattern?

Unknown said...

Also wondering if there is any other way to get this pattern since its no longer available on ravelry? It is my fav grey totoro pattern I've found!

Lynne said...

Yes, I've only just found this blog, having just purchased the Star Wars kits. I am a huge fan of Totoro and would love to have all the patterns for the various Totoros. Please mzke them available again!

LucyRavenscar said...

Hi everyone, I'm afraid I've had to remove these patterns from Ravelry, and so I've had to delete comments referring to them. I have repurposed some elements of the basic shapes to make Chubby Bunny patterns, check them out in the list of free patterns on the right.

Anonymous said...

Hi I was wondering if your totoro pattern is available anywhere?
I would like to make him if possible and your pattern is the best one I have seen xx

LucyRavenscar said...

If you message me on Etsy (https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/lucyravenscar) I can tell you what the situation is.

Anonymous said...

Très beau modèle ! Mes enfants (28 à 21 ans) en ont voulu un chacun !

LucyRavenscar said...

Merci beaucoup!

Anonymous said...

Are the patterns available anywhere? I have the blue totoro pattern and fell in love with it! I am really wanting the grey and white patterns!

LucyRavenscar said...

Message me on Etsy (https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/lucyravenscar) and I can tell you what the situation is.