Totoros are shy forest spirits portrayed in My Neighbor Totoro, a charming animated film by Japanese director Hayao Miyazaki. The main totoro, the large grey one, is O Totoro.

This pattern was developed using Brella’s Chu Totoro toy pattern as reference, and scaled to match her Chu and Chibi Totoro toys.

Gauge is not particularly important, just remember to use a needle size or two smaller than your yarn recommends so the fabric is dense enough to keep the stuffing from showing.

You will need two different color yarns in the same weight for the body and belly. You will be knitting in the round, using short rows, picking up live stitches as well as picking up stitches from edges.

The pattern also involves intarsia, seaming and embroidery. It is definitely a more challenging pattern.