For my inaugural pattern, I present my original Funassyi (or Funasshi) pattern! Funassyi is one of Japan’s most popular and mascot characters and is unofficially associated with the the city of Funabashi in Chiba prefecture. I am a huge fan of this giant pear (hence the nashi part of its name) who has no official gender. I personally tend to think of Funassyi as a ‘he’ (and thus will refer to him as such) because that’s just my impression. He has a very cute aesthetic with roses for eyes and spherical shape. Funassyi is full of energy and is a super fun television personality, which is probably what he appears on so many Japanese variety shows.

What I love most about Funassyi is his costume! It looks like its essentially fabric draped over a frame and really “cheap”, but it gives Funassyi great agility! See him run at a surprisingly fast speed from this explosion prank – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQPQDdEnvWs. His costume moves in unexpected (and often hilarious) ways.

I haven’t seen too many examples of Funassyi amigurumi and his shape is very perfect for crochet projects! Here is my written pattern:

Funassyi Pattern

Finished Size: Approx. 13.5 cm

Materials:

Size F hook

Worsted weight yarn in light yellow, baby blue, leaf green and red

Tapestry needle

White felt

Black sharpie or permanent marker

A pencil or gray pencil crayon

Embroidery needle

Red embroidery thread/floss

(optional) Red lip liner

Notes

Worked in continuous rounds.

Abbreviations:

Ch = chain

Sc = single crochet

St = stitch

Sl st = slip stitch

Inc = Increase

Dec = Decrease

BLO = Back loops only

BL = Both loops

Legs (Make two)*

Using yellow yarn

Ch2.

Rnd 1: 6 sc in 2nd chain from hook – (6)

Rnd 2: 2 sc in each st around – (12)

Rnd 3: In BLO, sc in each st around – (12)

Rnds 4-6: In BL, sc in each st around – (12)*

*For first leg, fasten off and leave a long tail (around 3-4 inches), make second but DO NOT fasten off

Joining the two legs

Rnd 7: With 2nd leg (non-fastened off), sc in next 6 st (6). Join the first leg by sc into the next st of the leg, starting on first st after the fastened off knot (1). Place a stitch marker. Continue sc in each stitch around the first leg (11). Finish with sc into the last 6 st of the 2nd leg (6) – (24)

Head and Body

Rnd 8: Sc in each st around – (24)

Change to Blue yarn

Rnds 9-16: Sc in each st around – (24)

Change back to yellow

Rnds 17-22: Sc in each st around – (24)

Rnd 23: (1 sc dec, 2 sc in next two sts) six times – (18)

Rnd 24: (1 sc dec, 1 sc in next st) six times – (12)

Rnd 25: 6 sc dec – (6). Fasten off.

Arms (Make two)

Using yellow yarn

Ch 2.

Rnd 1: 4 sc in 2nd chain from hook – (4)

Rnds 2-3: 4 sc in each st around – (4)

Rnd 4: (1 inc, 1 sc in next st) two times – (6)

Change to blue yarn

Rnd 5: 1 sc in each st around (6)

Fasten off and leave a long tail to attach to body.

Leaf

Using green yarn

Ch 4.

2 sc in 2nd chain from hook, slip stitch in same st.

2 sc in 3rd chain from hook, slip stitch and fasten off with long tail for sewing.

Sew tail through the middle of the “stem”. Attach to head slightly off centre to the right.

Bow

Using red yarn.

Ch 4. Slip stich in each st across starting from 2nd ch from hook.

Sew loose ends to the middle and wrap yarn around the middle of the chain like a bowtie, leaving enough to attach to the front of the body.

Finishing

Embroider a triangular mouth with red embroidery floss.

Using white felt, cut out two oval shapes for the eyes. With a black marker, outline the edges of the eyes and draw roses as Funassyi’s irises (see image below). Shade in the rest of the felt with a pencil or gray pencil crayon.

For his two cheek blushes, I used red lip liner to draw on the dots, but you can embroider them on with yarn or embroidery floss. Whatever works!

Happy crocheting!

When I completed the design/doll, I found the arms to be semi-posable which was an unexpected but really nice surprise! It was a little tricky to mimic his red ribbon, so I opted to go with a tiny bow since it seemed to work with the scale of the piece. But feel free to use other mediums like felt, maybe even real ribbon, don’t be afraid to play! Please enjoy! As my first written pattern, I welcome any feedback/questions 🙂

Funassyi is copyright of Copyright Funassyi. This pattern is an original pattern by Alvina of Addicted to Ami’s (January 2016). Please do not claim this pattern as your own. If you wish to share this pattern, you may link to this pattern but please do not reprint it on your site. You may keep a copy for your own personal use but you may not sell or distribute it, or sell items made from this pattern.