Amigurumi Kokeshi Doll or Kaguya Hime Doll
Easy to follow amigurumi, you will learn how to follow intermediate, amigurumi patterns How to add and stylize yarn hair, how to make a crocheted dress and add details in felt, you can use this pattern to create your own handmade safe toys, keychains, bag decoration, nursery decoration, etc.
Kokeshi doll and Kaguya Hime are two typical characters in Japanese culture. こけし Kokeshi dolls are originally from the north of Japan, they are handmade from wood and have an enlarged head and a Kimono. People buy them as home decoration. One might say that Kokeshi doll is for Japan what a Matroshka is for Russia. These dolls have been sold in Japan since 1600.
The Story of Kaguya Hime かぐや姫 or "The tale of the bamboo cutter" (竹取物語) is a 10th-century Japanese folktale that is considered the oldest in the Japanese Narrative. The tale tells about the story of a a very poor bamboo cutter that while working in the field found a shining bamboo that he cutted open. Inside there was a little girl of the size of a bean that he adopted and named Kaguya Hime or "Princess of flexible bamboos scattering light". The bamboo cutter started finding pieces of gold in the bamboo after finding Kaguya Hime, so he became rich very fast.
Kaguya Hime grew more and more beautiful and many prince asked her to marry. She always refused and gave them impossible tasks to earn her hand. The emperor also asked her to marry, but young Kaguya refused as well. Whenever Kaguya-hime saw the full moon, she felt like crying. Her adoptive parents felt very worried and asked her why she felt that way. She was unable to tell them what was wrong. She was every day more sad until she revealed that she was not of this world and needed return to her people on the Moon.
Leaving an apology letter for her beloved parents and some presents for her friend the Emperor, Kaguya returns to the moon, leaving all people who loved her sad but glad of her return to where she belongs to.
If you want to read this beautiful story more in detail visit: http://www.mission.net/japan/kobe/KaguyaHime.pdf
For this Amigurumi you will need:
Pressed felt in turquoise color
Pressed felt in green color.
Red Yarn 4mm.
Peach Yarn 4mm.
Black yarn 3mm.
Yellow yarn 4mm.
Blue yarn 3 mm.
White embroidery thread.
Embroidery needle.
Felting Needle.
Optional pink felt for the cheeks.
1 pair of Amigurumi eyes.
Fiber stuffing.
A Hook 4mm.
This is a 3 Star pattern
Head
With peach yarn:
Round 1: 6 sc in magic ring (6 sts)
Round 2: 2 sc in each sc around (12 sts)
Round 3: [2 sc, sc in next st], around (18 sts)
Round 4: [2sc, sc in next 2 sts], around (24 sts)
Round 5: [2 sc, sc in next 3 sts],around (30 sts)
Round 6: [2 sc, sc in next 4 sts], around (36 sts)
Round 7: [2 sc, sc in next 5 sc], around (42 sts)
Round 8 – 13: Sc in each st around (42 sts)
Round 14: [Inv dec, sc in next 5 sts], around (36 sts)
Round 15: [Inv dec, sc in next 4 sts], around (30 sts)
Round 16: [Inv dec, sc in next 3 sts], around (24 sts)
Round 17: [Inv dec, sc in next 2 sts], around (18 sts)
Round 18: [Inv dec, sc in next 1 sts], around (12 sts)
Round 19: Inv dec around (6 sts)
Fasten off and weave in ends.
Hair
Bangs:
The bangs of this amigurumi doll are embroidered with yarn and a tapestry needle. Embroider vertical lines on top of the eyes making sure that you don't leave spaces in between. Stop when you have covered the whole forehead.
Long hair:
The hair in this amigurumi is divided in two sections. The front part that is chin length and the rest of the hair that is as long as you want it to be. For that we will need several strings of wool of the same size tied together in the center. To cover the whole area of my amigurumi head I needed 5 pieces.
Place each of the tied pieces one after the other making sure all of them are placed in the center of the head without leaving any spaces. Secure them with a pin and sew them in place with black thread.
Once all the pieces are sewn in place, take a small amount of hair in the left side and cut it in chin length as shown in the picture. Repeat in the other side
Top braid
Cut several string of wool measuring 30cm each and braid them all toguether in a tight good looking braid.
Bend the braid creating a 4 pointed dot and tie the center to secure it with blue yarn. Sew it on top of the hair.
Body
With yellow yarn:
Round 1: 5 sc in magic ring (5 sts)
Round 2: 2 sc in each sc around (10 sts)
Round 3: [2 sc, sc in next st], around (15 sts)
Round 4: [2sc, sc in next 2 sts], around (20 sts)
Round 5 - 11: Sc around (20 sts)
Round 12: [Inv dec, sc in next 2 sts], around (15 sts)
Round 13: [Inv dec, sc in next 1 sts], around (10 sts)
Round 14: Inv dec around (5 sts)
Fasten off and weave in ends.
Kimono
With red yarn
Ch 36,
[Sc in each, ch 1, turn]Repeat 10 times (36 sts)
Fasten off
With white thread embroider little flowers in the whole kimono.
Collar of the Kimono
Cut two pieces of green and blue felt that measure aproximately 15 cm. Glue or sew them one on top of the other but allowing both of them to be visible.
Place them in the body as show in the image: Going around the body in the upper part simulating a collar and crossing in the belly. Cut them if you notice that they are too long.
Sew them on place.
Intallation of Kimono
Place the Kimono on top of the collar without covering it. Cross it in front and sew. Use pins to help holding it in place while you sew. Take a piece of Blue thread and wrap it around several times to create the belt of the Kimono, tye with a bow in the back.
Hands (make two)
With peach yarn:
Round 1: Sc 6 into mr (6 sts)
Round 2 - 3: sc around (6 sts)
Switch to yellow yarn:
Round 3 -6: sc around (6 sts)
Fasten off, leave a tale for sewing to the Kimono.
Feet (make two)
With peach yarn:
Round 1: Sc 6 into mr (6 sts)
Round 2: 2sc around (12 sts)
Round 3: Sc around (12 sts)
Fasten off, leave a tail to sew to the body.
Kimono Sleeves (Make two)
Ch 26, sc in each st,ch 1, turn.
Repeat 4 more times
Fasten off.
Fold the piece over the arm and sew it together under the arm so it becomes a sleeve. Sew it to the kimono around the shoulders to secure it on place.
Repeat in the other arm.
You are done!
Hope you enjoy making this little Amigurumi comment below and tell us what you think of this tutorial. We love your comments(◕‿-)!
Please Share if you liked this post!
