About This Creation
✨ Focuses on foundational oval bases for three-dimensional shaping.
✨ Demonstrates targeted, asymmetrical decrease placement to force organic, sloping sides.
✨ Adapts the baby schema proportions for miniature scale by grounding the facial features heavily toward the lower third of the body.
Project Snapshot
➡️ Skill Level: Advanced Beginner
➡️ Construction: Bottom-up seamless body, flat-panel seaweed attachment
➡️ Proportion Strategy: Heavy-bottomed anchor with a wide-set, innocent focal point
Materials
🧶 Medium weight (Aran/Worsted) yarn in White and Black
🪡 2.5mm crochet hook (to ensure tight, gapless stitches)
🧶 Black embroidery floss for the mouth
🧶 Pink yarn or embroidery thread for the blush
🪡 Two 5mm or 6mm safety eyes
✨ Premium polyester fiberfill
✨ Metal keychain ring with short connecting chain
🪡 Tapestry needle and stitch marker
Abbreviations (US Terms)
➡️ ch: chain
➡️ sc: single crochet
➡️ dc: double crochet
➡️ inc: increase (2 sc in one stitch)
➡️ dec: invisible decrease (sc 2 together)
➡️ st(s): stitch(es)
➡️ R: Round or Row
The Pattern: Rice Ball Main Body
➡️ R1: Chain 11. Starting in the 2nd chain from the hook, work 9 sc. Work 3 sc exactly into the final chain. Rotate your work to crochet along the opposite unworked loops of the foundation chain. Work 9 sc. (21)
➡️ R2: 1 sc, 1 inc, 7 sc, 1 inc, 1 sc, 1 inc, 8 sc, 1 inc. (25)
➡️ R3-R5: 1 sc in each st around for three continuous rounds. (25)
➡️ R6: 1 sc, 1 dec, 7 sc, 1 dec, 1 sc, 1 dec, 8 sc, 1 dec. (21)
➡️ R7: 1 sc in each st around. (21)
➡️ R8: [5 sc, 1 dec] repeat the sequence inside the brackets exactly 3 times. (18)
➡️ R9: [3 sc, 1 dec, 1 sc] repeat the sequence inside the brackets exactly 3 times. This staggered placement prevents a hexagonal shape. (15)
➡️ R10: [3 sc, 1 dec] repeat the sequence inside the brackets exactly 3 times. (12)
✨ Stuff the base of the onigiri firmly. Shape it with your fingers to ensure the bottom is wide and the corners are soft. The top should have slightly less stuffing to allow for a smooth closure.
➡️ R11: 6 dec. (6)
✨ Fasten off. Thread the yarn tail through the front loops of the final 6 stitches and pull tightly to cinch the top hole closed. Weave the end securely inside the body.
The Pattern: Nori Seaweed Wrap
➡️ Row 1: Chain 7. Starting in the 3rd chain from the hook, work 5 dc. (5)
➡️ Row 2-6: ch 2, turn your work. 5 dc across. (5)
✨ Fasten off, leaving a 12-inch long tail for sewing.
Assembly and Detailing
🪡 Place the safety eyes between R7 and R8 of the Rice Ball. To achieve the proper innocent proportion on this specific scale, set them exactly 4 stitches apart. Secure the safety backings inside before fully stuffing and closing R11.
🪡 Using a single strand of black embroidery floss, stitch a small, soft “v” shaped mouth directly in the center of the face on R7, aligning it horizontally with the eyes.
🪡 Embroider two small horizontal lines of pink yarn directly beneath each eye to create a natural flush.
🪡 Position the Nori Seaweed Wrap so it folds perfectly over the bottom center of the Rice Ball. The front panel should sit just below the mouth. Sew it cleanly in place using the long black yarn tail, catching only the top loops of the seaweed edges to keep the perimeter crisp.
🪡 Sew the keychain hardware firmly to the cinched peak at R11, passing the tapestry needle through the metal ring and the top stitches multiple times to anchor it permanently.