A step-by-step guide to making your own adorable crochet 💖

This project creates a whimsical amigurumi bear wearing a removable Totoro-inspired beanie. You will use the amigurumi spiral method for the body and specialized post stitches for the beanie ribbing.

💡 Tip: When switching colors for the tummy patch, carry the yarn inside to keep the tension even.

💡 Tip: Embroider the sleepy eyes on the head before you finish stuffing and closing the body for easier access.

🐻 The Bear Head & Body

1. Crocheting the Head

- Start with brown yarn. Round 1: 6sc in MR (6 stitches total).

- Rounds 2-7: Work increase patterns up to 42sc.

- Round 9: (inc, 6sc) x 6 (48 stitches total).

- Rounds 10-15: 48sc. Rounds 16-20: Gradually decrease back to 24sc.

- Round 21: Work in FLO 24sc, then change to grey yarn.

2. Forming the Body & Tummy

- Rounds 22-23: Increase to 36sc with grey yarn.

- Rounds 24-26: Switch between grey and off-white yarn to create the tummy patch shape.

- Rounds 27-34: Continue shaping the body, incorporating the off-white patch according to the stitch counts.

- Rounds 35-39: Finish with decrease rounds. Fasten off and weave in ends.

👒 Totoro Beanie & Details

1. The Beanie Base

- Use grey yarn. Rounds 1-8: Increase until you reach 42sc.

- Round 9: ch10 and skip 7sts to create the first ear hole, then repeat for the second hole (48 stitches total).

- Rounds 12-13: Work fpdc and bpdc alternately to create a ribbed texture around the edge.

2. Beanie Accents

- Ears: Make two in grey yarn, starting with 5sc in MR and increasing to 10sc before decreasing again.

- Leaf: Use green yarn to create a small leaf shape with a mix of sc, hdc, dc, and tr stitches.

- Eye Patches: Crochet two small circles in off-white yarn and insert safety eyes through them before attaching to the beanie.

🧣 Assembly & Finishing

1. Facial Features

- Sew the muzzle (off-white) onto the face at Round 14.

- Embroider sleepy eyes between Rounds 14 and 15, about 4 stitches apart.

2. Attaching Limbs

- Sew the arms between Rounds 23 and 26.

- Position the legs so the top is between Rounds 29 and 30, following the curve of the tummy patch.

3. Final Touches

- Tie the mint green scarf (a simple row of 58 hdc) around the neck to complete your bear.

Enjoy your finished Tobee the Totoro Bear!

Optional & Creative Ideas

💡 Optional & Creative Ideas

- 🌸 Change the Scarf: Experiment with different colors like pink or yellow for a seasonal look.

- 🎀 Add a Bow: Crochet a tiny bow to place next to one of the Totoro ears for a feminine touch.

- 🗝️ Make it a Keychain: Use a smaller hook and thinner yarn to create a miniature version for your keys.

### 🧶 Final Thoughts
This pattern is a wonderful way to practice color switching and post stitches while creating a unique gift for Ghibli fans. Happy crocheting!

Patterns and instructions on OpenCrochet are for personal use. Please do not redistribute copies of this content; share the page link instead.