Maido
Does this little kitty look familiar to you? Because she and her friends have been making appearances all over the place. I first saw one, going by the name of Florence over at Super Eggplant. Then Amanda posted about seeing a similar kitty named Matcha over at Amy's and another named Skimima over at Schmeebot. And just this morning I came across Citrine over at Half Baked Objects.
They are all from this book, 'Amineko no iru seikatsu' by Nekoyama (ISBN 4-391-13012-2)
Ever since I saw Florence, I kept thinking that I've seen her somewhere before. And then this morning I finally remembered. I came across this earlier this year when I was trying to learn how to crochet amigurumi. It's a website done by Nekoyama, the author of that very same Amineko book.
You can find the pattern for the amineko pictured above here (her name's Maido). Scroll all the way down to bottom and see the tables with the pink headers for the pattern. Unfortunately, it's all in Japanese, but if you're familiar with amigurumi charts and crochet in the round, it's not too hard to figure out.
(Added: The translation for the pattern table titles in order of appearance are: 1) head, 2) body, 3)arm, 4) leg, 5) tail, 6) ear, 7) mouth.)
There's also a pattern for a large size kitty named Amari-san, and patterns for a dog, tiny dog, bear, and elephant. Nekoyama-san also provides tons of step by step detailed photos which give many tips for crocheting amigurumi.
You can check out the gallery of photos of finished kitty's that people sent her here.
(I want to add that she does state on her site that all of her patterns are copyright protected and for personal use only, so please be respectful of that. Thanks!)
I...... want it!
I want to make it! *whines excessively*
I NEED IT!
Posted by: Madame M. | September 14, 2005 at 11:43 AM
Oh no...that whole site is, well, Japanese to me! Fortunately cuteness knows no language barrier. I must find a way to make that kitty!
Posted by: Anamaria | September 14, 2005 at 02:25 PM
Oh the cuteness! Make it stop!!
I am trying to learn how to crochet amigurumi right now actually. Any tips??
I would love to be able to make a little kitty like that. What an adorable site. I really need to learn Japanese!!!
Posted by: Aimee Roo | September 14, 2005 at 03:31 PM
And they talk about rabbits multiplying ...
Posted by: Mariko | September 14, 2005 at 05:00 PM
Argghh! I need to learn the symbols! I must make a kitty.
Posted by: Nichola | September 14, 2005 at 07:45 PM
BTII Pal*
SOOOOOOO gorgeous*, we have the same taste :) and we BOTH looovvveee Kitties*
Thanks for the subtle hint on the needle felting, duly noted and will think on :-)
Noooowwww, more on that fantasy bag, Is it Pink? Green? Blue? :-)
Sending Blessings to you and Mochi*
DB
Posted by: DB | September 15, 2005 at 03:08 AM
THANKS for the awesome links--loving that elephant. Currently I am developing a monkey pattern :) while working on kitties 4 and 5. Word of warning to those who start making these...they are addictive!-- I couldn't even crochet before making Matcha, now it's non-stop! :)- and you don't need to know Japanese to read that pattern from the book :)
xo
Posted by: amy in az | September 15, 2005 at 05:52 AM
soo sweet. i wish i had time to learn to crotchet!!
Posted by: Lisa | September 15, 2005 at 06:46 AM
hi Myra! Thanks for swinging by :) what a happy surprise it was to receive your comment and see the link to Citrine! I've been reading your blog for quite some time and am very impressed by your craftiness!
Thanks for the links to all those other patterns - I'm hooked (lol) on amigugumi!
Posted by: Stephanie | September 15, 2005 at 07:28 AM
I love the gallery of cats! I need to get this book, maybe there's hope for me yet in being able to crochet something more than a granny square.
Posted by: debbie | September 15, 2005 at 09:32 AM
Thanks for those links to her other patterns - those are great! I especially like the bear - so cute!
Posted by: kelly | September 15, 2005 at 09:42 AM
THANK YOU for putting up that information! i've been looking all over the internet for information on that pattern. yay!
Posted by: keohinani | September 15, 2005 at 11:34 AM
aww, it's so sweet when it goes to sleep!
Posted by: PaMdora | September 15, 2005 at 06:51 PM
thanks for sharing the links -
i picked up the book here in japantown in
san francisco. i'm working on the cat right now.
Posted by: joyce | September 18, 2005 at 06:26 PM
I bought that book over the summer in tokyo. the sushi kitties are my favorite.
The great tragedy is...
i do not crochet.
However, my best friend does and i will chain her to a desk and force her to create kitty wonders for me!
Posted by: La Fae | September 21, 2005 at 05:03 AM
I have done one purse from Japanese crochet and it was charted. Came out cute I want to share the book cover and purse and will for the craftlog site BUT this cute kitty doesn't have a chart. It is all characters. Is there a site to help with that anywhere? Much thanks!
Posted by: Betty | September 26, 2005 at 05:14 PM
guys...go to google click language tools...
paste in the URL for the page with the pattern
into the TRANSLATE WEB PAGE part and voila it translates it into a sort of funny thing to read. you really don't need anything but those numbers in the charts..but it's fun to read it all translated.
Posted by: jen | September 26, 2005 at 06:09 PM