Ponyo

I just couldnt resist making the main character from Ponyo

on the Cliff by the Sea, a retelling of the Little Mermaid
story by Studio Ghibli and Hayao Miyazaki.

Availability: free
(This pattern is for personal use only. Do not sell this
pattern or products made from it.)

Skill level: Easy to intermediate

Size: 10 inches (25 cm) tall

Abbreviations:
ch = chain
rnd = round
sc = single crochet
sc2tog = sc decrease
st = stitch

Materials:
Crochet hook size G (4 mm) White and black thread
Crochet hook 1.15 to 1.5 mm Polyester stuffing
Brick red yarn worsted (such as Loops & Tapestry and embroidery needles
Threads Impeccable Rouge) 2 stitch markers
Burnt orange yarn worsted (such as Lion Adjustable hairpin lace loom or long piece
Brand Vannas Choice Terracotta) of cardboard (2 wide)
Cream yarn worsted (such as Red Heart Safety pins
Super Saver Aran) Optional: burnt orange and black
White yarn worsted embroidery floss
White and black felt

Tips:
The doll is worked in continuous rounds; do not join or turn unless otherwise instructed (see amigurumi video
tutorial).
Place a stitch marker to indicate beg of rnd; move marker up as each rnd is completed.
Use a sloppy slip knot to start the beginning of any initial step that says Ch 2 and then pull tight after the first
round.
 HEAD
With cream yarn, ch 2 and work 6 sc into first ch.
Rnd 1: 2 sc in each sc around - 12 sc.
Rnd 2: *Sc in next sc, 2 sc in next sc* repeat 6 times - 18 sc.
Rnd 3: *Sc in next 2 sc, 2 sc in next sc* repeat 6 times - 24 sc.
Rnd 4: *Sc in next 3 sc, 2 sc in next sc* repeat 6 times - 30 sc.
Rnd 5: *Sc in next 4 sc, 2 sc in next sc* repeat 6 times - 36 sc.
Rnd 6: *Sc in next 5 sc, 2 sc in next sc* repeat 6 times - 42 sc.
Rnd 7-9: Sc in each sc around - 42 sc.
Rnd 10: *Sc in next 4 sc, sc2tog* repeat 7 times - 35 sc.
Rnd 11: Sc in each sc around - 35 sc.
Rnd 12: *Sc in next 4 sc, 2 sc in next sc* repeat 7 times - 42 sc.
Rnd 13: Sc in next 10 sc; *sc, 2 sc in next sc, sc* repeat 7 times; sc in next
11 sc - 49 sc.
Rnd 14-17: Sc in each sc around - 49 sc.
Rnd 18: Sc in next 10 sc; *sc, sc2tog, sc* repeat 7 times; sc in next 11 sc -
42 sc.
Rnd 19: *Sc in next 5 sc, sc2tog* repeat 6 times - 36 sc.
Rnd 20: *Sc in next 4 sc, sc2tog* repeat 6 times - 30 sc.
Rnd 21: *Sc in next 3 sc, sc2tog* repeat 6 times - 24 sc.
Slip st into next st. Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing.

BODY
With brick red yarn, ch 2 and work 6 sc into first ch.
Rnd 1: 2 sc in each sc around - 12 sc.
Rnd 2: *Sc in next sc, 2 sc in next sc* repeat 6 times - 18 sc.
Rnd 3: *Sc in next 2 sc, 2 sc in next sc* repeat 6 times - 24 sc.
Rnd 4: *Sc in next 3 sc, 2 sc in next sc* repeat 6 times - 30 sc.
Rnd 5: *Sc in next 4 sc, 2 sc in next sc* repeat 6 times - 36 sc.
Rnd 6: *Sc in next 5 sc, 2 sc in next sc* repeat 6 times - 42 sc.
Rnd 7: *Sc in next 6 sc, 2 sc in next sc* repeat 6 times - 48 sc.
Rnd 8-17: Sc in each sc around - 48 sc.
Rnd 18: *Sc in next 6 sc, sc2tog* repeat 6 times - 42 sc.
Rnd 19: Sc in each sc around - 42 sc.
Rnd 20: *Sc in next 5 sc, sc2tog* repeat 6 times - 36 sc.
Rnd 21: Sc in each sc around - 36 sc.
Rnd 22: *Sc in next 4 sc, sc2tog* repeat 6 times - 30 sc.
Leave the second stitch marker around the post of the last st in Rnd 22.
Rnd 23: *Sc in next 3 sc, sc2tog* repeat 6 times - 24 sc.
Rnd 24: *Sc in next 2 sc, sc2tog* repeat 6 times - 18 sc.
Stuff the body with polyester stuffing.
Rnd 25: *Sc in next 1 sc, sc2tog* repeat 6 times - 12 sc.
Rnd 26: *Sc in next 1 sc, sc2tog* repeat 4 times - 8 sc.
Rnd 27: *Sc2tog around* repeat 4 times - 4 sc.
Slip st into next st. Fasten off.
 TAIL
Go back to the second stitch marker left at the end of Rnd 22 of the Body.
With brick red yarn, create a slip knot on the hook and sc around the post in the
marked row.
Rnd 1: Sc around the posts in the marked row** about 35 sc.
** Note: when you reach the opposite side of the body where you started the tail, make
a sc diagonally down to the row below so that the ends of Rnd 1 will meet on the same
row.
Rnd 2: *Sc in next 3 sc, 2 sc in each of the next 4 sc* repeat 5 times - 55 sc.
Rnd 3: *Sc in next 7 sc, 2 sc in each of the next 4 sc* repeat 5 times - 75 sc.
Rnd 4-8: Sc in each sc around - 75 sc.
Slip st into next st. Fasten off brick red yarn.

Rnd 9: With white yarn, join to the back

loop of any st in Rnd 8. Ch1 and sc around in back loops only - 73 sc.
Rnd 10: Sc in next 5 sc; *sc2tog* repeat 4 times; *sc in next 7 sc, sc2tog in next 8
sc* repeat 4 times - 55 sc.
Rnd 11: *Sc in next 3 sc, sc2tog in next 8 sc* repeat 5 times - 35 sc.
Rnd 12: *Sc in next 5 sc, sc2tog* repeat 5 times - 30 sc.
Rnd 13: *Sc in next 4 sc, sc2tog* repeat 5 times - 25 sc.
Rnd 14: *Sc in next 3 sc, sc2tog* repeat 5 times - 20 sc.
Stuff the body with polyester stuffing.
Rnd 15: *Sc in next 2 sc, sc2tog* repeat 5 times - 15 sc.
Rnd 16: Sc2tog around until tail is closed.
Slip st into next st. Fasten off.

FINS (make 2)
With brick red yarn, ch 2 and work 4 sc into first ch.
Rnd 1: 2 sc in each sc around - 8 sc.
Rnd 2: Sc in each sc around - 8 sc.
Rnd 3: Sc in next 2 sc; *2 sc in next sc* repeat 4 times; sc in next 2 sc -
12 sc.
Rnd 4: Sc in each sc around - 12 sc.
Rnd 5: Sc in next 3 sc; *sc in next sc, 2 sc in next sc* repeat 3 times; sc in
next 3 sc - 15 sc.
Rnd 6: Sc in each sc around - 15 sc.
Rnd 7: Sc in next 4 sc, 2 sc in next sc; *sc in next sc, 2 sc in next sc*
repeat 3 times; sc in next 4 sc - 19 sc.
Rnd 8: Sc in each sc around 19 sc.
Rnd 9: Sc in next 5 sc, 2 sc in next sc; *sc in next sc, 2 sc in next sc*
repeat 4 times; sc in next 5 sc - 24 sc.
Rnd 10: Sc in each sc around 24 sc.
Slip st into next st. Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing.

EYES (make 2)
Cut out a small circle from the white felt. Cut out a small oval from the black felt. Using the running stitch, lightly sew the
black oval onto a white circle with black thread, such that the black circle is close to the edge of the white circle. Here
are some reference images of Ponyo.
HAIR
Christen Haden, author of Creepy Cute Crochet, has a great method of creating a yarn fringe wig, which is used in this
pattern. Please visit this tutorial on NeedleNoodles.com to get step by
step instructions.
Use either the hairpin lace loom or cardboard to create the hair
fringe out of burnt orange yarn and white thread. Use a small
crochet hook (such as 1.15 mm size) for the thread.
Stuff the head with polyester filling and use safety pins to lay out
the hairline. Tack down the first set of hair fringe on the hair line
with white thread.
Create more hair fringe and sew it to the back of her head using a
tight zig-zag pattern from top to bottom. Make sure the zig-zag
lines are close to each other to make the hair very dense, or else
her scalp will show through.
Trim the hair such that its shorter near the hairline and longer on
the top of her head. Leave the hair longer on the forehead too.

FINISHING (see joining amigurumi tutorial)

Sew the eyes to the face with white thread, using the running stitch. In
her fish form, Ponyos eyes are wider apart on her face. To make her
appear more curious, make her eyes look upwards.
Optional: For the nose, use burnt orange embroidery floss or separate
out a single ply strand of burnt orange yarn. Use a single running stitch
in the middle of the face, aligned with the bottom of the eyes.
For the mouth, use black embroidery floss or separate out a couple ply
strands of black yarn. Either use the back stitch to create the smile or a
single running stitch that is tacked down with black thread to make it
curve appropriately. The mouth is about 4 times as long as the nose.
Sew the head to the top of the body.
Cut out a large oval from the white felt. Sew it to the body with white thread, using the running stitch.
Flatten the fins so they look like triangles that curve upwards. Sew each fin to the side of the body.
Hide the yarn ends by pulling them through the stuffed animal and cutting off the excess yarn.

Pattern and images 2009, property of the author of A Gamers Wife blog