Skip to main content

Review + Giveaway: Adventures in Mochimochi Land

Adventures in Mochimochi Land
After working with Anna Hrachovec and the organizers of YarnCon on the Project Gnome Diplomacy project earlier this year, my enthusiasm for knitting tiny toys came out of hibernation. So I couldn't say no when Anna offered to have a few copies of her newest book, Adventures in Mochimochi Land, sent my way for a review and giveaway.  It was a pretty exciting day when the package arrived, and that night, I sat down at my kitchen table to page through the book while I waited for dinner to cook.

The book contains 3 short stories set in Mochimochi Land, "a magical place where everything, from the trees to the microwaves, is alive and squishy," as the book's introduction notes. These colorful, whimsical knitted creations have a propensity to get into silly predicaments, and each of the three tales are an entertaining read which you can enjoy in under a half an hour - unless, of course, you can spare a little extra time to pore over all of the accompanying images, which have a lot of clever and amusing details for the astute observer.
Image © 2015 Anna Hrachovec
The last section of the book contains patterns to make many of the inhabitants who starred in the stories which make up the first two-thirds of the book. There are 25 patterns in all, most of which call for fingering weight yarn and US 1 needles - but a few patterns, such as the Muffin Mountains or larger sizes of the Growing Donut (shown above), call for heavier weights and bigger needles to make not-as-tiny toy.
Image © 2015 Brandi Simons
There is a so much cute going on, it's kind of hard to decide where to start first! Eventually, I decided to let my yarn stash dictate which patterns I'd make for the purpose of this post. Since I don't keep a lot of odds and ends of fingering weight yarn around these days, I made my tiny toys with worsted weight yarn and size 7 needles (I think I'd classify them as "midi" rather than "mini). The yarn I had in my destash bin seemed perfect for making the critters from the second tale, "The Underwater Election." In the last week, I knit Bubbles the Dolphin, Gary the Crab, a Tiny Puffer Fish, a Tiny Octopus, and a Soggy Sea Sand Castle (although I forgot to add the final embellishment last night, oops!). Aren't they adorable?
They were fun to knit and easy enough to make whilst reading subtitles as I watched my favorite anime series. Best of all, each one only takes a couple of hours from start to finish - I think the most time-consuming critter was the Octopus since there were a lot of yarn ends to weave in. However, each pattern does a good job of minimizing fussiness and I can tell that there are instructions aimed at speeding up the process overall - for example, a lot of the appendages were knit directly onto the body of the critter, and the purl stitches of the Soggy Sea Sand Castle are achieved by knitting (rather than purling), then turning the piece inside out. So clever!

Giveaway
Here's where things get fun - you can enter to win this copy of Adventures in Mochimochiland for your very own! I am also throwing in some fun underwater-themed stickers and a mini-skein of Dragonfly Fibers' Pixie yarn in the Kelpie colorway from my TNNA Designer Dinner Swag Bag.
To be eligible, simply leave a comment on this blog post telling me what pattern you'd make first from Adventures in Mochimochiland. Be sure to also mention your Ravelry ID or email address so that I can contact you if you win.

 If you would like a bonus entry, please like my Facebook Page or follow me on Instagram, then leave another comment telling me you did so - just be sure to mention your Facebook or Instagram name so that I can verify everything!

I will randomly select one lucky winner to be announced next Monday, July 20, 2015 right here on this blog. Good luck!

Comments

  1. SO CUTE! I like the donuts. mmmm...donuts.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Also, I already follow you on Instagram ... does that count? :)

    Chris (while1fork there too)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Whoops, looks like the page mistook my first comment for a donut and eated it. Trying again ...

    So many to choose from! But I'd start with the Little Fluffy Cloud ... So simple yet adorable!

    Chris (ravelry: while1fork)

    ReplyDelete
  4. I'm sure my boys would tell me just who to knit first. And second and third. We could have a lot of fun. :-)

    tktl

    ReplyDelete
  5. I would make a whole family of octopi! Rav is norcalnaptime.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I follow on Insta at norcalnaptime as well.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Hello Stefanie! How can you choose? They are all so cute! I would start with a tiny octopus!
    asteride on Ravelry

    ReplyDelete
  8. Oh my god! The puffer fish!
    Rav ID is patmom

    ReplyDelete
  9. My sister is a semipro baker, and I think she needs some knitted donuts in her life!

    Sarah (OfftoExplore on ravelry)

    ReplyDelete
  10. I'd have to say the Dolphin pattern is my favorite because it would make an awesome stocking stuffer/Christmas ornament for my beach loving Mom.

    Rav ID: SaraMCrafts

    ReplyDelete
  11. Following you on Instagram (stitchedbysara) and Facebook (Sara McGowan)

    ReplyDelete
  12. I'd start with the Carnie Elephant. So cute!
    Lmecoll on Ravelry

    ReplyDelete
  13. I'm following you on Instagram. Name: Lmecoll
    Rav ID: Lmecoll

    ReplyDelete
  14. What a great giveaway! I love all of the patterns in the mochimochi series. If I had this book, I think I would make the Joyful Oyster first. =D

    -TempusMori (Ravelry)

    ReplyDelete
  15. I love the gum-gum bear - and I am an Instagram follower :)

    ReplyDelete
  16. I'd make Muffin Mountain. My daughters would love that!

    I'm vernalequinox on Ravelry.

    ReplyDelete
  17. I'm following you on Instagram! (megnurm)

    ReplyDelete
  18. I am already following you on IG and Facebook

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. craftyknitter7 on IG and facebook is Suzanne Gates-Devlin

      Delete
  19. I would love to make many Gum Gum bears

    ReplyDelete
  20. I would knit the donuts!
    Jayellesea on Rav

    ReplyDelete
  21. I'd start with the pufferfish. doijdd@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  22. I love the donuts. Really, I do! SareBearKnits on rav!

    ReplyDelete
  23. The starfish is what I'd knit first.
    sumac on Rav

    ReplyDelete
  24. With two sea obsessed daughters, I'd have to start with the dolphin, but the clamshell would be a close second.
    knitonepugtwo

    ReplyDelete
  25. Kate Yates on FB, smartmouthdwench on IG.

    I think I'd start with....Hmmmm, how to narrow this down? I bow to our tentacled overlords, and go with the octopus.

    ReplyDelete
  26. As a Maryland resident, it would have to be Gary the Crab, the crustacean being the unofficial state symbol.
    My granddaughter would love this. And as someone already working on a project with Dragonfly Fibers Pixie, I know how terrific is that part of the prize!
    I'm TesoroStitchery on Ravelry.

    ReplyDelete
  27. And consider yourself "Liked" on Facebook.

    I'm TesoroStitchery on Rav.

    ReplyDelete
  28. And consider yourself "Liked" on Facebook.

    I'm TesoroStitchery on Rav.

    ReplyDelete
  29. I would make the donuts first--they're just too cute!

    RavID: amigoodness

    ReplyDelete
  30. I also followed you on IG (itsmyhamburger) :)

    ReplyDelete
  31. I would make the Growing Donut.
    knittingdancer on Raverly

    ReplyDelete
  32. Love the book. First I would make two Bubbles the Dolphins for my great grandkids. RAV ID gramnacher.

    ReplyDelete
  33. Following you on Instagram and liked your Facebook page. Love your posts. My Instagram name and RAV ID are grammacher.

    ReplyDelete
  34. Ooo- I love the Gum Gum Bear & the Mallow Bunny, but the first thing I would make would be the Tiny Octopus, for someone who has been a great friend this year!
    I'm Laurpud on Rav

    ReplyDelete
  35. I started following you on Instagram, & I'm Laurpud there, too (beautiful tat, btw)

    ReplyDelete
  36. I would have to knit Bubbles the Dolphin first as I've been in love with dolphins ever since I watched a TV series as a child called "Flipper." He was an awesome dolphin ;-)

    sisterrobinson on Ravelry.

    ReplyDelete
  37. So Cute!! Gary the tiny crab!!

    Penny
    knitbybitdesigns on Ravelry

    ReplyDelete
  38. I follow you on instagram.
    @knitbybitdesigns

    ReplyDelete
  39. I follow you on Facebook--Susan Ipavec

    ReplyDelete
  40. Thanks for the chance to win this lovely prize! I would knit Bubbles the Dolphin, the cute little octopus, and the doughnuts--too cute! I'm Suzieknittingmama on Ravelry

    ReplyDelete
  41. An octopus, of course (or is that a squid?). Either way, CEPHALOPODS FTW!!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. *sigh* follow the instructions, woman. Ravelry name is tollbaby as well!

      Delete
  42. Oh, and I followed you on Instagram and added you on FB :)

    ReplyDelete
  43. Most definitely the mallow bunnies! I'm Wink40 on Rav

    ReplyDelete
  44. Most definitely the mallow bunnies! I'm Wink40 on Rav

    ReplyDelete
  45. I want to make the tiny balloons! (asimplehomestd on Rav)

    ReplyDelete
  46. I already like you on Facebook

    ReplyDelete
  47. Oh! I'd have to make the donuts first!

    ReplyDelete
  48. And, I follow you on Instagram B3THANN1203

    ReplyDelete
  49. Yikes, let's try that again. My rav name is lafileuse, and I would make several octopuses :)

    ReplyDelete
  50. Already liked your page on fb (lordal)

    ReplyDelete
  51. And followed on IG (mitoticspindle)

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Easy DIY: Beaded Vintage Snowflake Ornament Kits from Solid Oak Inc.

I was really excited to step outside of my comfort zone and try something new as part of my "Christmas in July" theme this month. The kind folks at Solid Oak Inc offered me a chance to review one of their Nostalgic Christmas beaded crystal ornament kits I couldn't resist. My tree is already full of ornaments I've inherited or been gifted from other family members and friends,  so these pretty crystal beaded ornaments will fit right in I think! I was super impressed with  this compact little kit , which includes everything needed to create three gorgeous vintage-style ornaments - just add a pair of round nose pliers (I found mine on Amazon for less than ten bucks).  The instructions had some fabulous tips for newbies like me; for example, it recommended sorting the beads and laying them out in order on a towel or beading mat to prevent them from rolling away. That may seem obvious, but I was totally ready to start beading on my kitchen table without a

What If I Didn't Add Heels?

Last weekend, I finished the first sock with my Waterlilies yarn , and just for yuks, I tried it on even though it was basically just a tube sock. Much to my surprise, it fit really well, even without a heel. Who knew? So, that got me thinking: what if I just didn't add the heels?  I never thought a tube sock would actually fit nicely, but I genuinely like the fit, so...why spend time to add the heels? As the saying goes, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.... Let's say I decide not to add heels once the second sock is done - there will still be placeholder yarn for the afterthought heels, as you can see above, so should I leave it in and just weave in the ends? Or should I remove it, put the live stitches back on needles and at least graft them together using more of the Waterlilies yarn? I plan on mulling all of this over as I knit the second sock, and I'd love to hear your opinions of what you think would look best (or if you think this whole "n

Overdyeing A Finished Knit

Even after just a few years of knitting or crocheting, you're bound to have some finished projects lying around that never get worn or used. After 10+ years of crafting, I have more than just "some" or "a few"....and with my ongoing quest to declutter my house this year, I've become obsessed with going through these forlorn projects and making some Big Decisions. Sometimes, they are perfectly fine and just need a new and loving home. Other projects may have not turned out quite right: there might have been some mistakes in the knitting that I thought I could live with, or the yarn was gorgeous but not well-matched to the pattern, or my  taste has drastically changed since I finished making the project...in any case, why on earth did I keep knitting?! Who knows, but I don't feel good about gifting anything that falls into this category to someone else. These projects have been relegated to the "frog pile" (or should I say, frog pond?), to b