Anna Hrachovec - Huge & Huggable Mochimochi: 20 Supersized Patterns for Big Knitted Friends

A fittingly large amount of effort went into this book, and once again I was the lucky beneficiary of the time and talents of many generous people at each step of the way.

John was at his most patient while these giant projects began taking over our apartment, and his input at all stages of everything I make is invaluable.

As always, it was a pleasure to work with Brandi Simons, making this our fourth project together. Huge thank-yous are in order for the entire Simons family: Sonnie and Sarah for their charming camera presence, and Mike for behind-the-scenes help. And a thank-you goes to Sonny for letting me make a sudsy mess in his bathroom.

Im blessed to have a supportive family that is always ready to help with props, locations, and even a model this time. Thank you to my parents, and to Leah and Nat for bringing us Nora, my niece and darling cover girl.

Many others had a part in making the wonderful images in this book: thanks to Sheri and Jack for their locations and perfectly hammy modeling; to the adorable Kim Pi, Kari, and Will at Yale Avenue Christian Church; to Cindy and Bailey Elementary; to Christine of Studio C Dance and Arts, to Robyn s Hardens Hamburgers; and to Fawn for finding the perfect squidmobile.

The beautiful yarns used for the projects in this book were provided by four wonderful yarn companies. Thank you to Shannon at Cascade; Zontee and Brandyce at Lion Brand; Stacey at Knit Picks; and Sarah at Spud & Chlo.

Big thank-yous go to my testers, who put in a heroic amount of knitting to make sure the patterns in this book are the best they can be. Thanks to Amanda, Bonney, Brian, Dorien, Hannah, Jenna, Jennifer, Joan, Lalie, Linda, Marti, Mary, Michelle, and Tracy. The tech-editing talent of Marilyn is unsurpassed, and every pattern in this book is more user-friendly thanks to her.

Im so grateful for the efforts of my editor, Betty Wong, and assistant editor, Caitlin Harpin, who get behind my off-the-wall characters and usher them into the world with the utmost care. Kim Small and everyone else at Potter Craft have been nothing but helpful and enthusiastic at every turn. Thank you, all!

There must be something in the Mochimochi Land water lately, because the toys keep getting bigger and bigger! Its a scientific fact: The size of the average mochi has nearly tripled, and this gigantic bunch shows no signs of slimming down.

Thats good news for us knitters, because bigger toys mean theres more to love. The huge mochis in this book are the perfect size for hugging, bedtime snuggling, and joining you on the couch for movie night. These larger-than-life toys come with big personalities that match their massive size, of course. Whether its a humongous hamburger, a colossal capybara, or a rotund sun, the cuteness contained in one supersized mochi is enough to brighten up an entire room.

Why knit a jumbo mochi? Well, what birthday party wouldnt be more fun with a big, squishy piata that can hold a bucketload of candy? All the hipsters in Brooklyn want a hand-knitted monster truck, and so do their suburban little cousins. A giant pencil would be a perfect mascot for teachers, writers, and editors everywhere. And can you say ultimate baby shower gift? Youd be surprised at who among us needs a big knitted character in their life if you just ask around.

If youre already a toy knitter, the projects in this book will take your knitting to new levels of excitement, integrating fun techniques like colorwork, cables, bobbles, and more. Bigger toys mean more design elements, but these guys knit up more quickly than youd expect with bulky yarns. And, as with all knitted toys, you can customize the size with your choice of yarn.

If youre new to toys or knitting in general, the tutorials in the front of the book and the knitting basics in the back are all you need to get started. Many of the projects include smaller versions, so you can start out with a little friend before tackling his big brother.

Its important to indulge in big, silly projects sometimes, and these are guaranteed to end with hugs!

Ready to knit your new main squeeze? Read on to find out what you need and what to do with it to start knittin large.

The yarn you use will determine if your toy is hairy or sleek, neutral or neon (and everything in between). If you find a cool yarn thats hand-dyed, variegated, or textured in an unusual way, dont be afraid to use ittoys are perfect projects for experimenting with unconventional fibers.

Your yarn, in combination with your needles, will also determine the size of your new friend. I use bulky to super bulky yarn for the jumbo-sized projects, but if you use a thinner yarn and smaller needles, your toys will be adorable smaller cousins to the full-size characters in this book.

Most of these projects require a hefty amount of yarn (anywhere from 3 to 13 skeins), but that doesnt mean you have to choose between knitting and putting food on the table. Some of my favorite bulky yarns are affordable acrylic varieties that come in exciting colors.