Crochet Totoro Wallet & Mini Purse Pattern: Your Complete Step-by-Step Guide

There is something undeniably magical about combining the cozy, handmade warmth of crochet with one of the most beloved animated characters of all time. Totoro, the gentle forest spirit from Studio Ghibli’s My Neighbor Totoro, has captured hearts across generations, and now you can carry a little piece of that magic with you everywhere you go. This crochet Totoro wallet and mini purse pattern is perfect for fans of all skill levels who want to create a functional, adorable accessory that doubles as a conversation starter wherever you take it.

Whether you are making this for yourself, gifting it to a fellow Ghibli enthusiast, or selling it at a craft fair, this pattern will walk you through everything you need to know — from the materials you will need and the stitches involved to the finishing details that make this little purse truly look like the big fluffy spirit of the forest.

Why Crochet a Totoro Wallet?

Before we dive into the pattern itself, let’s talk about why this particular project has become so popular among crochet enthusiasts around the world. First and foremost, amigurumi-style accessories like this one blend two beloved crafts: functional design and character art. Unlike a decorative stuffed toy that sits on a shelf, a Totoro wallet or mini purse is something you actually use every day.

The design is also incredibly versatile. You can make it as a coin purse to tuck inside a larger bag, as a cardholder wallet for your essentials, or as a zipper pouch large enough to hold your phone and a few cards. Many crafters make all three sizes and nest them inside each other for a complete Totoro accessory set.

From a skill-building perspective, this project introduces you to working in the round, color changes, basic embroidery for facial details, zipper insertion, and the satisfying process of constructing a three-dimensional character from flat crochet panels. Even if you are relatively new to crochet, the techniques used here are approachable and the result is impressive enough to feel genuinely rewarding.

Materials You Will Need

Getting your materials together before you begin will make the whole process smoother. Here is what you need for the standard mini purse size, which measures approximately 4.5 inches wide by 3.5 inches tall when finished.

For yarn, you will need a medium weight (Category 4) yarn in the following colors: medium gray or stone gray for the main body, cream or off-white for the belly panel, white for the chest markings, and black for the eye and nose embroidery. You will use relatively small amounts of each, so this is a perfect stash-busting project if you have partial skeins sitting around.

For your hook, a 3.5mm or 4mm crochet hook works well with medium weight yarn and produces a tight enough fabric that the piece holds its shape without being stiff. If you prefer a slightly more structured fabric, you can go down to a 3.0mm hook, but be prepared for a firmer texture overall.

You will also need a zipper in a coordinating color, ideally 5 to 6 inches long for the mini purse size, or 7 to 8 inches for a larger wallet version. A gray or charcoal zipper disappears beautifully into the design. You will need a yarn needle for weaving in ends and for the embroidery work, stitch markers to keep track of your rounds, and optionally a small piece of stiff interfacing or craft foam to insert into the base of the purse to give it structure and help it sit upright.

For the face details, you can either embroider them directly onto the finished piece using black yarn, or use black and white safety eyes if you prefer a more polished look. If you use safety eyes, insert them before you close the panel completely.

Understanding the Stitch Abbreviations

This pattern uses US crochet terminology throughout. Here is a quick reference for the abbreviations you will encounter:

Magic ring (also called magic circle or adjustable ring): MR. Chain: ch. Slip stitch: sl st. Single crochet: sc. Half double crochet: hdc. Double crochet: dc. Increase (two single crochets in the same stitch): inc. Decrease (single crochet two together): dec. Back loop only: BLO. Front loop only: FLO. Stitch or stitches: st or sts. Round: Rnd.

Pattern Instructions: The Main Body Panels

The Totoro wallet is constructed from two identical body panels that are later joined around the edges, with a zipper sewn in along the top opening. This method gives you clean, flat panels to work with and makes assembly much more straightforward than trying to construct the whole piece in the round.

Front Panel (make one in gray)

Start by making a foundation that gives you an oval shape, which will suggest Totoro’s rounded body silhouette.

Chain 12. Starting in the second chain from the hook, work single crochet across to the end of the chain (you will have 11 sc). At the last stitch, work 3 sc into that corner stitch to turn the corner. Now continue working along the other side of the foundation chain (the bottom loops), placing 1 sc in each stitch back across the row (10 sc). Work 2 sc in the very last stitch to close the oval. You should have roughly 24 stitches total in your first round. Place a stitch marker to mark the beginning of each round as you go.

Round 2: Work an increase in the first stitch, sc across until you reach the two corner stitches on the far end, work an increase in each corner stitch, sc across the other side, and work an increase in the final stitch. You will add approximately 4 stitches each round as you increase at the four corners of the oval.

Continue in this manner, increasing at the four corner positions on each round, for a total of 6 to 7 rounds, until your oval measures approximately 4.5 inches across the widest point and 3.5 inches tall. This creates a piece just wide enough to comfortably hold cards and folded bills.

At the top of the oval (which will be the opening of the purse), work the last round flat rather than in the round, working back and forth in rows to create a straight edge for the zipper to attach to. Fasten off and weave in your ends.

Make a second identical panel for the back of the purse.

The Belly Panel

Totoro’s most distinctive feature is his white or cream-colored belly with its signature arrow-shaped markings. You will crochet the belly as a separate piece and sew it onto the front panel before joining the two main panels together.

Using your cream or off-white yarn, begin with a magic ring and work 6 sc into the ring, then close it. This gives you a small oval base that you will expand outward, increasing every few stitches per round to create an elongated oval or egg shape that is slightly narrower at the top and wider at the middle and bottom.

Continue increasing until the belly piece measures roughly 2 inches wide and 2.5 inches tall. The exact dimensions can vary based on your gauge and preference. Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing.

Position the belly piece in the center-lower area of your front gray panel, just the way Totoro’s belly sits on his body, and sew it down neatly using a whipstitch or mattress stitch around the edges. When the belly piece is secure, use black yarn and a yarn needle to embroider the characteristic arrow or chevron markings onto the belly. Totoro has a row of small comma-shaped or curved arrow marks across his midsection. You can render these with simple straight stitches arranged in a slight arc, or with small fly stitches if you want a more detailed look.

Adding the Face

The face is what brings this whole piece to life, and it is honestly one of the most fun parts of the pattern. Totoro’s face is simple but immediately recognizable: two large oval eyes, a small upturned nose, and his signature wide, closed smile with little teeth peeking out.

If you are using safety eyes, position them symmetrically in the upper third of the front panel before you have joined the panels together. For the mini purse size, 12mm safety eyes work well, but you can adjust based on your preference.

If you are embroidering the eyes, use white yarn to create the white of the eye by working several satin stitches in an oval shape, then use black yarn over the top to create the large dark iris and pupil. A tiny white highlight stitch on each eye makes them look bright and expressive.

For the nose, use black yarn and work a small triangle shape with satin stitches, positioned just above the center of the face.

The mouth is one of the most charming details. Totoro’s smile is wide but soft, curving gently upward at the corners. Use black yarn to create this curve with a long chain stitch or backstitch. At each corner of the mouth, work a tiny upward curve to suggest his cheerful expression. If you want to add the small white teeth he is sometimes shown with, work a couple of straight white stitches inside the mouth curve.

His ears are two small triangular tufts at the top of his head. You can create these by crocheting two small triangles separately and sewing them to the top edge of the front panel, or by simply embroidering a triangular tuft shape using longer yarn stitches.

Joining the Panels and Adding the Zipper

Once your front panel is fully decorated and your back panel is ready, it is time to join them and insert the zipper.

Begin by preparing your zipper. If your zipper is slightly longer than the top edge of your purse, you can shorten it by hand-stitching a zipper stop at the appropriate length. Place the zipper face down along the top edge of the front panel, with the zipper teeth facing into the interior of the purse. Using your yarn needle and a length of matching yarn, whipstitch the zipper tape to the top edge of the crochet panel, working through both the crochet stitches and the zipper tape. Repeat this step on the back panel, attaching the other side of the zipper.

Once the zipper is secured on both sides, it is time to join the two panels around the outer edges. Hold the front and back panels with wrong sides together, zipper on top, and use your crochet hook to work a single crochet join all the way around the curved perimeter of the purse. This creates a neat, visible seam on the outside that adds a lovely textural border to the finished piece. You can work this join in gray to blend in, or use a contrasting color like charcoal or even cream to make the edge pop as a design feature.

When you reach the top corners, be sure to work neatly around the zipper ends to secure everything in place. Fasten off and weave in all remaining ends securely.

Making It a Wallet: The Larger Version

If you want a wallet-sized version rather than a mini coin purse, the process is essentially the same but you will work more rows on the foundation oval to create a longer, more rectangular shape. Aim for a finished size of approximately 7 inches wide by 4 inches tall to fit folded bills comfortably.

For a wallet, you might also consider adding an internal card slot. Crochet a small rectangle approximately 3.5 inches wide by 2.5 inches tall in a coordinating color, sew three sides of it to the inside back panel, leaving the top open to slip cards in and out. You can make multiple card slots this way by sewing several small rectangles in a row or by adding a divider stitch down the center of a wider pocket.

Customization Ideas

One of the best things about making your own Totoro purse is that you have total creative control over the finished look. Here are some ways to make the pattern your own.

You can make a Blue Totoro version by swapping the gray yarn for medium blue and adjusting the belly to be white. You can make a small white Chibi Totoro version as a matching coin purse to accompany a larger gray Totoro wallet, which makes for an adorable set. Some crafters add a fabric lining to the inside of the purse using a coordinating cotton print fabric, which gives the piece a polished, professional look and helps it hold its shape over time.

For extra durability, especially if you plan to use the wallet daily, consider crocheting the panels with a slightly tighter gauge and adding a thin layer of fusible interfacing between the crochet and any fabric lining you add.

You can also add a wrist strap or small d-ring attachment at one corner to turn the purse into a wristlet, making it even more functional for days when you want to carry as little as possible.

Tips for Success

A few practical notes that will help you get the best results from this pattern. Always check your gauge before beginning, particularly if you are adjusting the size. A small difference in gauge can result in a finished purse that is significantly larger or smaller than intended.

When working the oval panels, try to keep your tension consistent throughout. Inconsistent tension can cause the panels to pucker or curve, which makes joining them neatly more difficult. If you notice tension issues as you go, take a moment to adjust your grip or switch to a hook size that feels more comfortable.

The zipper insertion is often the step that makes people most nervous, and that is completely understandable. The key is to pin or hold the zipper in place carefully before you begin stitching, and to work slowly. If your first attempt is not perfectly straight, you can remove the stitching and try again without any damage to the crochet fabric.

When embroidering the face details, use a water-erasable fabric marker to sketch the features onto the fabric first. This gives you a guide to follow and makes it much easier to achieve a symmetrical, centered placement before you commit to the yarn.

Sharing Your Finished Totoro Purse

Once your Totoro wallet or mini purse is complete, the crafting community would love to see it. Sharing your finished projects on platforms like Ravelry, Instagram, or Pinterest under tags related to crochet amigurumi accessories, Ghibli crochet, or character coin purse patterns connects you with other makers who share your passion. Many crafters have developed their own variations on Totoro-inspired accessories, and browsing what others have made is a wonderful source of inspiration for future projects.

If you plan to sell finished items made from this pattern at craft fairs or in an online shop, be mindful that Studio Ghibli characters are trademarked, which may have implications for commercial use depending on your region and the scale of your sales. For personal use and gifting, this pattern is a pure joy from start to finish.

Final Thoughts

Crocheting a Totoro wallet or mini purse is one of those projects that delivers an enormous amount of satisfaction for a relatively modest investment of time and materials. The techniques involved, from working flat oval panels to color work, embroidery, and zipper insertion, are genuinely useful skills that you will carry forward into countless other crochet projects. And the finished result is something truly special: a handmade piece that carries meaning, skill, and a little bit of that gentle, forest-spirit magic everywhere you take it.

Whether this is your first character accessory or the latest in a long line of Ghibli-inspired makes, the process of bringing Totoro to life stitch by stitch is a deeply satisfying one. Take your time, enjoy each step, and do not worry about perfection. As any Ghibli fan knows, there is beauty in things that are lovingly made, even when they are a little imperfect. That is exactly what makes handmade things so wonderful.

Happy crocheting.