Totoro Bag Charm Crochet Pattern: Your Complete Step-by-Step Guide to the Cutest Accessory You’ll Ever Make

If you’ve ever wanted to carry a little piece of the forest spirit with you wherever you go, this Totoro bag charm crochet pattern is exactly what you’ve been looking for. Whether you’re a longtime fan of Studio Ghibli’s beloved animated film “My Neighbor Totoro” or simply someone who appreciates a charming, handmade accessory, this pattern will walk you through everything you need to create an adorable miniature Totoro that you can clip onto your backpack, purse, keychain, or tote bag. It’s a small project with a massive amount of personality, and once you’ve made one, you’ll want to make a dozen more to give away as gifts.

This guide is written for crocheters with basic to intermediate skills. If you know how to make a magic ring, single crochet, increase, and decrease, you have everything you need to complete this pattern. We’ll cover the materials, the stitches, the step-by-step instructions, assembly tips, and customization ideas so that your finished Totoro is as unique and charming as the character himself.

Why Crochet a Totoro Bag Charm?

Before we dive into the pattern itself, let’s talk about why this project is worth your time and yarn.

Bag charms have become one of the most popular crochet accessories in recent years, and for good reason. They’re small enough to finish in an afternoon or evening, they use minimal materials, and they make incredibly thoughtful handmade gifts. A crocheted Totoro bag charm sits at the intersection of two deeply satisfying things: the craft of crochet and the nostalgia of a beloved character.

My Neighbor Totoro, the 1988 film by Hayao Miyazaki, introduced the world to the iconic forest spirit Totoro — a large, grey, rabbit-like creature with a wide grin and a kind, gentle presence. The character has remained one of the most recognized and beloved figures in animation history, and crocheting a miniature version of him captures that warmth in something you can hold in your hand.

Beyond the sentimental value, this pattern is also practical. You’ll end up with a finished piece roughly 3 to 4 inches tall (depending on your yarn and hook size), which is the perfect size to dangle from a zipper pull, clip to a bag strap, or hang from a rearview mirror. It’s substantial enough to be noticed without being cumbersome.

Materials You’ll Need

Getting your materials together before you start will make the whole process smoother. Here’s what you’ll need for this Totoro bag charm crochet pattern.

Yarn: You’ll need a small amount of worsted weight yarn in grey (for the body), white or cream (for the belly), dark grey or charcoal (for the ear tips and markings), and black (for the eyes). If you want to make a Totoro in another color variation, like the smaller white Totoro or the blue medium Totoro from the film, simply swap the grey for white or light blue.

Crochet Hook: A 3.5mm or 4mm crochet hook works well with worsted weight yarn for amigurumi projects. You want a slightly smaller hook than the yarn’s recommended size to create a tighter fabric that won’t show any stuffing through the gaps.

Polyfill Stuffing: A small amount of polyester fiberfill stuffing is all you need. Because this is a bag charm and not a full amigurumi toy, you want it to be lightly stuffed — firm enough to hold its shape but not so bulky that it adds unnecessary weight to your bag.

Safety Eyes: Two 6mm or 8mm black safety eyes give Totoro that wide, expressive look. If you’re making this for a young child, embroider the eyes with black yarn instead, since safety eyes can be a choking hazard for little ones.

Embroidery Floss or Thin Yarn: Black or dark grey embroidery floss is perfect for stitching Totoro’s nose, whiskers, and the chest markings (the curved grey marks on his belly).

Stitch Markers: These are helpful for keeping track of your rounds, especially on a small project.

Scissors and Tapestry Needle: For finishing off your yarn ends and sewing pieces together.

Lobster Clasp or Key Ring: This is what makes your Totoro a bag charm. You’ll attach a small lobster clasp or split ring to the top of his head using a short length of yarn or a jump ring, so he can clip onto whatever you like.

Optional: A small amount of felt in white for the belly patch is an alternative to crocheting a separate belly piece, though the crocheted version gives a more polished, professional finish.

Abbreviations and Stitches Used

This pattern uses standard US crochet terminology.

MR — Magic Ring
SC — Single Crochet
INC — Increase (2 SC in the same stitch)
DEC — Invisible Decrease (insert hook into front loops of next two stitches, yarn over and pull through both, yarn over and pull through remaining loops)
SL ST — Slip Stitch
CH — Chain
FO — Fasten Off

Understanding the Construction

Before you start crocheting, it helps to understand how this Totoro bag charm is constructed. The body and head are worked in one continuous piece from the bottom up. The ears are crocheted separately and then sewn onto the top of the head. The belly patch is either crocheted as a flat oval and sewn onto the front of the body, or you can work it in as a color change as you go. The arms are tiny and worked as simple tubes, then sewn to the sides of the body. The whole thing is assembled at the end, safety eyes are inserted, and then the accessory hardware is attached at the top.

Working in a continuous spiral (without joining each round with a slip stitch) is the standard method for amigurumi, and it’s what this pattern uses. Place a stitch marker at the beginning of each round and move it up as you go.

The Pattern

Body and Head (Worked in One Piece, Bottom Up)

Start with your grey yarn.

Round 1: Make a magic ring and SC 6 into the ring. (6 stitches)

Round 2: INC in each stitch around. (12 stitches)

Round 3: (SC 1, INC) repeat 6 times. (18 stitches)

Round 4: (SC 2, INC) repeat 6 times. (24 stitches)

Round 5: (SC 3, INC) repeat 6 times. (30 stitches)

Rounds 6–9: SC in each stitch around. (30 stitches, 4 rounds)

This creates the base and lower body of your Totoro. At this point, lightly stuff the bottom portion. Totoro has a slightly rounded, wide belly, so don’t be afraid to give him a gentle bit of fullness here.

Round 10: (SC 3, DEC) repeat 6 times. (24 stitches)

Round 11: (SC 2, DEC) repeat 6 times. (18 stitches)

Round 12: SC in each stitch around. (18 stitches)

Now we begin shaping the head, which is wider than the neck area and rounder at the top.

Round 13: (SC 2, INC) repeat 6 times. (24 stitches)

Round 14: (SC 3, INC) repeat 6 times. (30 stitches)

Round 15: SC in each stitch around. (30 stitches)

Round 16: SC in each stitch around. (30 stitches)

At this point, insert your safety eyes between rounds 13 and 14, approximately 6 stitches apart. Once you’re happy with their placement, lock them in from the inside. This is the moment your Totoro really comes to life — those wide eyes give him so much expression.

Round 17: (SC 3, DEC) repeat 6 times. (24 stitches)

Round 18: (SC 2, DEC) repeat 6 times. (18 stitches)

Add more stuffing now, filling the head and body to your desired firmness. Remember, for a bag charm you want it on the lighter side.

Round 19: (SC 1, DEC) repeat 6 times. (12 stitches)

Round 20: DEC 6 times. (6 stitches)

Fasten off and close the remaining gap by weaving the yarn tail through the front loops of the 6 remaining stitches, pulling tight to close. Weave in the end.

Ears (Make Two)

The ears are one of Totoro’s most distinctive features — tall, pointed, and rounded at the base. Each ear is worked flat and then folded or shaped slightly before sewing.

With grey yarn:

Round 1: MR, SC 4. (4 stitches)

Round 2: INC in each stitch. (8 stitches)

Round 3: (SC 1, INC) repeat 4 times. (12 stitches)

Rounds 4–6: SC in each stitch around. (12 stitches, 3 rounds)

At this point, switch to dark grey or charcoal yarn for the ear tip.

Round 7: SC in each stitch around. (12 stitches)

Round 8: (SC 2, DEC) repeat 3 times. (9 stitches)

Round 9: (SC 1, DEC) repeat 3 times. (6 stitches)

Fasten off, leaving a long yarn tail for sewing. Do not stuff the ears. Flatten them slightly before sewing onto the head, positioning them at the very top of the head on either side, angling them slightly outward and upward just like Totoro’s in the film.

Arms (Make Two)

The arms are simple, small tubes that dangle slightly to the sides of the body.

With grey yarn:

Round 1: MR, SC 4. (4 stitches)

Rounds 2–5: SC in each stitch around. (4 stitches, 4 rounds)

Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing. Do not stuff. Flatten the open end and sew it closed before attaching to the body at around round 8 or 9 on each side.

Belly Patch

The belly patch is a flat oval worked in white or cream yarn.

Row 1: CH 4, SC in second CH from hook and in next 2 CH. (3 stitches)

Row 2: CH 1, turn. INC, SC 1, INC. (5 stitches)

Row 3: CH 1, turn. SC in each stitch across. (5 stitches)

Row 4: CH 1, turn. DEC, SC 1, DEC. (3 stitches)

Row 5: CH 1, turn. SC in each stitch across. (3 stitches)

Fasten off and leave a long tail for sewing. This creates a small oval-shaped belly patch. Center it on the front of the body between roughly rounds 4 and 9 and sew it in place with the tapestry needle.

Assembly and Finishing Touches

With your pieces crocheted, it’s time to bring Totoro together.

Sew the ears onto the top of the head first. Use the long yarn tails and a tapestry needle to secure them firmly, going through several stitches on both the ear and the head to make sure they won’t shift over time. Your bag charm will get jostled around quite a bit once it’s in use, so sturdy sewing matters here.

Sew the arms onto either side of the body at approximately the same level as the middle of the belly patch. Totoro’s arms are short and slightly curved downward, so position them accordingly.

Sew the belly patch to the front of the body, making sure it sits flat and centered. Take your time with this step — a neatly sewn belly patch makes the whole charm look polished and intentional.

Now for the embroidery details. Using black embroidery floss or thin black yarn, stitch a small oval or triangular nose just below and between the eyes. Then add three or four whisker lines on each side of the nose using long horizontal stitches. These tiny details add enormous personality to such a small piece.

The chest markings — those curved grey lines on Totoro’s belly — can be embroidered with dark grey floss using simple straight stitches arranged in a loose curved pattern just above the belly patch. Don’t overthink this; even simple, slightly imperfect markings look adorable at this scale.

Finally, to attach the hardware: thread a short length of grey yarn through the very top of the head (between the ears), loop it through your split ring or lobster clasp, and tie it off securely. Weave in the ends so nothing shows. Your charm is now ready to clip onto any bag, backpack, or keychain.

Customization Ideas

One of the best things about crochet patterns is how easily they can be personalized. Here are some ideas for making your Totoro bag charm your own.

Color Variations: In the film, there are three versions of Totoro — the large grey Totoro, the medium blue Totoro (often called “Blue Totoro” or “Chu Totoro”), and the small white Totoro (“Chibi Totoro”). You can easily adapt this pattern to make all three by changing your yarn colors accordingly. Make all three and clip them together on a single bag strap for a full forest spirit family.

Add an Umbrella: In one of the film’s most iconic scenes, Totoro holds an umbrella in the rain. You can use a simple coiled pipe cleaner or a tiny crocheted umbrella shape attached to one of his arms to recreate this moment.

Size It Up or Down: If you want a larger version to use as a plush toy or a pillow, simply use bulkier yarn and a larger hook. The proportions of this pattern will scale up nicely. For a tinier version to use as a jewelry charm or earring, try fingering weight yarn with a 2mm hook.

Glow-in-the-Dark Eyes: Some crafters like to use glow-in-the-dark safety eyes for a fun detail that’s invisible during the day but adds a little magic at night.

Seasonal Accessories: Add a tiny crochet scarf in autumn colors, a miniature flower crown for spring, or a little knitted hat for winter. These seasonal accessories take only a few minutes to make and allow you to change up the look of your charm throughout the year.

Tips for Success

A few practical pointers will help your charm come out looking its best.

Work with a hook one or two sizes smaller than your yarn’s recommended hook size. This tightens your stitches and prevents the stuffing from peeking through, which is especially important with light-colored or cream yarn.

Use a stitch marker religiously. On small rounds like this, it’s easy to lose track of where your round begins, and an incorrect stitch count will throw off the shaping quickly.

Don’t overstuff the charm. Because this is an accessory rather than a toy, you want it to be light. A charm that’s packed too tightly will be stiff, won’t move nicely when attached to a bag, and will be heavier than necessary.

When sewing on the ears, try pinning them in place with sewing pins first to make sure you’re happy with the angle and position before committing.

If your finished Totoro looks a little uneven or lumpy after assembly, a little gentle shaping with your fingers — especially while the yarn is slightly damp — can smooth things out beautifully.

Finishing and Caring for Your Charm

Once your Totoro bag charm is complete, take a moment to trim any remaining yarn tails cleanly and check that all your sewn pieces are secure. Give the charm a gentle tug in multiple directions to make sure everything holds.

For care, spot cleaning with a damp cloth is usually sufficient. If you need to wash it more thoroughly, hand wash in cool water with a gentle soap and reshape it while damp. Allow it to air dry completely before reattaching it to your bag.

Over time, the yarn may pill slightly with regular use, especially in areas that rub against the bag. A small fabric shaver can remove any pilling and keep your charm looking fresh.

Sharing Your Finished Charm

Once you’ve finished your Totoro bag charm, we’d love to see what you’ve made. If you share your