R1with soft pink: 6 sc in MR(6)
R2inc ×6(12)
R3(1 sc, inc) ×6(18)
R41 sc, (inc, 2 sc) ×5, inc, 1 sc(24)
R5(3 sc, inc) ×6(30)
R62 sc, (inc, 4 sc) ×5, inc, 2 sc(36)
R7(5 sc, inc) ×6(42)
R83 sc, (inc, 6 sc) ×5, inc, 3 sc(48)
R9(7 sc, inc) ×6(54)
R10(BLO)54 sc(54)
R11–1354 sc(54)
R144 sc, (dec, 7 sc) ×5, dec, 3 sc(48)
R1548 sc(48)
R163 sc, (dec, 6 sc) ×5, dec, 3 sc(42)
R17(5 sc, dec) ×6(36)
R182 sc, (dec, 4 sc) ×5, dec, 2 sc(30)
R19(3 sc, dec) ×6(24)
R201 sc, (dec, 2 sc) ×5, dec, 1 sc(18)
R21(1 sc, dec) ×6(12)
R22dec ×6(6)
Size before assembly: about 7.1 cm at the widest, 5 cm long; 22 rounds.
→ Insert the safety eyes now (positions: see “Face”) and fix the backs. Start stuffing (firmly) and keep adding as you decrease.
Top up the stuffing if needed. Fasten off leaving a 15 cm tail; with the needle weave it through the front loops of all 6 stitches of the last round, pull tight and hide the end inside.

R1with raspberry: 5 sc in MR(5)
R2inc ×2, 1 sc, inc, 1 sc(8)
R3–48 sc(8)
R5(3 sc, inc) ×2(10)
R610 sc(10)
R7(3 sc, dec) ×2(8)
R81 sc, dec, 2 sc, dec, 1 sc(6)
Of these: top — 2 (left and right); mid — 2 (left and right); low — 2 (left and right). Size before assembly: about 1.3 cm at the widest, 2.8 cm long; 8 rounds.
→ Start stuffing (lightly) and keep adding as you decrease.
Press the piece flat to about 8 mm thick (oval cross-section). Top up the stuffing if needed. Fasten off leaving a 15 cm tail; with the needle weave it through the front loops of all 6 stitches of the last round, pull tight and hide the end inside.

R1with soft pink: 6 sc in MR(6)
R2(inc ×2, 1 sc) ×2(10)
R310 sc(10)
R4(dec ×2, 1 sc) ×2(6)
Size before assembly: about 1.2 cm at the widest, 1.4 cm long; 4 rounds.
→ Start stuffing (firmly) and keep adding as you decrease.
Top up the stuffing if needed. Fasten off leaving a 15 cm tail; with the needle weave it through the front loops of all 6 stitches of the last round, pull tight and hide the end inside.

R1with soft pink: 5 sc in MR(5)
R2inc ×2, 1 sc, inc, 1 sc(8)
R3–48 sc(8)
R5dec ×2, 1 sc, dec, 1 sc(5)
Size before assembly: about 1.1 cm at the widest, 1.7 cm long; 5 rounds.
→ Start stuffing (lightly) and keep adding as you decrease.
Press the piece flat to about 6 mm thick (oval cross-section). Top up the stuffing if needed. Fasten off leaving a 15 cm tail; with the needle weave it through the front loops of all 5 stitches of the last round, pull tight and hide the end inside.

Safety eyes and noses go in before the piece is stuffed and closed (see the pieces above); embroidery is easier before the piece is sewn on.

Safety eyes with a printed glint 9 mm (on the mochi ball): between rounds 16 and 17, 8 st apart (count along round 16: about 3.9 st each side of the centre front line).
Embroidery in plum thread (on the mochi ball), straight stitches through: (between rounds 14 and 15, 2 st from the centre front line, toward the toy's right ) → (in round 14, 1 st from the centre front line, toward the toy's right ) → (between rounds 13 and 14, 0.5 st from the centre front line, toward the toy's right ) → (between rounds 13 and 14, on the centre front line ) → (between rounds 13 and 14, 0.5 st from the centre front line, toward the toy's left ) → (in round 14, 1 st from the centre front line, toward the toy's left ) → (between rounds 14 and 15, 2 st from the centre front line, toward the toy's left ).

Axolotl Mochi Ball

What you'll need