[Free Pattern] Hanami Season: Chomeiji Sakura Mochi Amigurumi Crochet Pattern・[無料編み図] 花見の和菓子: かぎ針編み長命寺桜餅

When it comes to sakura season, the wagashi that comes to the mind of most Japanese (and Japanophiles) is the sakura mochi 桜餅. It is after all a popular spring-time wagashi, typically enjoyed during hanami season in March and April. It is also one of the foods sometimes eaten during Hinamatsuri on 3rd March.

Last year's sakura season featured the crochet sakura mochi I made using the sakura mochi crochet pattern by Ollie+Holly. In that post, I also talked about the 2 styles of sakura mochi: the better known domyoji 道明寺 or Kansai style, and chomeiji 長命寺 or Kanto style. The sakura mochi in Ollie+Holly's pattern is in the domyoji style. So this year, I've made a crochet chomeiji sakura mochi (crochet pattern below).

Crochet chomeiji sakura mochi (on IG).

Sure the domyoji style is more commonly known today, but it was created later than the chomeiji sakura mochi. Some sources say it derived from the chomeiji style, with its own regional twist (the use of domyoji-ko). As mentioned in last year's post, the chomeiji style became so popular during the Edo period that it became known as an Edo (Tokyo) specialty and was featured in ukiyo-e prints such as this 1847-1852 guide on famous Edo specialties by Ichieisai Yoshitsuya aka Utagawa Yoshitsuya (一英斎芳艶「新版御府内流行名物案内双六」), and "Blossoms on the banks of Mukojima and sakura mochi" from the 1864 series The Pride of Edo: 36 Scenes by Utagawa Hiroshige II and Utagawa Toyokuni III (歌川広重・歌川豊国「江戸自慢三十六興　向嶋堤ノ花并ニさくら餅」).

I was just thinking about the chomeiji sakura mochi I had from Ginza Akebono, from their branch at Daimaru Tokyo depachika on our recent trip to Japan. Despite our many trips to Tokyo however, I've yet to go to the original chomeiji sakura mochi shop Yamamoto-ya in Mukojima. Guess it's time to pencil in a visit for the next time.

CHOMEIJI SAKURA MOCHI CROCHET PATTERN

Materials & Tools:
• Yarn - light pink, red bean colour, leaf green / olive green
• 2mm or 2.5mm crochet hook
• Stuffing
• Stitch markers
• Scissors
• Yarn needle
• Safety eyes (optional)
• Embroidery thread (optional)

For this amigurumi, I used Scheepjes Catona No.238 Powder Pink, No.396 Rose Wine and No.395 Willow.

Abbreviations (US terms):
R : round / row (as the case may be)
MR : magic ring
ch : chain
st(s) : stitch(es)
sl st : slip stitch
sc : single crochet
inc : increase (2 sc in same st)
(...) : a set of pattern instructions
[...] : total number of sts in the round/row

Finished Size:
Approx. 5.5cm × 4cm × 4cm

ANKO FILLING

Make 1.
Using red bean coloured yarn, work in rounds,
R1. 6 sc in MR. [6]
R2. 6 inc. [12]
R3. (3 sc, inc) 3 times. [15]
R4. (2 sc, inc, 2 sc) 3 times. [18]
R5-11 (7 rounds). 18 sc. [18]
R12. (2 sc, dec, 2 sc) 3 times. [15]
Start stuffing the work.
R13. (3 sc, dec) 3 times. [12]
R14. 6 dec. [6]
Finish stuffing. Fasten off. Weave the yarn end through the front loops of the last 6 sts and pull to close the work. Hide the end inside the work.

MOCHI

Make 1.
Using light pink yarn, work in continuous rounds,
R1. Ch 19, starting in the 2nd ch from hook, 17 sc, 3 sc in the last ch, rotate work and working along the other side of the ch, 17 sc, 3 sc in the next ch. [40]
R2. (17 sc, 3 inc) 2 times. [46]
R3. (18 sc, inc, sc, inc, sc, inc) 2 times. [52]
R4. (18 sc, inc, 2 sc, inc, 2 sc, inc, sc) 2 times. [58]
R5. (20 sc, inc, 2 sc, inc, sc, inc, 3 sc) 2 times. [64]
R6. (19 sc, inc, 4 sc, inc, 4 sc, inc, 2 sc) 2 times. [70]
R7. (22 sc, inc, 4 sc, inc, 6 sc, inc) 2 times. [76]
Fasten off and leave a long tail for sewing.

SAKURA LEAF

Make 1.
Using leaf green / olive green yarn, work in rows,
R1. Ch 15, starting in the 2nd ch from hook, 13 sc, 3 sc in the last ch, rotate and working along the other side of the ch, 9 sc. [25]
R2. Ch 1 and turn, skip the 1st st, 9 sc, 3 sc in next st, 10 sc. [22]
R3. Ch 1 and turn, skip the 1st st, 10 sc, 3 sc in next st, 9 sc. [22]
R4-14 (11 rows). Repeat R2 for even numbered rows, repeat R3 for odd numbered rows.
R15. Ch 1 and turn, skip the 1st st, 20 sc. [20]
Fasten off and leave a long tail for sewing.

TO COMPLETE

1. Attach the Mochi and Anko Filling together. Wrap the Mochi around the Anko Filling and pin in place. Using the Mochi yarn tail, join the 2 pieces together with small hidden stitches to hold the 2 pieces in place.
2. Attach the Sakura Leaf to the Mochi and Anko Filling that was combined in Step 1. Position the base of the Leaf at the base of the Mochi and fold the top half of the Leaf over the Mochi, pin in place. The tip of the Leaf will extend beyond the edge of the Mochi. Refer to the picture above for an idea of the position of the pieces. Using the Leaf yarn tail, make small hidden stitches at various points (especially at the base, centre and top of the Leaf) to hold the pieces in place.
3. Secure and hide end inside the work.

Finally, enjoy your sakura mochi with a cup of tea! I find that it goes really well with sencha or houjicha...

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Thank you for stopping by. I hope you have fun making this crochet wagashi. As with all my other patterns, I would love to see how your finished items turned out, so please tag me with my Instagram handle @yotsuba_blythes.

While I'm happy to share my pattern without charge and would be delighted to see it being used, please note that my pattern is for personal use only. Please respect my legal and moral rights as the author with respect to this pattern and all the images therein. This pattern and images are not for commercial use, sale or distribution. The sale of this pattern or any of the images is not permitted without my prior written consent. If you wish to share this pattern, please link to this post and my Instagram profile @yotsuba_blythes. You are welcome to sell limited quantities of the finished items you have made from this pattern. Thank you.