Mochimochi Land is an adorable world of tiny knitted animals, characters, food and accessories that is so sweet it literally makes your teeth hurt.
It’s the brainchild of knitter Anna Hrachovec, who after living in Japan decided to create tiny knitted toys that fit in the palm of your hand. (The term mochimochi comes from the Japanese word for “squishy,” similar to the sweet rice treat.)
Inspired by Hello Kitty, Pee Wee’s Playhouse and several children’s illustrators, Anna has written five books, appeared at knitting shows, in newspapers and on television around the world, and runs the cutest darn website filled with animations of her tiny creations.
So when I came across a kit for making holiday gnomes on her Instagram page one day, I was a goner. Not only were the gnomes adorable, but the kit came with everything I’d need — yarn, stuffing and the cutest little instructions. All I needed was a set of Size 1 double-pointed needles and a free afternoon.
The kit arrived within a few days, and I sat down to create.
How it started:
How it ended:
In my defense, knitting with the equivalent of toothpicks is not for the feint of heart. Nor is it for people who tend to be impatient. Or who swear a lot.
I feel like Mochimochi Land should come with a warning.