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Free Tori the Onigiri Tiger Amigurumi Pattern

An Introduction from Patricia to Your Tori the Onigiri Tiger

Hello, my dear crocheter, and welcome to one of the most playful projects I’ve had the joy of designing! It’s Patricia Poltera, and today we’re whipping up something truly unique: Tori, the "Tigorumi" Rice Ball. I was so inspired by the idea of a lunchbox spirit—a little tiger who is also a yummy onigiri, born from a child's imagination. This pattern is a celebration of that quirky, "kawaii" spirit where food becomes a friend. It’s minimalist, graphic, and comes together so quickly you’ll want to make a whole bento box full of them!

I'm so happy to offer this pattern for free. It’s your wonderful support and engagement that fuels my creativity and allows me to keep sharing these little sparks of joy with our community. Thank you for being a part of it. Now, let’s get our hooks ready for a delicious adventure!

Materials You'll Need for Tori the Onigiri Tiger

For a design this graphic, the texture and finish of our materials are key. We want a crisp "rice" ball and clean, sharp "nori" details!

Yarn

I strongly recommend a 100% cotton worsted weight (Aran, 10-ply) yarn for this project. Cotton provides a clean stitch definition and a slightly matte finish that perfectly mimics the look of packed rice.

  • Absolute Essentials:
    • Main Color (MC): Bright White (approx. 40 yards)

Craft Supplies

This is where Tori's personality really comes to life! We're using felt for those super sharp, graphic details.

  • Absolute Essentials:
    • Felt Sheet (Orange): For the face patches.
    • Felt Sheet (Black): For the "nori" stripes.
    • Embroidery Floss (Black): A small strand for the mouth.
    • Embroidery Floss (Pink): An even smaller strand for the secret hidden detail!

Hooks & Notions

These are the trusty tools that will bring it all together.

  • Absolute Essentials:

    • Crochet Hook: 3.5mm (E-4). This hook size with worsted yarn will create a dense fabric.
    • Safety Eyes: One pair of 8mm black safety eyes.
    • Stuffing: Polyester fiberfill.
    • Yarn Needle & Scissors.

  • My 'Game Changer' Recommendations:

    • Fabric Glue: A good quality craft or fabric glue (like Fabri-Tac) makes attaching the felt pieces incredibly easy and neat. You can also sew them, but glue is faster for this project.
    • Sharp Craft Scissors: Using a dedicated pair of sharp scissors for cutting felt will give you much cleaner edges than your everyday pair.

Skills Required & Techniques Demystified for Tori

This pattern is rated Easy, perfect for a beginner ready to try some simple shaping and mixed-media crafting!

Techniques Used

  • Shaping a Triangle: This is the big trick for this pattern! We will create the onigiri shape by working in the round and placing our increases in three specific spots. This "corners" the fabric, turning our circle into a rounded triangle. It’s much easier than it sounds!
  • Working with Felt: We will cut shapes from felt and attach them to our crochet. This is a wonderful technique for adding clean, sharp details to amigurumi without complex colorwork.

Crochet Abbreviations (US Terms)

  • MR: Magic Ring
  • st(s): stitch(es)
  • sc: single crochet
  • inc: increase (2 sc in the same stitch)
  • dec: invisible decrease
  • sl st: slip stitch
  • [...]: repeat instructions within brackets
  • (...): stitch count at the end of the round
  • MC: Main Color (White)

A Note on Photos & Your Unique Tori

Every Tori will have his own savory personality. The slight tilt of his head or the curve of his nori stripe will make him uniquely yours. Embrace his quirky charm!

Ready for a treat? Let's whip up our adorable Tori the Onigiri Tiger! The pattern awaits.

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The Tori the Onigiri Tiger Amigurumi Pattern

Work in continuous spirals. Use a stitch marker to mark the first stitch of each round.

Onigiri Body (Use MC - White)

A "corner" is made by working 3 sc into a single stitch. This creates the three points of our onigiri.

Rnd 1: Start 6 sc in a MR. (6)

Rnd 2: [Sc 1, 3 sc in next st] 3 times. (12)

Rnd 3: Sc in each st around. (12)

Rnd 4: [Sc 3, 3 sc in next st] 3 times. (18)

Rnd 5: Sc in each st around. (18)

Rnd 6: [Sc 2, inc, sc 1, inc, sc 2] 3 times. (24) Note: This is an alternative way to express increases on the sides of the corners to round them out. More simply: [Sc 5, 3 sc in next st] 3 times. Let's use the simpler method for clarity. Let's refine the shaping instructions for better clarity and form.

Rnd 1: Start 6 sc in a MR. (6) Rnd 2: Inc in each st around. (12) Rnd 3: [Sc 3, 3 sc in next st] 3 times. (18) Rnd 4: [Sc 1, 3 sc in next st, sc 4] 3 times. (24) Rnd 5: [Sc 7, 3 sc in next st] 3 times. (30) Rnd 6: [Sc 4, 3 sc in next st, sc 5] 3 times. (36) Rnd 7: [Sc 11, 3 sc in next st] 3 times. (42)

Rnd 8-15: Sc in each st around (8 rounds). (42)

Now we begin to decrease to form the base.

Rnd 16: [Sc 12, dec] 3 times. (39) Rnd 17: [Sc 11, dec] 3 times. (36) Rnd 18: [Sc 4, dec] 6 times. (30)

Begin stuffing the body. Stuff very firmly, pushing into the corners to emphasize the triangular shape.

Rnd 19: [Sc 3, dec] 6 times. (24) Rnd 20: [Sc 2, dec] 6 times. (18) Rnd 21: [Sc 1, dec] 6 times. (12) Rnd 22: Dec 6 times. (6)

Fasten off, leaving a long tail. Weave the tail through the front loops of the final 6 stitches and pull tight to close the hole. Weave in the end.

Ears (Make 2, use MC - White)

Rnd 1: Start 4 sc in a MR. (4) Rnd 2: [Sc 1, inc] 2 times. (6) Rnd 3: [Sc 2, inc] 2 times. (8)

Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing. Do not stuff.

Assembly Instructions for Your Tori

This is where we add the stripes and transform our rice ball into a tiger!

  1. Prepare Felt Pieces:

    • Face Patches: Cut two small, half-oval shapes from the orange felt. They should be just big enough to house the 8mm safety eyes.
    • "Nori" Stripes: Cut three jagged, stripe-like strips from the black felt. Make them imperfect, like torn seaweed.
    • "Nori" Square: Cut one small square from the black felt.

  2. Attach Ears: Sew the ears onto the top two "corners" of the onigiri body.

  3. Create the Face:

    • Position the two orange face patches on the front of the onigiri.
    • Once you're happy with the placement, insert the 8mm safety eyes through the center of each orange felt patch and then through the crochet fabric. Secure the washers on the inside. If you've already closed the body, you can use glue-on eyes or embroider them.
    • Using black embroidery floss, stitch a tiny 'w' shape for the nose and mouth centered below and between the eyes.
    • Secure the orange felt patches in place with fabric glue or by sewing them down with matching thread.

  4. Add the Stripes:

    • Glue or sew the three black "nori" stripes onto the body. I like to place one on each side, and one on the back.
    • Attach the black "nori" square to the lower back of the body.

  5. The Secret Detail:

    • Using your pink embroidery floss, make a small asterisk or French knot on the black felt square on the back to create the hidden umeboshi (pickled plum) mark. It's a secret for only you and Tori to know!

Tips & Tricks for Your Tori

A few extra ideas for your savory little friend.

Troubleshooting

  • My Onigiri Isn't Pointy: Stuffing is the key! Be aggressive and use the end of your hook or a chopstick to really push the fiberfill into those three corners before you close the bottom.
  • My Felt is Peeling: Be sure to use a dedicated fabric glue and allow it to dry completely without being handled. If you plan for the toy to be handled by a small child, sewing the felt pieces on is the most secure method.
  • My Corners Look Soft: When working the increase rounds, try to keep your tension consistent. The combination of the 3 sc in one st and firm stuffing is what creates the shape.

Customization Corner

  • Onigiri Friends: This pattern is a perfect base! Use grey yarn for a cat, pink for a pig, or black and white for a panda. Just change the felt details!
  • Different "Fillings": Instead of a tiger, you could make him a "salmon onigiri" by adding a pink felt patch peeking out from a corner.
  • Change the Expression: Give him a winking eye, a happy open mouth, or sleepy eyes for a different personality.

Gifting Your Tori

  • Tori is a perfect gift for any fan of Japanese culture, kawaii, or cute food.
  • He's an ideal fast make for craft markets. His uniqueness is a great seller!
  • Pop him in a real bento box with some cute chopsticks for an unforgettable gift presentation.

Frequently Asked Pattern & Finishing Questions for Tori

  • Do I have to use felt? Could I crochet the details?
    • You absolutely could crochet the details! However, you would lose the sharp, graphic look that defines this specific design. Crocheted stripes would be softer and rounder. Felt is recommended to achieve the intended "nori" aesthetic.
  • What's the best way to cut the felt neatly?
    • Use very sharp scissors. For the jagged stripes, don't overthink it! Quick, confident snips will look more natural than carefully planned zig-zags.
  • Can I use a bigger hook and yarn to make a larger Tori?
    • Yes! This pattern would look wonderful scaled up with blanket yarn and a larger hook. You would also need to scale up the size of your safety eyes and felt pieces accordingly. A giant Tori would be an amazing pillow!

A Final Word & Caring for Your Adorable Tori

And there you have it—a delicious and devoted friend! Creating Tori is such a fun, creative process that goes beyond just crochet. I hope making this quirky little character brought a huge smile to your face. Seeing your finished projects is the greatest treat for me, and your enthusiasm for these designs makes sharing them freely possible.

Because of the felt details, Tori is a spot-clean only friend. Use a damp cloth to gently clean any marks on the yarn, but avoid soaking the felt.

Happy stitching, and enjoy your new savory companion! Patricia

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