Love rhymes with alpaca 💕
Happy Valentine’s Day!
Music by R Warner. Thanks to John Teti!
Author: Anna
Announcing the 11th Annual Mochimochi Photo + Video Contest
UPDATE: Congratulations to the winners!
The 11th Annual Mochimochi Photo + Video Contest is now open for entries!
For the 11th year, we’re looking for the cutest, funniest, most creative photos and videos of Mochimochi Land toys. Enter through your favorite social media platform (see below for details). Deadline is March 31st!
Winners will receive awesome prizes from our favorite sponsor Knit Picks, gift certificates to Mochimochi Land, and more!
Eligibility
This contest is open to knitters worldwide. To be eligible, your photo or video must contain at least one knitted toy made from a Mochimochi Land pattern. This can be a pattern from the Mochimochi Shop, a pattern from one of the Mochimochi books by Anna Hrachovec, or one of the free patterns on the Mochimochi Blog. The pattern may be modified, but not beyond recognition from the original design. (The use of Photoshop is OK, and other toys/characters, including other knitted toys, are welcome to appear in your photo or video too!)
Note that we’re looking for humor, cuteness, and originality—not necessarily the most professional-looking photos and videos. We want everyone to enter!
How to enter
PHOTOS: There are three ways to enter photos. Please choose just one, and enter up to 8 photos.*
1) Post your photo(s) on Instagram with the hashtag #mochiphotocontest18.
2) Post your photo(s) to the Mochimochi Land Facebook page with the hashtag #mochiphotocontest18.
3) Add your photo(s) to the Mochimochi Land Flickr group. All photos uploaded to this group since the last contest deadline, December 14th, 2016, are already entered in this year’s contest!
VIDEOS: You can post your video to Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, or Vimeo. To make sure we see it, please email me the link at info@mochimochiland.com with the subject line VIDEO ENTRY. Please do not send the video as an attachment. We prefer that the length of your video be at least 30 seconds to at most 2 minutes long. Enter up to 3 videos.
Deadline
The last day to enter the contest is March 31st, 2018 April 30th, 2018. We’ll announce the finalists shortly thereafter here on the blog, and everyone will be able to vote for their favorites! So be sure to check the blog after the deadline.
Prizes!
The first place photo and video prizes will include a $100-value surprise gift package from Knit Picks, a $50 gift certificate to Mochimochi Land, and more.
The second place photo and video prizes will include a $50 gift package from Knit Picks, a $25 gift certificate to Mochimochi Land, and more.
The third place photo and video prizes will be all surprises this year!
Thank you to Knit Picks for their continued awesome sponsorship!
Needles ready? Cameras set? GO!
* This limit doesn’t apply to photos already added to the Flickr group.
Seize The Awkward
It’s awkward to talk about mental health, but it’s so important to check in with your friends about how they’re doing. That’s the theme of the new #SeizeTheAwkward campaign that I was happy to contribute to with this image, commissioned by Droga5.
You can find more information on the website, and see more #SeizeTheAwkward posters by cool artists on the project’s instagram.
See you at Vogue Knitting LIVE, Chicago!
Vogue Knitting LIVE is returning to Chicago March 9-11, and Mochimochi Land will be there! See the world of mochis in person, pick up kits and books, and hunt for tiny clover on Sunday for prizes.
This will be my first in-person event in over a year! I’m looking forward to breathing that nice hotel air again and seeing all your lovely faces and handknit apparel.
Season’s Greetings
Season’s Greetings to all you special snowflakes!
Meet Kate’s Kitten, New Pattern in Knitty!
Back in 2005, a cat wearing burgundy pants appeared in the young online knitting magazine Knitty and sparked a knitted toy revolution. Designed by Jess Hutchison, Kate was beautiful in her simplicity, and she gave me something to study when I started thinking about designing toys of my own.
As 2017 marks 10 years of Mochimochi Land AND 15 years of Knitty, I jumped on the chance to revisit Kate and make a version of my own. So I’m thrilled to introduce Kate’s Kitten, a mini mochi-fied version of the classic tail-free cat! The pattern is in the current issue of Knitty, along with many other exciting projects.
Not only did Knitty inspire me when I first started designing, but they also gave Mochimochi Land a boost when my Woodins were included in the Fall 2007 issue. I still love this design.
If you’re a Knitty fan, you should become a patron!
This is the Top GIF of 2017!
GIPHY.com just announced that this little heart-knitting gnome is Top GIF of 2017, with more than 400 MILLION views! They were even talking about it on the Today Show. That’s a lot of love!
Special Little Snowflakes
The 2017 holiday pattern is here! Special Little Snowflakes celebrate how we’re all a bit alike and also unique at the same time. Knit them for all the special creatures in your life!
This pattern automatically comes FREE with any purchase of $5 or more from the Mochimochi Shop through January 1st! No need to add it to your cart—a link to download the pattern will be emailed to you within 24 hours of your purchase.
This is a seamless, intermediate-level pattern that incorporates stranded color knitting. Special Little Snowflakes knit up fast for ornaments, garlands, and more, for perfect little last-minute hand-knitted gifts!