Now for the Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Print the pattern and cut the fleece, felt, and fabric pieces

Be sure to follow the directions when asked to cut multiple pieces. Because you’ll be working with felt and fleece, fraying will not be an issue. However, depending on your personal fabric choice for the umeboshi it may arise. I’ve given some directions for how to combat this. Please note: the umeboshi requires a small circle to be cut out of cardboard for support. If your fabric strap is really, really small make sure this circle has at least 1/2 inch of fabric all around it.

Here's everything you'll need for the plushie.

Then cut out the pattern and pin to pieces of the fabric.
All the pieces cut out and the pattern pieces unpinned.

Step 2: Constructing the Nori felt hat

Take both Nori hat pieces. Since felt doesn’t have a “right” side or a “wrong” side you won’t have to worry about that. Then add a small dot of hot glue to the back of the Nori hat pieces and then stick to the body. Align their edges as close as possible to each of the “right” side of the fleece Onigiri body pieces (look at the Onigiri Friend front body piece for how the Nori hat is position if you need help). Now you should be able to align the Onigiri’s felt face pieces and umeboshi quite easily.

Hot gluing the Nori hat pieces on.

Step 3: Constructing the felt face on your Onigiri

Take one of the triangle pieces and make this your Onigiri’s front side wear its face will go. Lay this off to the side. You’ll be putting the final cut out face pieces on it shortly.  Now it’s time to cut out the Onigiri expression out of felt if you haven’t done so already.  If you want to change the pattern’s expression, simply sketch out a new expression for your Onigiri and cut it out of felt. Because the face pieces can be small, I recommend just cutting them out freehand. It might take a few tries to get something you like, but it’ll probably be easier than trying to cut around the very small pattern pieces. Once you have all the face pieces you need (eyes, mouth and pink cheeks even if you want) place them on the fleece piece you’ve put aside for the front.  Since the Nori hat is already glued on it should make placing the pieces very easy.  Sew them in place with color matching thread when you’re satisfied with the expression. Don’t forget to leave room around the edge for your seam allowance! At least ½ inch! Make sure you sew to the “right” side of the fleece this will be the side with the Nori hat glued on it. Sew on the felt pieces and you’ll have your Onigiri face in no time! Don’t’ worry about the back looking icky- no one will see it. If you’re paranoid your stitches may come out dab a little hot glue on the back were you knotted them closed.

The felt face pieces are sewn on.

The "wrong" side or ugly side of the Onigiri front face.

Step 4:  Constructing the Umeboshi

An umeboshi is usually a pickled plum that’s added to an Onigiri. For your plushie it will be a way to express itself or your tastes. You can use any fabric you like for this. Be sure you’ve cut out the cardboard circle piece first and that the fabric circle is at least 1/2 inch larger in size all the way around. They don’t have to be perfect circles, so don’t worry. You’ll also need a bit of stuffing to plump up your umeboshi later. You’ll also need a long piece of thread in a matching color to your umeboshi fabric on your needle.  Take your thread and sew around the entire edge of the circle umeboshi fabric piece- you’ll be doing what’s called a running stitch- that is going in and out of the fabric. (visit this website to see an image of a running stitchif you're not sure what it is.)

The Umeboshi fabric with the "Running Stitch".

Think of it like a fish jumping in and out of water. Try to keep your stitches as even as possible. To test if you’re doing it right: sew a few stitches, in and out, and then pull on the thread while holding the fabric down. It should collect together in a bunch of pleats. If it does that- you’re doing it right! Pull it back to being flat and continue sewing until you reach the end. Once you completed the running stitch all the way around (DO NOT KNOT): Take some stuffing and place it into the center of the circle of fabric (make sure the fabric is as flat as possible.). Next take the cardboard circle and place it on top of the stuffing like you’re making a little stuffing sandwich.

It's an Umeboshi Sandwich!

Now here comes the tricky part.  Hold down the cardboard with the stuffing underneath it while you pull on the thread. You goal is to trap the stuffing and cardboard inside the fabric circle which now has become a little bag of sorts.  There should be a fabric lip all the way around covering the edge of the cardboard circle. Hold on to the thread to keep it all closed and then make sure it’s plump enough for your liking- this is the last point at which you’ll be able to add more stuffing to your umeboshi. 

Here's the way I hold it to pull the Umeboshi close.

To close the umeboshi, start sewing from one side of the fabric lip to the other- sew it in it in diagonals across the cardboard circle. Dont’ worry about being neat here, no one will ever see this side of your umeboshi. Sew a lot here as this is what keeps the whole thing together. You need to lock the cardboard and stuffing inside the fabric- it should not be able to move if you do this right. It should look like the top of a mushroom when you finish. You’ll be attaching the umeboshi next so get your back body triangle and move on to the next step. If you're worried about fraying, simply dab a small amount of hot glue on around the edge of the sewn umeboshi fabric on the underside.

The back and the front of the closed finished Umeboshi.

Step 5:  Attach the Umeboshi to the back of the triangle body.

Center your umeboshi on the “right” side of your Onigiri back body piece, this will be the side with the Nori hat glued on. Use a little hot glue in the center of the cardboard on the umeboshi to secure it to the center of the “right” side out of the Onigiri back body piece. This will help keep it in place while you sew it on. Then using a matching thread color to the umeboshi, stitch around its edge to sew it on to the back triangle piece. Try to hide your stitches by keeping them under the umeboshi as much as possible. You just need to stitch the edge of the umeboshi’s fabric to the triangle, so do not try to sew through the cardboard. Remember that you’ll need to take into account the seam allowance for the body gusset when placing it.

A little diagram of how to sew on the Umeboshi.

The Finished Front and Back of the Onigiri Friend body.

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