Kimbap is made of two different words in Korean – Kim– seaweed, and bap – rice. Some people might think kimbap is a type of sushi but they’re actually different. They may look similar but they actually originate from different countries. The way the rice is prepared is also different – kimbap rice is mixed with sesame oil and a touch of white sugar whereas sushi rice is prepared with rice vinegar. Lastly, the fillings in kimbap are usually cooked instead of raw.
Kimbap can be filled with yummy marinated beef, imitation crab, egg, yellow radish, and lots of other veggies – but for our special friend, we will be using “cooked spam, yellow radish, and some spinach”.
My giant Kimbap has a name – Kimchi the Kimbap! He measures 12 in. x 4.5 in. [30.5 cm x 11.5 cm]. Here’s what you’ll need for this project:
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MATERIALS:
- Clover Amour Crochet (10 mm) – Art. No 1057/NP
- Jumbo sized chenille yarn in yellow, black, and white, coral, and green (here, I’m using Sweet Snuggles and Chenille Home Yarn by Loops & Threads)
- Small amount of medium worsted black yarn for the mouth
- Mini Patchworks Scissors – Art. No 493/CW
- Quick Locking Stitch Marker (Large) – Art. No 3032
- Jumbo darning needle – Art. No 340
- Fiberfill stuffing (about 10 oz would be safe)
- Size 24 mm safety eyes – or – black and white felt (and fabric glue) for the eyes
TERMS:
- CH – chain
- FLO – front loops only
- SC – single crochet
- ST(s) – stitch
- INC – increase
- SLST – slip stitch
- RND(s) – round(s)
- WS/RS – wrong side/right side
- [#] – stitch count
- (…) x # – repeat the instructions within the parentheses # of times
NOTES:
*Please note that when you cut this specific type of chenille yarn, experiencing some loose fibers is normal.
*Because this yarn is quite bulky, I don’t recommend “carrying over” the different colors while color changing. Instead, we will give each color change some slack so that it doesn’t tug and morph the shape of our Kimbap.
*You can find a printable, PDF version of this pattern for a small fee here.
KIMBAP: (PART A – frontside, starting in peach yarn)
RND 1: Make a magic circle and (SC) x 6 [6]
RND 2: (INC) x 2, change to yellow, (INC) x 2, change to green, (INC) x 2, change to peach [12]
RND 3: (SC, INC) x 2, change to yellow, (SC, INC) X 2, change to green, (SC, INC) x 2, change to peach [18]
RND 4: (2 SC, INC) x 2, change to yellow, (2 SC, INC) X 2, change to green, (2 SC, INC) x 2, change to peach [24]
RND 5: (3 SC, INC) x 2, change to yellow, (3 SC, INC) X 2, change to green, (3 SC, INC) x 2 **In the second ST of the last INC, SLST instead. [30]
Change to white yarn
RND 6: FLO – (4 SC, INC) x 6 [36]
RND 7: 2 SC, INC, (5 SC, INC) x 5, 3 SC [42]
RND 8: (6 SC, INC) x 6 [48]
RND 9: 3 SC, INC, (7 SC, INC) x 5, 3 SC, SLST into the last ST of the RND [54]
Change to black yarn
RND 10: BLO – SC all around **In the second ST of the last INC, SLST instead. [54]
RND 11-16: SC all around (6 RNDs total) [54]
Leave a short tail to bury. Fasten off with the invisible finish. You can find my tutorial here.
EYES: Insert the safety eyes 7 STs apart (5 STs in between), inline with the center of the magic circle. Then, weave a long strand of black yarn through your yarn needle and make a straight line for the mouth across 4 STs. You can also make whatever shaped mouth you’d like. Do this 2x to make the mouth more visible. (Fluffy yarn can often swallow up our facial features!)
Tie all of the loose yarn tails together on the WS of part A.
KIMBAP: (PART B – backside, starting in peach yarn)
*Note: The yellow and green need to be switched so that they mirror the frontside.
RND 1: Make a magic circle and (SC) x 6 [6]
RND 2: (INC) x 2, change to green, (INC) x 2, change to yellow, (INC) x 2, change to peach [12]
RND 3: (SC, INC) x 2, change to green, (SC, INC) X 2, change to yellow, (SC, INC) x 2, change to peach [18]
RND 4: (2 SC, INC) x 2, change to green, (2 SC, INC) X 2, change to yellow, (2 SC, INC) x 2, change to peach [24]
RND 5: (3 SC, INC) x 2, change to green, (3 SC, INC) X 2, change to yellow, (3 SC, INC) x 2 **In the second ST of the last INC, SLST instead. [30]
Change to white yarn
RND 6: FLO – (4 SC, INC) x 6 [36]
RND 7: 2 SC, INC, (5 SC, INC) x 5, 3 SC [42]
RND 8: (6 SC, INC) x 6 [48]
RND 9: 3 SC, INC, (7 SC, INC) x 5, 3 SC, SLST into the last ST of the RND [54]
Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing.
ASSEMBLY:
Going through the BLO of part B and through both loops of the seaweed, sew the bottom of the kimbap together. Once you have about ? to go, stuff the piece firmly and bury the tail.
With that, our giant Kimbap roll is done!
