Mochi Minky Guide

Mochi minky is the type of fabric used to make Squishmallows! It's a super stretchy minky with a low 1mm pile. To get the ultimate squish factor, you should also use specific mochi stuffing as well.

This page has resources on how to work with it, where to buy it, and a color comparison guide.

Where to buy mochi minky

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JoAnn Fabrics
JoAnn's mochi is called "pure plush fleece". It is  It is nice quality compared to their normal smooth minky and you get to see the colors and buy a shorter cut of fabric if you purchase in person!

The biggest drawback about JoAnn's mochi is that it is only a 2 way stretch. It only stretches on the horizontal and not the vertical. This means that it can produce different results than Hopen or Big Z mochi on the same pattern. I have used it to make small puffy paw pads and I haven't noticed much of a difference, but if you are making something large like big fursuit paws then you may notice a difference.

It seems to be a 1.5mm pile, longer than Hopen's, and it is also double sided, although the wrong side has a different pile and texture than the right side. It also is a bit thicker than Hopen's mochi, but it's more limited in colors.
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Big Z Fabric
Big Z Fabric produced their own mochi minky upon request by the plush & fursuit making community! They stock 23 colors at the moment. Their mochi is 4 way stretch. However, the stretch and texture seems to vary greatly by color and even by cut. Check out plushiluv's video comparing Big Z and Hopen mochi below.


Hopen Textiles on AliExpress or Amazon
Hopen Textiles is a store on AliExpress and they are located in China. Because of this, it can take over a month to get your order. This store carries a variety of different length minky and faux fur. They are currently the most reliable source of mochi minky since they have a good variety of colors in stock.

​Hopen's mochi minky is 1mm, single-sided, and a 4 way stretch (despite it stating 2 way). It stretches more on the horizontal than the vertical. It is a bit thinner than JoAnn's mochi minky (in fact, I find that all of their minky is quite thin, so I greatly prefer to work with Shannon over Hopen minky). I find that it tears easily if you try to rip out a seam.

They also have an Amazon store, which also ships from China, and sells pre-cut yards of mochi in a few colors for a slightly higher price (you get more fabric than the cuts on AliExpress, but it's also slightly more expensive per cm). If you feel more comfortable buying from Amazon than AliExpress, you may want to purchase from Amazon instead.


​Even though there are only 25 colors to select from on the AliExpress item, if you scroll down to the description you can see a swatch card of more colors. You can select any of these numbers. You just need to make a note on your purchase that you want a different color instead. (As a safe guard, pick a color you wouldn't mind receiving if they accidentally send you the wrong color). I also recommend contacting the seller in the message that pops up confirming your order also mentioning that you want a different color.

Check out my tutorial for how to buy mochi from AliExpress!

If you would like a swatch book of their mochi colors, contact them on AliExpress.

Isn't mochi minky just stretch velvet velour?


​From what I've seen, no. Maybe it is in your country; but in the US, velvet velour is much rougher to the touch and not as "plush". I ordered some fabric from Big Z to compare and it was not even close. Here is a video showing the difference:
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Where to buy mochi stuffing

There are a few brands of mochi stuffing that I'm aware of.

Hopen Textiles on AliExpress
Hopen also stocks a GORGEOUS mochi stuffing in different amounts, so you can buy some when you buy your mochi! Out of all mochi stuffing I've tried, this one is my favorite. It's also reasonably priced compared to other options.
  • PROS
    • Gorgeous quality
    • Comes in many different quantity options
    • Reasonably priced
      • Can buy during AliExpress sales and apply coupons
  • CONS
    • Located in China, so takes a while to ship (~1 month to US)

Fairfield silky poly-fil
This is my second favorite option. It's extremely soft but has some small little flecks of fiber throughout (think like strands of a carpet). This isn't an issue once you get it in the plush, though. My biggest issue is the price, as you can't buy it in bulk like you can with Hopen's, so it is more expensive per oz. However, you can buy this from the US!
  • PROS
    • Good quality
    • Located in the US
  • CONS
    • Can't buy in bulk
    • More expensive

Hometex Synthetic Down Stuffing
This is my least favorite option but still a solid one. It's still extremely soft but is more dense than the other 2 options. It also has a LOT of the small little flecks of fiber throughout. But again, this isn't an issue once you get it in the plush. It is the cheapest option when you buy it in the 5lb size, and it's from the US!
  • PROS
    • Located in the US
    • Cheapest in the largest quantity option
    • Several size options available
  • CONS
    • Average quality
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You can watch my video comparing Hometex stuffing to Hopen stuffing here.

​Daiso Stuffing
I have not bought it myself but I hear this is also high quality mochi stuffing. If you have a Daiso near you, you may be able to find it in person. But it's often sold out and comes in individual bags, so it's more wasteful.
  • PROS
    • Good quality
    • Very cheap per gram
    • Ships from the US
    • Can buy it in person, if you can find it
  • CONS
    • Often sold out
    • Comes in small individual packs, so more wasteful

Hopen Mochi Color Guide

It's very difficult to compare colors online which is why I always buy a swatch set when I can. But since this isn't feasible for everyone, I've put together some images of some of Hopen's colors next to Shannon's minky colors since more people are familiar with those!

​In the images, the large swatches are Shannon minky cuddle 3 (3mm) and the small swatches are Hopen mochi. Please note that your images may vary depending on your monitor and colors can vary in real life due to dye lot differences.

​Below is mostly colors available on Hopen's Amazon store. A guide with all 229 colors available on Hopen's swatch set is available on my Patreon by pledging as little as $1:
www.patreon.com/posts/hopen-textiles-78379820

#3 "White"

This color is very close to Shannon's snow white.
If you're looking for a match to Shannon's white, try #90 (which is only on AliExpress).

#4 "Black"

This is a pure black and matches just fine to Shannon's black.

#5 "Apricot"

This is a nice peachy color, good for a saturated skin tone. This does not have a close match in Shannon, since they do not have many colors in this family.

Here it is next to papaya (left) and shell (right).

#12 "Light Crimson"

This is more of a pink than a crimson. The closest match is coral. 

#16 "Maize"

This is a very saturated golden yellow. There is no close match to Shannon minky. Here it is next to
canary / lemon / sunshine / mango / gold / golden

#19

This color is only on AliExpress. In my opinion it's closest to peacock but it's in the family of (from left to right:)
dark turquoise / azure / peacock

#21 "Red"

This is a very saturated red. It's closest to cherry.

#24 "Purple"

This is a VERY bright warm purple. There is no close match to Shannon minky because Shannon does not carry a good variety of warm purple minky. The closest color is lilac.

#26 "Vermillion"

Hopen's image on Amazon does not represent this color well, and neither does mine. It is an insanely bright orange highlighter color. The closest color is Shannon's orange, but it is MUCH more neon in real life than images can capture.
(If you want a nicer orange, consider #184 which is what I used for my pumpkin dittos)

#28 "Grass Green"

This is a nice yellowy green color. It's close to Shannon's dark lime (left) and jade (right). In my opinion, it's closest to jade.

#29 "Grey"

There is no perfect match to any of Shannon's greys, but it's closest to silver.

#35 "Brown" or "bown"

The closest is Shannon's brown, but it's not as saturated.

#37

This color is on AliExpress. It is a bright red, with very subtle orange undertones. It is less pink than Shannon's cherry (pictured), but that is the closest match. It's also in the family of the discontinued Shannon color tomato (not pictured), but it's more red & saturated.

#44 and #46

These colors are only on AliExpress. #44 and #46 are nearly identical to each other and are identical to Shannon turquoise (#44 pictured).

#54 "Ice Green"

This is a more saturated version of Hopen's #182 "baby blue". It's closest to opal. You can find a comparison pic to #182 as well. (182 on left, 54 on the right)

#84 "Navy Blue"

This is a purple-y navy blue. The closest is Shannon's new marlin color, but Hopen's has more purple undertones.

#90

This is the white mochi I prefer. It's only on AliExpress. It's more like Shannon white than Shannon snow white, which #3 is closer to. So, less printer-papery, and more of a natural white color.
​This is #90 next to Shannon white.

#123 "Yellow"

This is a really pretty buttercup yellow. It's closest to sunshine (1st pic), but isn't as golden. For reference, there's also a picture next to Shannon yellow (2nd pic).

#125

Latte and beige are closest to this color. It is a little closer to beige than latte.

#159 "Skin color"

Again there is no good comparison to Shannon minky because they carry no colors in the peach range. This is a paler peach than #5 apricot.
Here it is next to white / natural / ivory and also beige.

#164 "Baby pink"

This color is not nearly as pale as Shannon's baby pink. The closest match is bubblegum, but it's not a perfect match. Here it is next to
​baby pink / blush / bubblegum

#168 "Light purple"

This is a light warm purple. There is no great match to Shannon because Shannon does not have a good variety of warm purples. The closest color is lilac.

#172 "Ashes red"

This is a really pretty antique-y pale pink color. The closest match is the new rose quartz Shannon color.

#182 "Baby blue"

This is not a traditional baby blue as we think of it; it has green undertones. It is closest to saltwater (first image). For reference, there is also a picture next to baby blue Shannon (second image). Finally, a comparison to #54 from Hopen (182 on the left, 54 on the right)

#194 "Dark Aqua Blue"

​This is a dark blue with green undertones. The closest color is navy, but 194 is lighter and closer to the teal family.

JoAnn's Pure Plush Fleece (Mochi) Color Guide


​If JoAnn's has pure plush fleece (what they call mochi) in stock and you have one nearby you can check out the colors yourself but this isn't an option for everyone. I've put together some images of JoAnn's pure plush fleece colors next to Shannon's minky colors since more people are familiar with those! These are not all the colors available but the vast majority of them.

​In the images, the swatches with zig zag edges are Shannon minky cuddle 3 (3mm) and the fabric is pure plush fleece. Please note that your images may vary depending on your monitor and colors can vary in real life due to dye lot differences.

(If you find this guide helpful, consider supporting me on Patreon! Thank you so much!)

Ivory

Ivory is nearly an identical match to Shannon ivory.

Ash Rose

Ash rose is a dark, antique pink color with hints of purple. It is very close to rose quartz, but slightly more purple.

Rose Tan

Rose tan is an antique-y pink color. There is no perfect match to Shannon but it's closest to rose quartz (left). For comparison I've also shown dusty rose (middle) and woodrose (right).

Coral Pink

Coral pink is a muted fleshy pink color, but still a bit too saturated for Caucasian skin tones. It's very close to JoAnn's peach pearl but it's more muted. It lands somewhere between papaya (left) and shell (right).

Peach Pearl

Peach pearl is a light orangey pink and is very close to JoAnn's coral pink. It lands somewhere between papaya (left) and shell (right). In my opinion it's closer to shell than papaya.

Red Dahlia

Red dahlia is a deep red color. It's closest to crimson.

Tawny Port

Tawny port is a pretty purple-y dark red. It's closest to merlot.

Redwood

Redwood is a very unique color. It's a muted red-brown. It reminds me of packaged hot chocolate.
There is no color remotely close in Shannon. Here it is next to caramel (left), mocha (middle), and taupe (right).

Buckskin

Buckskin is an orangey golden mochi. There is no close match in Shannon. Here it is next to gold (left) and pumpkin (right).

Golden Apricot

Golden apricot is an orangey yellow that's a near identical match to mango.

Tawny Orange

I personally would not describe this color as "orange". It's more brown to me and is essentially a lighter version of JoAnn's redwood. There is no close match to Shannon at all. Here it is next to rust (left) and papaya (right). The nearest color would be papaya.

Desert Sage

Desert sage is a pale grey green. There is no remotely close Shannon color. Here it is next to sage (left) and platinum (right)

Olive

Olive is a warm green color. It's closest to cactus.

Emerald

Emerald is a very Christmas-y cool green! There is no real match to Shannon. Here it is next to emerald (left) and evergreen (right).

Ancient Water

Ancient water is an EXTREMELY light greyish blue. There is no similar color in Shannon. Here it is next to snow white (left), baby blue (middle) and dusty blue (right).

Blue Fog

Blue fog is a light blue and extremely close to JoAnn's zen blue, but not as grey. The closest Shannon color is dusty blue.

Quarry

Quarry is a light cool grey with blue undertones. It's closest to sterling, but much more blue in tone.

Zen Blue

Zen blue is a light grey blue and extremely close to JoAnn's blue fog, but it's more grey/muted in color. The closest Shannon color is dusty blue.

Infinity

Infinity is a muted medium blue. It is nearly identical to french blue.

Insignia Blue

Insignia blue is a dark blue is closest to denim.

Medieval Blue

Medieval blue is a dark purple-y blue. There is no close color in Shannon. Here it is next to indigo (left) and ink (right). I think it's closest to ink, but it's a touch warmer.

Ombre Blue

Ombre blue is an extremely dark grey blue. This color is almost more grey than blue. There is no color close in Shannon. Here it is next to ink (left), navy (middle), and ash (right).

Wisteria

Wisteria is a light purple. It's nearly identical to lavender.

Keepsake Lilac

Keepsake lilac is an antique-y light pinkish purple. It lands betweenwoodrose (left) and rosewater (right). It's like a more purple-y version of rosewater.

Dusky Orchid

Dusky orchid is a very antique-y medium pinkish purple. It lands between wildrose (left) and woodrose (right).

Mulberry Purple

Mulberry purple is a bright cool purple. It's similar to amethyst but more blue.

Warm Sand

Warm sand is VERY close to Shannon sand... but a bit warmer. Appropriate name FTW!

Taupe Grey

Taupe grey is an extremely greyish brown. It's nearly identical to Shannon simply taupe (not taupe).

Charcoal Grey

Appropriately, charcoal grey is a VERY close match to Shannon charcoal (moreso than my camera can capture).

Black

Black is a true black, but it feels cooler than Shannon black.

Big Z Fabric Mochi Minky Color Guide


​My Big Z Fabric mochi minky color guide was a Patreon goal and is a Patron-exclusive guide! You can access the guide for as little as $1:
​
https://www.patreon.com/posts/big-z-fabric-76081898
If you found this guide helpful, consider supporting me on Patreon! I post exclusive plush making content. Or, you can buy me a ko-fi! Thank you very much!