What Is Amigurumi
In Japanese, amigurumi refers to knitted or crocheted stuffed dolls. Making amigurumi is a fine art that requires practice and patience. Having a tiny bit of imagination also helps.
Skill Level
Most patterns you will come across will be marked with a skill level to indicate how easy they are to make. If this is your first time making amigurumi it's best to start with an easy pattern and work up to the intermediate and experienced ones.
Materials Needed
This I find very important to say to the beginners "please do not go out to a store or an online shop and buy every single thing related to crocheting". I know you are very enthusiatic, excited and motivated to start and learn crocheting and buy all the colorful hooks and yarns and itsy bitsy helpful thing but I advise you not to hurt your budget. A hobby shouldn't cost you a lot. For example, I love stitch markers. They look very cute and professional. But instead of using a clip, I cut a different color yarn and mark my stitches by using that piece of yarn. Or all the colorful or wooden hooks and scissors, not to forget all the balls of yarn we buy because of its color or touch but we never use it in any of our projects. So stick with the basics. This being said, here are the materials:
- Yarn: Yarns are available in a range of weights from 3-ply to extra chunky. If you are working with thicker yarn, you'll need more yarn than stated in the patterns notes. For more information on choosing and buying yarn I do have a useful guide here Choosing Yarn: Guide. Here is a hook and yarn table both in US and UK terminology
- Crochet hooks: Don't be ovewhelmed by the variety of choice. On each ball of yarn you will find a mention of the matching hook. If you want to make a larger or smaller amigurumi, you will need to choose thinner or thicker yarn and combine that with the right hook size. Do note that for amigurumi you generally use a hook 2 or 3 sizes smaller than what is recommended on your yarn label. Look at the table:
- Stitch marker: A stitch marker is a small clip made of metal or plastic. It’s a simple tool to mark your starting point and give you the assurance that you’ve made the right number of stitches in each round. You mark the last stitch of the previous round with that clip. Or the last stich of the round you worked.
- Stuffing: You can purchase polyester fiberfill at any craft shop. You can also get some tweezers to help with stuffing. Fiberfill is inexpensive, washable and non-allergenic. Be careful not to overstuff your amigurumi as the stuffing might stretch the fabric and show through. If you want the amigurumi to stay upright, using polypropylene granules will help. Never use granules in amigurumi intended for small children! Don't be afraid to give your dolls a squeeze! Stuffing a toy can be trickier than it seems: overstuffing
might stretch the fabric and show through. Too little stuffing gives the toy a sad look, as if the poor thing was deflated. Try to insert small amounts at a time, adding more at a slow pace until you get the right look.
- Pipe cleaners: Pipe cleaners are used in order to make certain parts of the body movable. Pipe cleaners are available in different colors in the crafts shops.
- Safety eyes and noses: Safety eyes and noses are widely available. Be alert when you apply safety eyes because once you put the washer on you won’t be able to pull it off again. So be very careful that the post is where you want it to be before attaching the washer. Alternatively, the features can be embroidered, which is recommended if you’re crocheting for children under the age of three. For embroidery a tapestry needle with a rounded tip is used.
- Scissors: For all your crochet projects it is best for you to get a small, lightweight one with sharp pair.
When making an amigurumi aauge isn't all that important. The size and height of your dolls will depend on the hook and yarn you use A larger hook and thicker yarn will yield a bigger doll.
Crocheting Guide
Facial featuresThere are a great variety of extra elements to decorate crocheted toys: plastic eyes and noses in all colors and sizes, buttons, bows, ribbons, etc. Plastic safety eyes have two parts: the front with a straight or threaded rod, plus a washer that goes inside the toy. If it’s fastened correctly, it’s practically impossible to remove. If you’re afraid that a child can pull them out, you can apply universal glue before placing them on the toy (be careful that the eye is where you want it to be before attaching it!). On the other hand, features can also be embroidered for safety which is the method I use not only for safety but but also for the all natural look.
- Embroidering mouths: Basic embroidery stitches are used for embroidering mouths. Instructions for these patterns specify using yarn; mouths may also be embroidered with fingering weight yarn or embroidery floss. We use straight stitch which is formed by bringing the needle up at point A and taking it down through fabric at point B
Counting stitchesCounting stitches will help you ensure that you are following the pattern correctly. When counting stitches, do not count the slip knot or the loop on the hook. The easiest way to count stitches is to look at the plaited tops. Remember to count your stitches now and then to make sure you have the number of stitches required in the pattern.
Changing color and joining yarnIf you are working stripes of different colors in rows, make the color change in the last stitch of the previous row. Work the stitch prior to the color change up to the last step in which you would draw the yarn through the loop(s) on your hook to complete the stitch. To change colors, YO the hook with your new color and draw the new color through the remaining loop(s) on your hook to complete the stitch. You can then continue on to the next stitch in the new color.
For color changes at the beginning of a new row, complete the stitch in your previous row, and then introduce the new color as you chain 1 and turn. Continue to work with your new color for the next row. For color changes that take place in a slip stitch, simply insert the hook into the old color stitch, YO with the new color, and draw the new color through the loop on your hook to complete your slip stitch and the color change. Try not to cut off any yarn tails that will be needed later on.
For color changes at the beginning of a new row, complete the stitch in your previous row, and then introduce the new color as you chain 1 and turn. Continue to work with your new color for the next row. For color changes that take place in a slip stitch, simply insert the hook into the old color stitch, YO with the new color, and draw the new color through the loop on your hook to complete your slip stitch and the color change. Try not to cut off any yarn tails that will be needed later on.
- Invisible color changeWhen you want to switch from one color to the next, you work to within two stitches before a color change. Make the next stitch as usual, but don’t pull the final loop through. Instead, wrap the new color of yarn around your hook and pull it through the remaining loops. To make a neat color change, you can make the first stitch in the new color a slip stitch instead of a single crochet. Don’t pull the slip stitch too tight or it will be difficult to crochet into in the next round. Tie the loose tails in a knot and leave them on the inside.
Fastening off
When you’ve finished crocheting, cut the yarn a couple of inches / about 20 cm from your last stitch. Pull the yarn through the last loop until it is all the way through. You now have a finished knot. Thread the long tail through a tapestry needle and insert your tapestry needle through the back loop of the next stitch. This way the finishing knot will remain invisible in your finished piece. You can use this piece of yarn to continue sewing the body pieces together. For the most attractive amigurumi position body parts so that color changes are at center back of body.
When you’ve finished crocheting, cut the yarn a couple of inches / about 20 cm from your last stitch. Pull the yarn through the last loop until it is all the way through. You now have a finished knot. Thread the long tail through a tapestry needle and insert your tapestry needle through the back loop of the next stitch. This way the finishing knot will remain invisible in your finished piece. You can use this piece of yarn to continue sewing the body pieces together. For the most attractive amigurumi position body parts so that color changes are at center back of body.
Joining Parts
First, pin together the parts that you want to sew to one another, so you can evaluate the results and adjust if necessary. If possible use the leftover yarn tail from where you fastened off or use a new length of the same yarn color from one of the pieces that you want to join. When the different pieces are open: position the piece on the body and sew all around it, going through the front stitches of both the extremity and the body. When the opening of the different pieces is sewn closed before attaching it to the body, you line up the stitches of one side with the other side and sew through the front loop of one side and the back loop of the other side. Use the same color of yarn as one of the pieces you want to join together. Always make sure pieces are securely attached so that they can’t be pulled off. Make small, neat stitches and try to make them show as little as possible.
First, pin together the parts that you want to sew to one another, so you can evaluate the results and adjust if necessary. If possible use the leftover yarn tail from where you fastened off or use a new length of the same yarn color from one of the pieces that you want to join. When the different pieces are open: position the piece on the body and sew all around it, going through the front stitches of both the extremity and the body. When the opening of the different pieces is sewn closed before attaching it to the body, you line up the stitches of one side with the other side and sew through the front loop of one side and the back loop of the other side. Use the same color of yarn as one of the pieces you want to join together. Always make sure pieces are securely attached so that they can’t be pulled off. Make small, neat stitches and try to make them show as little as possible.
Plus if the instructions are witten as a symbol chart, here is how you can read them:
Always consider the safety of children while making your amigurumi.