Everything you need to know about Amigurumi

Amigurumi is the Japanese craft of crocheting small stuffed toys, such as animals, food, creatures and more. Here is all you need to know, including how to start it as a craft & hobby

 

 

You may have seen all those cute little crocheted animals, pieces of food (such as donuts, avocados etc), and weird (but cute) looking creatures around for some time now.

They are all crocheted and made with a type of crochet called Amigurumi.  This is a type of crochet that differs from ‘regular’ crochet.  The name Amigurumi is actually a Japanese word that means “A crocheted soft toy”.

These small stuffed toys can take many different forms and can be all kinds of different objects.  They can be animals, play food, dolls, certain creatures, and so much more.

Amigurumi is a perfect craft for beginners – because it is fast to do, and you really only need to know a few stitches to get started. But it is equally a great craft for seasoned experienced crocheters too.

This form of crocheting is thought to have originated in China, but was later adopted by Japan – hence the Japanese name.  The Japanese used this technique to create all kinds of fashion embellishments.  This later turned into creating objects such as toys.

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What is the Difference Between Regular Crochet & Amigurumi?

With regular crochet you are basically creating 2D shapes, whereas with Amigurumi you are creating 3D shapes (creations that are crocheted and then stuffed).

With regular crochet you are creating things to wear, blankets, throws and more. Whereas with Amigurumi you are creating a shape that is stuffed, and not flat like regular crochet.

Kawaii Culture & Style & Amigurumi

Kawaii culture started to be prominent in the 1970s, and this culture lended itself so well to Amigurumi. There are now so many cute Kawaii creation ideas and designs with Amigurumi.

Kawaii culture means all things cute – such as miniature toys, cartoon characters, and play food. Popular Kawaii inspired Amigurumi toys include Hello Kitty for example.

Therefore the marriage of Kawaii culture and Amigurumi was a fantastic one that has allowed so much more imagination and creativity with this form of crochet.

How to do Amigurumi

Amigurumi is basically crochet.  It generally creates a round form, which is then stuffed and sewed to create the object that is desired and is in a 3D format.

Amigurumi uses a crochet technique known as The Magic Circle.  This technique basically crochets a round without a hole in the middle. It is one of the easiest crochet techniques to master, and it is great for beginners to learn.

Image by Anna Doshechko from Pixabay

Tools Needed for Amigurumi

You really don’t need many tools or much equipment at all to start Amigurumi.  The main tools and equipment that you will need are:

Crochet Hooks

Smaller crochet hooks are needed for Amigurumi, because the objects being created are much smaller. 

The stitches also need to be far tighter, with a tight gauge, as you are creating an object that will be stuffed – therefore you don’t want gaps for the stuffing to poke through the stitches.

Stitch Markers

Stitch markers are great to use as a reference when crocheting. They can help keep your spot in your pattern and mean that you don’t have to keep re-counting your stitches.

Yarn

Cotton yarn is the ideal yarn to use for Amigurumi.  This type of yarn will give you a really nice pattern and will clearly define stitches.

Acrylic yarn can also be used.  Acrylic yarn is less expensive than cotton yarn and is also softer.

You just don’t want a yarn that is too fluffy – as that can be extremely difficult to work with. As you are using a small hook for this type of crochet you need to use yarn that you can work with easily.

Stuffing

Stuffing can be made of anything, as long as it is soft.  It can be polyester, fabric, wool or cotton.

Pipe Cleaners or Floral Wire

Pipe cleaners and floral wire are used to make your creations posable. They add movement to your project.

Photo by Daria Nepriakhina 🇺🇦 on Unsplash

Where to Learn Amigurumi

There are numerous places to learn Amigurumi. You can view YouTube videos, consult books, sign up for an online class, and more.

Where to Find Amigurumi Patterns

One of the best places to find Amigurumi patterns is Etsy. They have an abundance of patterns from all different sellers, for all kinds of Amigurumi creations. Here are some of my favorite patterns:

 

If you want to start a new craft hobby that has a small learning curve, and has small projects to start with, Amigurumi is a great yarn craft to learn and start!

 

Amigurumi is the Japanese craft of crocheting small stuffed toys, such as animals, food, creatures and more. Here is all you need to know, including how to start it as a craft & hobby