Amigurumi (ami-gu-roo-mi) is the Japanese craft of making small stuffed animals and characters with crochet. The name joins the words for "knitted stuffed toy" in Japanese. Almost all amigurumi use a single consistent technique: you work in continuous rounds of single crochet (sc), crocheting a tight fabric so the stuffing does not show through. You use a hook one size smaller than the yarn label recommends, which closes the gaps between stitches.
The basic vocabulary is small: magic ring start, single crochet, increases (2 sc in one stitch), decreases (sc2tog), and slip stitch to join sections. With just those five techniques you can make any shape. A sphere for a head: start tight, increase for 6 rounds, work even, decrease for 6 rounds. A cylinder for a body or limb: increase for fewer rounds, then work even longer. Most beginners find their first amigurumi takes 4 to 8 hours, and their tenth takes under 2 hours.
Safety is the main concern for toys intended for young children. Use plastic safety eyes only for children over 3. For babies and toddlers, embroider eyes with yarn instead. Polyfill stuffing works for most projects. Pellet stuffing in the bottom adds weight and helps figures stand upright.
What you need
- Yarn
- Sport (CYC 2) or DK (CYC 3) weight for small figures. Worsted (CYC 4) for larger plush.
- Hook
- 2.5 to 3.5 mm for sport; 3.5 to 4.5 mm for DK.
- Skill
- beginner, easy, intermediate
Stitches you will use
- Single CrochetUS: sc / UK: dcThe single crochet (sc) is the most basic crochet stitch, creating a short, dense fabric by inserting the hook, pulling up a loop, and drawing yarn through two loops.
- Slip StitchUS: sl st / UK: ssThe slip stitch is the shortest crochet stitch, used to join rounds, move yarn to a new position without adding height, and finish seams.
- Chain StitchUS: ch / UK: chThe chain stitch is the foundational crochet stitch that creates a series of interlocked loops used to start almost every pattern and to form turning chains at the start of a row.
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