Is amigurumi hard to make?
Amigurumi, the art of knitting or crocheting small stuffed toys, can be both challenging and rewarding. But are they hard to make? The answer is yes and no!
The ease of making Amigurumi really depends on one main key factor, your level of crochet skill. If you have never picked up a crochet hook before then it would be wise to learn a few basics before you attempt an amigurumi pattern. But that is all you need, a few basic stitches.
The beauty of this technique is that whilst there are over 100 crochet stitches, when making amigurumi we mainly use just one stitch, the double crochet (or the single crochet in US terms). Once you have mastered how to hold the crochet hook and a few of other techniques (the magic ring, the chain stitch, increasing and decreasing), then you’ll be ready to try your first amigurumi pattern.
Even if you are a proficient crocheter already there may be a couple of techniques that are new to you, although they will be easier to pick up, than if you are a beginner.
The Magic Ring
One of the techniques that challenges most people, beginners and expert crocheters, is the magic ring. Most of the pieces in amigurumi start with a magic ring (also known as a magic circle) which is an adjustable loop into which the first stitches are made and then pulled tight to eliminate a hole at the start of each piece. This can take a while to master as it’s a bit fiddly, but when you get it, you’ll wonder how you ever struggled. You can watch my Magic Ring tutorial here.
Read our post about the magic ring and other techniques here.
Working in the round
In traditional crochet, when you come to the end of a round you normally join with a slip stitch in the first stitch to complete. You would then make a chain stitch (or 2 or 3) before continuing with the next round. In amigurumi, when we come to the end of the round we don’t ‘join’ to finish, we work in a continuous spiral, making the next stitch into the first stitch of the previous round. This method means there is no visible seam. It also means that using stitch markers are vital to know where the start of the round is!
Sewing
Most people hate the serving part of amigurumi (me included, which is why my patterns have minimal sewing). Some patterns will need a lot of sewing, some a minimal amount, but it’s usually not completely unavoidable. This just requires practice like anything else, but if you are looking for your first amigurumi pattern, look for something that doesn’t require lots of sewing.
Tips, if you’re new to crochet
Patterns
When looking for a pattern, choose something with simple shapes with not too much to sew together. If there are a lot of small fiddly bits to sew together it will be more challenging. Make sure to choose a beginner friendly pattern.
Research on the designer. A bad pattern could make you fail at the first hurdle. For example, on Etsy, you can look at reviews from customers and that will give you a good idea what their patterns are like. There are some truly amazing designers out there, but unfortunately there are also a lot of scams, especially with AI in the mix now.
Yarns
Next, choose a thicker weight yarn. Chunky yarns are popular in amigurumi right now so finding a pattern that uses it shouldn’t be a problem. The thicker yarn will make it easier to see your stitches and not be too fiddly. If you find a pattern you like that uses thinner yarn, you can still use a thicker yarn, your project will just come out bigger.
Practice makes perfect
Don’t expect your first project to come out looking perfect. A lot of people become disappointed when their toy doesn’t look like the one pictured in the pattern. With practice your projects will become neater and neater. The main reason for this is that your tension will become more even as you get used to holding the hook and the working yarn.
Our beginner’s guide to amigurumi
If you are really keen to make amigurumi but need a little extra help, why not download my Absolute Beginner’s Guide to Amigurumi. It breaks down every technique into small bitesized steps, which you won’t find in a pattern. Find out more about the guide here.
In conclusion
The ease of making Amigurumi is a subjective matter, largely dependent on your current abilities and willingness to learn. If you enjoy crafts and have a knack for crocheting, you might find the process easier than someone who is new to this field. However, with practice and perseverance, anyone can master this beautiful art form.
If you liked this blog post, you may find these useful too:
Amigurumi tips and tricks
All about the yarn (choosing the right yarn for your project).
How to scale amigurumi up or down
