Amigurumi is the Japanese art of knitting or crocheting small stuffed animals and anthropomorphic creatures. The word is derived from a combination of the Japanese words ami, meaning crocheted or knitted, and nuigurumi, meaning stuffed doll.
Stuffed animals are most loved by the little ones, but there are plenty of grown people out there that appreciate a cute little animal made with love. Crocheting stuffed toys is normally worked in the round, and can be tough for beginners.
Now for some amigurumi advice. When working in the round, patterns may start with “SC 3, SC 6 in beginning SC”. Now you are more than welcome to do this, but it may leave a hole at the top of the head, or bottom of the foot. Here is a youtube video with a brief instruction on how to make an adjustable loop. I always use the adjustable loop when making the head, body, and appendages of my little stuffed toys. It keeps the stitches tight, and keeps the fluff and stuff from coming out of the open holes. Another important piece of advice that I can give when constructing amigurumi is crocheting tightly. After making each stitch, you should pull your slack to make the stitch tighter. Here is another video on how to crochet tightly in the round. This keeps your work from stretching out too much, and providing holes in your well crafted toys, making each stitch uniform. She also provides some awesome tips and tricks to improve the look of your stuffed toys.
Panda Bear
You can always swap out colors to fit your own desires. This is a good starter project.
Teddy Bear and Honey
Ana Paula is the creator of this pattern, and she has promoted the art of amigurumi in such a cute and adorable way. If you like her work, check out her etsy store. She sells patterns, and also has published a few books.
Bunny
This bunny pattern is a fantastic one for those of you that have not done this before.
Kitty
This could also be a great addition to home decor. You can always add weighted beads to the inside of the body to help stabilize the animal into position.
Monkey
I love this little monkey, all he is missing is his cymbals. His hat is my favorite part, this is a very fun pattern. The pattern calls for felt for the monkey’s eyes, but i used 6mm safety eyes. Be creative with it!
Turtle
This guy is very versatile. He can be removed from his shell, and is a great toy for children. Just keep in mind that small parts may be harmful for children under 3 years old.
Puppies
These cute puppies would be great for any dog lover, or a child that has been bellowing about wanting a dog. They provide five different breeds: Beagle, Border Collie, Labrador, German Shepherd, and Cavalier King Charles. This pattern is a bit more on the advanced side, and if this is your first time I strongly suggest doing something a bit smaller before taking on this project.
Mouse
This cute mouse is fun, and easy. Good for the beginner. I have added jingle bells to the body before stuffing, and have made them with scrap yarns for my kitty cats. Easy and cheap.
Owl
You can get so creative with this one, use furry yarns or change hook sizes to make them tiny. Owls are becoming a hot thing as of late.
Lamb and Ram
You can make a flock of these guys for your little ones to play with, or make them as stuffers for christmas. I have made these for a friend for a toddlers birthday party as their take home gift instead of candy.
