Hook and Needles: Knitting and Crochet Blog (cool stuff, techniques, and things I find)

In the first amigurumi tutorial I went over the basic crochet techniques needed to make amigurumis. In the second installment, I explained the most common types of patterns, and how to read them. In this final amigurumi tutorial I’ll cover some additional techniques often used when making amigurumis.

Other Crochet Stitches

Although most amigurumis are made with the single crochet stitch shown in the first tutorial, you are often required to use other stitches to shape your doll. The following is not an inclusive list (for that go to Nexstitch’s crochet video tutorials), but simply some of the stitches that you are likely to encounter when crocheting amigurumis. Next to the name of each stitch I’ve included the abbreviation(s) used in patterns (I’m using the American naming conventions, which differs from the British).

Slip Stitch (sl st)

Half Double Crochet (hdc)

Double Crochet (dc)

Triple Crochet also known as Treble Crochet (trc or tr)

Font Post or Front Loop, Back Post or Back Loop (fl or fp, bl or bp)

Working with Color

You’ll often want to add a splash of color to your projects. The following video shows how to change color yarns. PlanetJune also has a Colour Changes in Amigurumi tutorial.

If you are working in stripes, you’ll want them to be as joggles as possible. To do so, you need to stop working on a spiral and start working in rows. The technique in the next video is not perfect, but it gives better results than working in spirals.

If you find a better way to the joggles stripes, let me know.

Adding Faces

Your amigurumi won’t be complete until you add a cute face to it. There are different ways to do this, the following video explains some of them.

Keep safety in mind. If your amigurumi is for a small child or a baby, stick to using yarn or felt for eyes. Buttons or safety eyes may be a choking hazard.

Also, as I mentioned in the video, I’m not very good when it comes to embroidery, but I found a needlepoint site that has the best videos and tutorials I’ve seen on the subject: Needle’nThread.com’s Video Library (especially the Satin Stitch tutorial).

As for human dolls, Owlishly has an excellent Amigurumi Hair Tutorial, you should check it out. I’m lazy, so what I’ve done for quick and easy hair is a tassel.

Most patterns will tell you when you need to work on the face. You’ll usually be adding the eyes, mouth, nose and muzzle when you are around two thirds into making the head, but it really depends on what you are making. The key is to be able to do it while it’s still comfortable for you to do so (the opening it big enough).

Finishing your project

Most likely, your amigurumi will be made of more than one piece, so the last step is to sew them together. This process is easier if you leave long tails on every piece you finish (so don’t cut the tail short after you bind off).

Crochet Me has an excellent tutorial on Assembling Amigurumi. Planetjune also has a very good tutorial on Joining Amigurumi. The key is to do it slowly and with care so they join shows as little as possible. Use pins to hold a rebellious piece in palce.

Closing words

My advice to you is to take your time. Start with small projects. Practice your stitches until you get even tension thought your work. It will make your amigurumis look much nicer, and you’ll be happier with the results. But remember that amigurumis are toys, so you should be having fun making them.

Don’t stress, enjoy!

Go to Amigurumi Tutorial 1, Amigurumi Tutorial 2