Amigurumi, Deconstructed
There's no one way to make amigurumi. And how. They're small and quick to make, so experiment. Experiment lots. Here are some tips you might find handy:
- Amigurumi are made in pieces – the head from the top, down; the body from the bottom, up; the arms from the hand, up; the legs from the foot, up. The head and body end with the same number of stitches so they come together seamlessly when assembled.
- Make sure you don't leave a hole when you start your rounds. Not only will stuffing come out it, your doll will look like it has a hole in its head. Use the Magic Adjustable Ring, or the Amigurumi Double Ring.
- I like to make my dolls without legs or a tail (which can help to prop the doll up once it's assembled). If you prefer legless dolls, too, try putting an inch or two of small, dried beans in the bottom of the body before you stuff it (I like to use black beans [Edited to add: See comments below cautioning against using beans, and for alternative suggestions]). This weighs the doll down and helps it stand up. This is especially important if you make a tiny body and an enormous head, even if you do use legs and a tail. Top-heavy dudes fall over.
- I prefer to put the face on after the doll is stuffed and assembled, because only then do I have a good feel for the proportions of the doll. However, if I'm using store-bought eyes that require me to fasten them to the inside of the head, I obviously have to put them on before I stuff it. Do whatever works best for you.
- Stuff lots. Don't skimp. When you think you've stuffed enough, stuff some more.
- You don't have to weave in your ends. Wahoo! Everything gets hidden inside the doll. Here's what to do:
- For the beginning tail, just keep it inside the body part.
- If you change yarn colors, use what some erroneously call a surgeon's knot. Make a simple knot, but loop the yarn one more time before tightening – like the knot shown here. Then just hide the ends inside when you stuff.
- For the finishing tail, make it long, and use it to sew the part on. When you're done sewing, bring the end through to the other side of the body, pull it somewhat tight, and cut. The end will get sucked back into the body, where it will remain hidden. Use this same technique to hide the ends of any embroidery you do.
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About Kim Werker
About Me:
I'm the founder and creative director of CrochetMe.com. I'm also the editor of Interweave Crochet and the author of Crochet Me.
I love sushi, thunderstorms, mutts, good books, the smell of clean laundry, crocheting funny dolls and monsters, knitting, and spinning.
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I don't know if I can [post this here, as it is a crochet site... But Kivy, here's a tutorial for knitting amigurumi:
http://geckogrrl.wordpress.com/2007/03/30/the-sakura-brothers-amigurumi-...
If you want to crochet them (which I recommend!), basically you just need to chain (and maybe not even that) and single crochet. Check out the Amigurumi Double Ring and/or Magic Adjustable Ring tutorials for how to work the first round. Also, you need to know how to increase and decrease (definitely simpler than they sound!). You might want to learn to slip stitch, too, although if you work in a spiral, you probably won't use that. You should learn to read patterns.
Check out the Crochet Me book. Or you may even find what you need on the forums here. Many yarn companies' websites also offer basic crochet instructions, which will be more than enough to make amigurumi. My favorite is
http://www.lionbrand.com
Click on "Learn to Crochet."
HTH!
CIP (Crochet in Peace)
wahmommy
Thanks for the tutorials!
I love amigurmi but decided to take a slightly more macabre turn with it. I've been making my animals with head wounds, lost appendages and severe body trauma.
Check us out at vagrantaesthetic.etsy.com (all of my animals have sold already so you'll have to check the sold items link)
I can't believe how simple this is. Thanks for the instructions.
here's some tips for tightening a large opening hole if you use the chain start method rather than magic ring.
When chain 2 and then making the centre ring, make sure you do these first stitches over the tail yarn. once this starting ring is done , you can pull the end and it will tighten up the ring.
If you find the hole a little big later on, take the' tail 'yarn from the centre of the ring,
thread in a yarn needle, carefully take the go around the ring through the cemre of your stitches , pull to tighten
HTH :]
(also I shall disagree that amigurumi is small and quick, mine can become quite complex ;)
How cute! Until this article, I had never heard about these little amigurumi! I'm going to go look up patterns for them. Thank you for the information!
I looove this issue :)
I've been designing Amigurumi since getting hooked on them...(and yes, my patterns are for sale)
Your tutorials will be a fantastic resource for those just getting started on the Amigurumi kick :)
Examples of my finished work (knit, crochet and handspun!) can be found at my finished items blog.
Thanks for such a wonderful and fun issue!
Well, this is an excellent guide. I would expect no less from Crochet Me, though. But, unfortunately, there's one
SERIOUS PROBLEM.
Darn those stupid things.
Never, ever, use rice or beans in crochet projects... or as stuffing. Ever. In anything. That's why God made plastic.
Bugs do not invade plastic.
Starchy dried beans, on the other hand, will attract weevils, especially if they get any moisture (even humidity), and potentially other starch eaters as well. Moths and their maggot-like larva, silverfish, and everyone's favorite, cockroaches, too.
They make special beads for this job, and for larger "beans," plastic pony beads or similar will do the trick.
Rice and beans are also unwashable. Meanwhile, plastic is perfectly washable. But the biggest problem remains the fact that, unless you keep your doll in an airtight container (what fun - and bugs are known to get into those, anyway,) sooner or later you're going to have an infestation on your hands, and a piece of garbage where once an adorable amigurumi stood.
Here's hoping you read this, Ms. Werker, and I further hope that you'll find a way to open and de-bean your amigurumi.
PS: The phrase "amigurumi dolls" is redundant. Such a little helper I am. Okay, so some would say pestilential corrector... but redundancy is a pet peeve of mine. I swear if I hear "Sahara desert" one more time, some nasty stuff is goin' down.
Sahara desert peeves me too, and I think panini sandwich is the same thing!
plastic beads too light? Try pie weights. You can find them in kitchen gadget sections in stores, and they are ceramic.
Hi Maryann,
Thanks for the warning! Plastic beads aren't very heavy, though. Do you know of a synthetic substitute that will really weigh the dudes down?
Cheers,
Kim, Ed.
They make plastic 'beans' specifically for this purpose, and you can get them in the craft store. They'll probably be near the polyfil. Unlike plastic beads, they are very heavy,and bade to give a beanbag type feel to stuffed toys.
Kim, I find using Polyfil beads will do the trick - they aren't as heavy as beads, but they help keep my more tip-prone designs from flopping over like they've had too much partying ;) if you know what I mean.
It can sometimes take up to 1/3 of the base to be filled with polyfil beads to make them more stable. I'm also playing with sewing little sandbags for this purpose as the sand is more dense, but it might be prone to getting out in the wash...
*sigh* Beans the polyfil beads are not as heavy as *beans* this is what I get for commenting before coffee ;)
Thanks for the tip! I'll definitely check it out. Sounds like the perfect solution.
Cheers,
Kim, Ed.
perhaps instead of sand you could try rice... not washable, but a hefty helper in the moisture dept, and heavy!?
Ok, I know there is going to be some ridiculously simple answer to this but, in the "head" instructions, round 14, what does "work 2 sc together" mean? Is this the same as work 2 sc in same stitch? Anybody have a clue? Help!
"Work 2 sc together" is a decrease. Work the first single crochet only halfway (i.e., insert your hook in the stitch and pull up a loop), then insert your hook into the next stitch and do the same. There should be 3 loops on your hook. Yarn over and pull the yarn through all three loops. Now you have one stitch in the working round where there are two in the previous round.
what they mean is to decrease one stitch right there. Put the hook in the first stitch, yarn over and pull up, stick the needle in the second stitch, yarn over and pull up. Yarn over and draw through all 3 loops to decrease one stitch
What about using pennies or nuts for weighing them down? Just a few would be heavy.
Hi Bluberri,
Pennies are a terrible shape, since they won't squish around nicely. Peanuts, unfortunately, are food, so might attract bugs. I'm going to hunt down some weighted beads, and I'll report back.
Cheers,
Kim
What about marbles to weigh them down, or those flat clear stones that people put in vases? Or fish tank gravel sewn into a bean bag or in an old nylon stocking?
If you're not planning on throwing it really hard at someone, what about metal sinkers used on fishing rods? They come in all different sizes, and are HEAVY!=)
Am yet to learn enough crochet to make these, but I WILL!
I have logged numerous hours on the net trying to find instructions on how to make Amigurumi's (specifically on how to assemle them with no luck and I finally found it! Many, Many thanks!
Susan
I have been making some of the larger dolls and some of the smaller animals. Check out my babies at http://amysbabies.etsy.com
I made that cute little sleeping cat. My husband said he looks dead. I informed him that the cat was ASLEEP not dead. I sacrificed a Beanie Baby from the thrift store that was really clean but beyond repair (.50). I used the Beanie's pellets in the bottom, lower legs and hands/paws where it needed weighting and used stuffing for the remainder. There are enough pellets left to do many smaller Amigurumi.
Do you have a picture of your sleeping cat? I'd really love to see it.
BB's!! They come in metal and plastic and are sold in small milk carton like containers at Wal-Mart.
Thanks for this AWESOME article.
After I read this, I purchased "Teach Yourself Visually Crochet" and it filled in some questions I had from the "Happy Hooker". I even made a baby sweater, based loosely on the cardigan sweater in the book!
Now on to some ami's. :-)
i bought some of the plastic stuffing beads... but i'm wont to actually use them. won't they fall through?
Hi Heather -- I recently got some, and yes, they did fall through. I'm actually going to stick with dried beans for now. Wool is also organic, and it's easy to take care that it doesn't get infested. Until I find a good synthetic solution, beans it is.
i use aquarium gravel... cheap, heavy, and waterproof...=] i tie it loosely in fabric pouches...
The beans should not fall through as long as you are making your stitches very tight. You should not be able to see ANY stuffing. DO not overstuff. That is one thing you really do not need to do when using poly beads because you are more likely to also damage your stitches.
You can sew a small bag to put the pellets or beads into if you feel they are going to fall out if your stitches are slightly not as tight. You can also use a simple baggie and tie it tightlt than pack it into the middle of a partially stuffed body than stuff around it. Than this way the pellets or steel shot is in the small bag wont be spilling out. Whatever you use should be moisture repellent.
You should not use BB's unless you are using ones that will not rust. BB's when they get wet will rust and leak through your threads and rust through them destroying your entire work. Beans and rice are qually BAD. ANything that attracts rodents or pests is bad news.
Hope this helps a little :)
God bless, Rebecca
Hi - I knit but hate doing small knitting projects (Darn those double-pointed needles!!!). I really want to learn to make Amigurumi figures, but am unsure about what skills I should be trying to develop. Can anyone give me some guidence about what I'm looking for to learn how to do this? Books, stitches, etc?
Thanks!!!!