Amigurumi means “knitted or crocheted doll” in Japanese. They're the simplest of simple, worked in the round in single crochet. I don't even join my rounds, preferring to work in a spiral. The thing I love most about amigurumi is that their interest lies entirely in your imagination. There's no clever design detail to woo your keen eye. No lovely stitch pattern to make you go “ah.” Just rounds of single crochet. The fun comes in the shapes you make, the colours you pick, and the embellishments you add on after the fact.

To illustrate, check out the banner photo up there. Each Crochet me designer used the exact same pattern. So, my point has been made, no? We can't wait to see what you'll create. Share photos of your own Amigurumi Dudes on the Flickr group.

Edited to add: Use common sense when making toys for young kids. 

• Yarn and a complementary hook
• Polyfil for stuffing
• Beans (optional, for weighing down legless dudes)
• Yarn needle for finishing
• Embroidery needle (optional, for fitting through small holes in eyes and/or buttons)
• Embellishments, as desired

Variable. This pattern calls for a pretty enormous head. Mine (the purple dude with the headband) was worked in Lion Brand Chunky yarn with a 5.0mm hook, and the head measures 4" in diameter and a whopping 14" in circumference. (This is the same size as an infant's head.) Adjust yarn weight and hook size according to your whim.

Gauge is unimportant. Your stitches should be tight enough that stuffing won't poke through.

Head

Start with an adjustable loop.

Round 1: Work 6 sc into loop (join or do not join -- it's your call); tighten the loop.

Once upon a time there was a little inchworm named Inga. She was bright green and lived underneath a rhododendron shrub. Like all inchworms, Inga was obsessed with measuring. She meticulously counted every step, every bit of progress. She measured it against previous progress. She forecasted it against future progress. Of course, all of this calculating made her very critical of herself.

One day as Inga was having her breakfast, a beautiful brown moth landed on the leaf next to her. "Hello, moth!  How does the world look from way up in the sky?" "It looks wonderful!" replied the moth. "You should go up to the top of the rhododendron and see it!" "Oh, I could never make it all the way up there," Inga sighed.  "I'm far too slow, and each step is so small…" "Nonsense!" laughed the moth. "Let go of all those judgments you hold against yourself. Even inchworms can eventually fly!"

Inga thought about what the moth said all night. But she couldn't stop judging, measuring, recording.

The next morning Inga felt wonderful. She stretched and yawned… and when she looked down she realized she'd grown wings! She had finally grown into a moth! Inga zoomed into the air, twice as high as the shrub, and looked down on the entire world. She had let go of her calculations and self-judgments, and was free!

• Bright green (or brown) worsted weight yarn
• Size H/5.0mm hook
• Small amount of black yarn
• Yarn needle
• Small amount of Polyfil stuffing

One size.

Gauge is unimportant, but stitches should be tight.

You will be working in a spiral without joining rounds.  Place a stitch marker at the beginning of each round to help keep track.

The turning chain in the short rows does not count as a stitch.

Ch – chain
Sl st – slip stitch
Sc – single crochet
St(s) - stitch(es)
Fpsc – front post single crochet
Tr – treble
Sc2tog – single crochet 2 stitches together

Head

Make 6 sc into an adjustable loop.

Round 1.  Work 2 sc in each st around (12 sts).

When I was young we had a set of little, simple finger puppets that my mom would pull out of her purse for us to play with when we had to sit still and be quiet. You know, at the doctor's office, at church, in the car... Now that I'm a mom, I decided that I wanted to make a set. I grew increasingly frustrated, however, with the absolute lack of good finger puppet patterns available. "Come on, people!" I thought. "How hard can it be to design such a little thing?" At which point I bonked myself on the forehead and pulled out some yarn.

I was right - it was easy.

These patterns are great for using up bits and pieces of yarn that are too big to just (gasp!) throw away, but too small to use for a larger project. (Can't even get a potholder out of it? No problem.) They're also a fantastic use for all of that yucky, stiff, worsted weight yarn you bought when you started crocheting and didn't know better -- of course, if you bought a lot of it, you're going to have to make a finger puppet army, aren't you? At any rate, the crocheting in this pattern is simple -- almost all single crochet, and so suitable for the beginner who is sick of granny squares and scarves, but hopefully interesting enough to make a fun diversion for the more experienced crafter. I know it was for me!

• Yarn: No specifics here! Small amounts of various colors in 4-ply worsted weight. Clean out that closet! (I used Red Heart Super Saver.)
• US G-6 hook (4.25mm)
• A yarn needle
• A teeny amount of stuffing or fiberfill.

12 sc x 16 rows = 4”x4”

US terminology used throughout:
ch = chain
sc = single crochet
dec = decrease
hdc = half double crochet
dc = double crochet
lp = loop
rnd = round
sk = skip
sl st = slip stitch
st = stitch

All decreases in these patterns are worked by drawing up a loop from each of the next 2 stitches, yarn over and draw through all 3 loops. Join the end of each round with a slip stitch to the first st in the round.

Dragon

What could be cooler t

This friendly character flits about in striped tights, a sheer skirt with bells (of course), a cozy sweater, and a little flower cup hat. She is worked entirely in single crochet in the round in the style of Japanese amigurumi. You can play with her shaping, colors, accessories and trimmings to create any little imp you might want to have visiting this winter. I’ve used easily accessible worsted weight yarns, but I encourage you to try to make your own Sprite with stash yarns and fabric scraps you might have about. Also, she doesn’t take much, so if you do buy yarn, you’ll be able to make friends for everyone on your list.

• One ball each of the following:
• Red Heart TLC Essentials (Acrylic, 6oz) in Claret (dark red), Dk Thyme (dark green), and Med. Thyme (sage green)
• Caron Wintuk (Acrylic 3oz, 150yards/137meters) in Fisherman (cream)
• Sensations Beautiful (49% Acrylic, 51% Nylon 1-3/4oz, 71 yards/65 meters) in Off White (fuzzy white)
• A tiny piece of bright red yarn for the mouth.
  (All of these are worsted weight and you can substitute as you like.)
• 5.0mm (size H/8) crochet hook
• Tapestry or yarn needle
• Sewing needle
• Sewing pins
• Scissors
• A candle
• Green, light brown, and light pink sewing thread
• Felt scraps in light pink and forest green
• 12” (30cm) square of light green organza
• 20” (50cm) square of green tulle
• 4 3/8” gold bells
• 2/3 yard gold trim
• Pair of 3/8” animal or doll eyes
• Polyester fiberfill for stuffing

Head measures 4” (10cm) long.

Doll measures 18” (35cm) tall.

Don’t worry about your gauge, but your stitches should be tight enough to provide a stiff fabric that won’t leak stuffing!

Inc – Increase: work 2 stitches into the same space

Dec – Decrease: work 2 stitches from previous round together

Important: Crocheted dolls and animals make great gifts for kids. Think of all the fun textures and colors you could incorporate! This sprite isn’t for kids though, due to her delicate decorations. If you want to make a kid-friendly version, please consider the following: Don’t include anything that can be swallowed. Details should be embroidered or sewn on securely, and they should be flat (like felt cheeks). Clothing should be durable and fun to put on and take off or sewn on completely. Do use color changes to create clothing or details rather than adding them after.  You can add squeakers or music players inside too! Do sew arms and legs on with several passes. Be especially careful with items for kids under 3 years old, because they are the most likely to chew and pull and swallow!

The Pattern

Head and Body

Beginning at the top of the head with your skin color (mine is the Wintuk Fisherman)  make a yarn loop over two fingers twice and pull up a loop i