How to crochet amigurumi: photos of toys, choice of material, knitting basics, instructions for work and tips from craftswomen

2024 Author: Sierra Becker | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-26 03:46

Knitting amigurumi toys is a real art. These cute creatures managed to conquer the whole world: someone likes to receive them as a gift, and someone likes to knit. Fashion for amigurumi does not pass for a long time, and it is unlikely to pass.

Crochet amigurumi toys

The art of amigurumi originated in Japan. This is a way of crocheting or knitting miniature toys, little men, animals, etc.

Initially, amigurumi toys differed from others in appearance and miniature size. They had an exaggeratedly large head or limbs compared to the rest of the body.

Subsequently, the term "amigurumi" began to be used to name simply knitted toys. The only thing they have in common is the knitting technique - in a spiral, without lifting loops, which helps to ensure an almost invisible seam.

Amigurumi ring

Knitting any knitted toy, if it is voluminous and not flat, begins with an amigurumi ring.

So what is an amigurumi ring and how to knit it correctlycrochet?

Since amigurmi are miniature toys, their size started from 3-5 centimeters, a special knitting technique was invented so that the ugly seam that forms when the rows pass and there was no large hole at the beginning of the knitting detail was invented.

The question of how to crochet an amigurumi ring is very relevant for beginners. In our article, we have selected the best options, more on that later.

First you need to take any threads and a slightly thinner hook than indicated on the yarn label. This is done in order to increase the density of knitting.

How to crochet an amigurumi ring: a step-by-step master class

The whole secret of the “magic ring” is that the columns should not be knitted into a connected chain of air loops or into the first loop of the chain, but into a thread wound around the finger (sliding loop). Having knitted the required number of columns, you just need to pull the end of the thread - and the ring will tighten.

When knitting in the first loop of the chain, the result was a rather large hole, which is very inconvenient for toys, as the filler is knocked out. That's why we came up with this simple and ingenious way.

Selection of materials

Talking about how to crochet amigurumi, it is impossible to get past this topic. The choice of materials in our time is huge, just a paradise for needlewomen, there would be time for your favorite pastime.

So, yarn. For knitting toys, almost any thread is used: acrylic, cotton, wool, wool mixture, interesting resultsfantasy yarn toys (grass, chenille, pompom yarn, etc.). But you need to start with simple yarn, leaving fantasy for later, when experience appears.

It must be taken into account that the quality of the toy will also depend on the quality of the thread: cute little animals can turn out from very cheap acrylic, but in just a few days they will become covered with spools, lose their appearance and shape, or share their color with the owner, leaving colored spots on the baby's arms, on his clothes and bed.

And vice versa, more expensive threads, such as mercerized cotton, make pleasant to the touch and beautiful toys (unless, of course, the quality of knitting is at the level).

The main knitter's tool, with which toys are created, is a hook. You need to choose it very carefully, as it will be a shame if the tool breaks during operation.

You need to start with the manufacturer, choosing the optimal price category: from cheap Chinese (30-50 rubles apiece) to Japanese ones with a price of 300-500 rubles. and higher for the hook.

The materials from which the hooks are made are also different: metal, plastic, wood, etc.

It is important to pay attention to the fact that the hook does not have notches, chips, cracks and in no case bends, since when knitting toys, a high density of the fabric is needed, respectively, the hook has a strong pressure from the hands of the craftswoman. And if he does not resist this pressure, he will simply break. Based on the experience of craftswomen, the most convenient and durable hooks for knitting toys are steel hooks without handles.

Amigurumi basics

Amigurumi toys are mostly crocheted, but you can also knit - it's a matter of taste.

Any novice craftswoman who has at least learned to crochet a little can cope with knitting, you just need to master reading patterns, they are usually simple.

When knitting amigurumi, the simplest techniques are used, that is, basic knowledge and skills are quite enough: how to knit single crochets, how to make decreases and increases, how to change the thread.

The toy consists of separately connected parts, which are then sewn together, each part is stuffed separately.

Knitting begins with an amigurumi ring ("magic" ring). All parts are knitted in a spiral, without lifting loops, single crochet, for both halves of the loop (unless otherwise indicated in the diagram).

The parts are sewn together with the same thread that was used when knitting the toy. If for some reason it does not fit (it breaks quickly, cannot withstand tension, or is too thick, etc.), you can use thin fishing line or dental floss, or divide the thread from which the toy was knitted into several separate strands.

First amigurumi

When you see these cute creatures, the question always arises: "How to crochet amigurumi?" For beginners, it is better to choose a simpler toy, without small details. For example, a mouse, a hedgehog, Kolobok. When the first skills appear and it becomes clear how to crochet amigurumi, you can take on more difficult toys.

Instructions forknitting duckling

Let's start our acquaintance with this technique with a duckling figurine. The bright cute toy will please the baby, and the work is not very difficult.

How to crochet amigurumi? A step-by-step master class is presented in the photo below.

Toy assembly

Having figured out the basic principles of how to crochet amigurumi and tying all the details of the toy, you can start assembling. This is the most crucial stage, since the parts must be fixed firmly, preferably with an invisible seam. They need to be arranged symmetrically, previously pinned with safety pins in the intended places. By changing the location of the eyes, ears, nose, you can change the expression on the face of the doll or the muzzle of the little animal.

The legs, handles, tail are attached in the same way.

You need to attach the details first with pins, see if the eyes and ears are in place or if they need to be moved a little, and only then sew on. This will save the novice craftswoman from having to redo the finished work.

It is necessary to sew on details carefully, first having studied how experienced craftsmen do it, because there are many secrets:

• how to sew on separate parts (head, arms, legs);
• how to hide the thread at the beginning and end of work;
• what to do so that the filler of the toy does not get out, and how to distribute it evenly.

Toy decor

Having finished knitting and assembling the toy, you can start decorating it without limiting your imagination.

You can use anything as materials: pieces of fabric, leather, braid, beads, beads - there are a lot of options.

When decorating a toy or preparing clothes for it, you need to remember who the product is intended for.

If for a small child, then special attention should be paid to fastening parts, the filler should allow the toy to be washed frequently without harming the appearance. Do not use cotton wool, cardboard, etc.

A few tips from experienced craftsmen

• When knitting parts in a circle, be sure to use markers indicating the beginning or end of the row. It can be a thread of a different color, a pin, or special markers that can be bought at the store.
• Starting work on knitting a circle, the remaining end of the thread must be knitted into the fabric, simply putting it on top of the columns of the previous row.
• At the end of the work, the remaining ends of the thread are hidden in this way: they take a needle, thread the rest of the thread into it and stitch the details through. This is done several times, but you need to make sure that there are no dented places left, this spoils the look of the toy. When a small tail remains, the needle and thread are slightly pulled and cut off, the thread should hide inside the part in the filler.
• Only a special synthetic filler is suitable: several varieties of holofiber (comforel, sintepuh, etc.) have now been developed. The synthetic winterizer is inconvenient to distribute inside the toy.
• Do not use leftover threads, pieces of fabric, cotton andstuff like that.
• You need to stuff quite tightly, but so that the knitted fabric does not stretch and the filler does not look through.
• When filling small parts, it is very convenient to use tweezers.
• In order not to abandon knitting after the very first toy, you need to choose the easiest pattern for the first product. When it will already turn out well, then you can take on more complex models.