Colors

Safety eyes come in a plethora of colors to suit any amigurumi project. From classic black and brown to vibrant blues, greens, and even rainbow hues. The options are endless. Consider the color scheme of your amigurumi and choose eyes that complement or contrast with the yarn colors for the desired effect.

Attach the Safety Eyes

If you crochet relatively tightly, you will need to enlarge the stitches a little before attaching the eyes so that you are able to push the stem of the safety eye through the stitch pattern.

To do that, use crochet hooks that are getting thicker and thicker. First insert the crochet hook with which you also crocheted the crochet piece through the place where the eye is to be attached.

Then use larger and larger crochet hooks in the same place until the hole is big enough that you can push the stem through.

Push the eyes through the hole until the eye is flat on the crochet piece. Then slide the safety washer onto the stem on the inside. Push the washer tightly onto the stem until it touches the crochet piece. You have now safely attached the safety eye.

Amigurumi Safety Eyes

Safety eyes are a popular choice for amigurumi makers because they are simple, easy and quick. There’s no skill needed to make the eyes of your crocheted toys look nice. You just pop them on and go.

But if you’ve ever used amigurumi eyes before, you know they can be tough to put on. You also probably know there are safety concerns.

Safety

Many people are rightly concerned about safety for small children when using safety eyes.

Safety eyes really are a misnomer and shouldn’t be used if you’re giving your amigurumi toy to a child under the age of three, who could choke if the eye came off in their mouth.

You’ll find information about alternatives to safety eyes below (Embroidered eyes would be a better option).

Where to Buy Safety Eyes

I have purchased many amigurumi variety size packs on Amazon and all of them have been about the same in quality and price.

Each of them are made of plastic and have been difficult to place the backs on. Some of the backs even popped off very easily.

Recently I decided to test three different brand of safety eyes to see if they were any better.

6060 Eyes

I bought a wide variety of safety eyes from 6060 Eyes and I happy to report that were all of very high quality at reasonable prices.

My order contained four different types of safety eyes:

• 4.5 mm brown
• 4.5 mm solid black
• 4.5 mm amber
• 6 mm clear

We have high quality acrylic and plastic round safety eyes, cat safety eyes, oval safety eyes, frog safety eyes, owl safety eyes, and comical safety eyes.

6060 Eyes

6060 Eyes stresses their focus on safety standards and quality control. The backs of the eyes are metal and don’t come off easily, if at all.

I did find putting the back of the safety eye on to be fiddly, but with a 4.5 mm eye, I can’t imagine it would be easy. I tried pulling the back of the eye off and it wasn’t budging.

Glass Eyes Online

The next company I ordered safety eyes from was Glass Eyes Online. They also have a wide variety of amigurumi safety eyes in sizes and colors.

Remove Safety Eyes

If you are not satisfied with the position of the eyes and you have already fastened your eyes and not yet closed your crochet piece, then there are a few ways to remove them.

The simplest method is to first cut open the safety washer and remove it, peeling it off is usually difficult as it is intended to remain firmly on the eye. As soon as this is cut open and removed you can try to pull the eye out of the crochet piece.

However, if the eye is too tight, you have almost no choice but to cut the stem on the inside as close as possible to the crochet piece and then pull out the rest.

If you have already filled and closed your crochet piece, then you can try to crush the eye with pliers from the outside and then pull it out.

You can then push a new eye through a new stitch, but fastening it with a safety washer from the inside will be impossible until you open your crochet piece again.