Choosing the Right Yarn

Getting the right yarn for a project is the most important part of crochet. The type of yarn totally change the value of crochet and it’s appearance. I talk a lot about yarn in my post Best Yarn for Crochet Sweaters but here is a breakdown for amigurumi.

2 Types of Yarn based on Material

The kind of yarn you choose is very important and will determine the quality of your item. You want to choose a yarn that is machine washable and will last for a long time.

1. Synthetic Yarn – These are yarn made with synthetic material. Specialty yarn like yarn with sequence, faux fur, nylon, etc. And also inexpensive yarn like acrylic and polyester.
2. Natural Fibers – Yarn made from natural resources like plants or animals. These are yarn like wool, cotton, bamboo, alpaca, etc. Natural yarn usually costs more than synthetic yarn BUT does not mean it is the best yarn for amigurumi, so keep on reading.

To get the best of both worlds a great option would be to consider blended yarn. Blends like cotton blends, bamboo blends, wool blends, acrylic blends, etc are both cost efficient and have potential for good stitch definition.

Best Yarn Weight for Amigurumi

Amigurumi is 3D that means you are going to fill the object with polyester. In order to have a clean plush (no one wants fiber coming out between stitches) you need to make sure use an appropriate hook size.

Use tight stitches to avoid fiber fill from coming out AND to make sure you secure safety eyes properly – if you are using them. You can either adjust your tension of switch to a smaller hook size.

Important things to consider when choosing amigurumi yarn:

Before choosing what yarn to use, consider who you are making them for. If you are going to make them for young children, you might want to choose a softer fiber. Soft yarns are safe choices for babies.

People with sensitive skin also need special yarn. Maybe consider using a natural fiber or a soft polyester or acrylic yarn. Make sure to ask the person you are making the gift for what the best fiber is for them.

Make sure you choose a yarn that is machine washable if you are making objects that will tend to be carried all around or put into mouths (like dolls or crochet toys). Check everything on the yarn label and see if you are able to throw it in the washing machine

Popular amigurumi art:

Amigurumi Dolls

Amigurumi dolls are very popular on Pinterest and Instagram because of how much detail goes into them.

Amigurumi Cartoon Characters

Cartoon characters are BIG for amigurumi artists. Many people seek crocheters who can make amigurumi characters for gifts because specific toys can be hard to find.

Take the Baby Yoda phase for example. No one really anticipated Baby Yoda to be such a hit and no toys were manufactured right away. So what did people do? They flocked to Etsy and to crocheters to look for someone who could make a Baby Yoda.

Amigurumi Toys

These come in all different forms from amigurumi animals, play food, baby toys, etc. Just about anything under the sun can be transformed into a super cute kawaii amigurumi toy.

Best Yarn for Amigurumi

Amigurumi is exploding in popularity throughout the world. The adorable designs and bright colors turn into an enjoyable crochet project for all ages.

If you’re new to amigurumi, you may be wondering what yarns are best. Here we will cover everything you need to know about choosing a good amigurumi yarn and give you some of our recommendations.

What is amigurumi?

The art of amigurumi is gaining lots of popularity! It is the art of making small 3D objects through crochet or knitting. This post talks more about amigurumi crochet.

In a nutshell, amigurumi is the art of crocheting (or knitting) small, 3-D figures or plush toys like animals, people, or objects.

On her site, Martha Stewart explained a brief history of amigurumi and shared “The word itself is derived from the Japanese words “ami,” meaning to knit or crochet, and “nuigurumi,” meaning stuffed doll.”

When making amigurumi, fiber artists experiment making cute shapes to add to the pieces dimension. The amount of detail that some amigurumi objects have is their total selling point and what makes it a true art.