Amigurumi

What is Amigurumi?

Amigurumi (Japanese: 編みぐるみ, amigurumī, lit. "crocheted or knitted stuffed toy") is the Japanese art of crocheting or knitting small, stuffed yarn creatures. The word is a compound of the Japanese words 編み ami, meaning "crocheted or knitted", and 包み kurumi, literally "wrapping", as in 縫い包み nuigurumi "(sewn) stuffed doll".

Amigurumi vary in size and there are no restrictions about size or look. They can be made from any type of yarn, but are most commonly made from acrylic yarn because it is soft and affordable. They can also be decorated with a variety of materials, such as buttons, beads, and felt.

How are they typically done?

Amigurumi are typically worked in rounds, starting with a magic ring. The stitches are worked in a spiral, so there is no need to join each round. This makes amigurumi a relatively easy craft to learn, even for beginners.

Once the amigurumi is complete, it is stuffed with a soft material, such as polyester fiberfill. The eyes and nose are usually made from safety eyes or felt. Amigurumi can be made to look like any animal or character, and they are often given as gifts or used as decorations.

Here are some Amigurumi keychains I have made in the past