Amigurumi für Anfänger

Introduction to the world of amigurumi: crochet fun for beginners
Do you also want to start crocheting but don't know where to begin? Then you've come to the right place! In this introduction, you'll learn all about the fascinating world of amigurumi, the Japanese craft that involves crocheting or knitting adorable little figures such as animals, food and even monsters. We will take you on an exciting journey where you will learn very simple crochet techniques and create adorable amigurumi at the same time. Let's dive into the creative world of crochet together!

Amigu..what? What exactly is amigurumi?
The term "amigurumi" comes from Japanese and is a combination of the words "amu" (knit, crochet) and "nuigurumi" (stuffed toy). Basically, it describes the art of crocheting or knitting stuffed toys that are then filled with absorbent cotton or other material.

Typically, amigurumis are small and come in a kawaii style, characterized by large heads and cute features. These miniatures are perfect as decorations or as gifts from Christmas tree ornaments or key rings.

The techniques required to crochet amigurumis
The special thing about amigurumis is that you don't need to be an experienced crocheter to get started. Basic techniques such as single crochet stitches are completely sufficient. A single crochet is abbreviated to "dc" in most instructions, and there are only few other techniques that are important: Air stitch, slip stitch, increase and decrease.

What materials do you need?
To crochet your first amigurumis, you will need the following items: a crochet hook, yarn or wool, filling material and a darning needle. You can also give free rein to your creativity when it comes to decoration, for example with embroidery yarn, buttons or pieces of felt.

Finding the right crochet hook
Crochet hooks are available in various materials. Metal and plastic have proven to be the best, as they fulfill the requirements just mentioned, i.e. they are light and stable at the same time. The tip of the crochet hook should also be super smooth.

Crochet hooks are available in different thicknesses. The thickness of the crochet hook must match the yarn so that the desired stitch pattern is achieved later. Thick crochet hooks naturally produce larger stitches, while thinner ones can be used to crochet more delicate work. However, it is always advisable to test which crochet hook size will produce the desired stitch pattern before starting work. You should not blindly follow instructions or the information on yarn labels. In addition, everyone has their own crochet style and the stitches will be looser for some and tighter for others. It therefore makes sense to make a test piece before actually crocheting. Crochet hooks of 2.0 and 3.5 gauge are usually an advantage for amigurumi.

Which wools and yarns are best suited for amigurumi?
Typical amigurumi-yarn is a cotton yarn with a smooth, silky matt shiny thread. You can use the Gründl wool"Cotton Quick uni" with a needle size 3.0 - 4.0. Or you can use one of the crochet kits in our online store for your amigurumi project.

What material is used to fill amigurumis?
Filling wadding maintains the shape and stability of your amigurumis. It is soft, washable and stays lump-free. For creative accents, you can use beads, buttons and embroidery twist are available.

The right accessories for finishing
Before you are finished, you will need a darning needle to sew the individual parts. You can also discover our creative options for face design and other materials you may be looking for in our online store.

Start your amigurumi project now
Do you want to become a real amigurumi master? Then equip yourself in our VBS-Online store with everything you need and start your creative journey today! You can also use our other amigurumi instructions for crocheting a thread ring and for the basic ball shape.

Have fun crocheting!