Japanese Crochet

In case you haven't heard, crocheters around the world are going wild for "amigurumi," or Japanese crochet. They're not making afghans or sweaters; rather, they're making cute, colorful little animals, flowers and dolls. The operative words here are "cute" and "little." When the project is finished, many amigurumi patterns will yield a friendly wee toy that will fit neatly in the palm of your hand.

Considerations

Japanese crochet requires a few basic supplies. If you already crochet, you probably have most of them in your workbox. Naturally, you're going to need yarn and a crochet hook (size E or F). Most projects will work up nicely in brightly colored, soft worsted weight yarn. Be bold when choosing the yarn--use your own artistic tastes to put together the perfect combination of colors for your toy. You'll need fiberfill stuffing and embroidery floss or crochet cotton for working facial features and other details. Don't forget all the sequins, fake fur and button eyes.

Size

The whole point of amigurumi figures is cuteness. Most crafters create adorable creatures with large heads and sweet faces atop little bitty bodies. You will find patterns for larger dolls, but it's clear that much of the critters' cuteness comes from their diminutive size.

Identification

Fans report that Japanese crochet toys are very easy to make, really nothing more than circles/spheres of single crochet stitches. In most cases, the rounds aren't joined with a slip stitch. Instead, they are more of a continuous spiral. This design element makes it important that you mark the beginning/end of your rows with a stitch marker so you can count rows.

Potential

Beginners might want to work a first project in worsted weight yarn using a size E or F hook. If the combination sounds wrong, remember that your stitches must be very tight to keep the stuffing from peeking through. When you work on your first amigurumi, try something simple like a cupcake or a piece of fruit to get the hang of the craft.

Expert Insight

You can find Japanese crochet pattern books galore. Look for these English-language titles at your local library or book store: "Amigurumi! Super Happy Crochet Cute" by Elisabeth A. Doherty; "Amigurumi" by Annie Obaachan; "Mr. Funky's Super Crochet Wonderful" by Narumi Ogawa; and "Amigurumi World" by Ana Paula Rimoli.