How to Crochet Amigurumi Animals

Amigurumi is the perfect crochet craft for beginners.

Amigurumi, the Japanese art of making crocheted or knitted toys, creates cute animals, dolls and shapes. Often, patterns proportion the head as much larger than the limbs, or give the animal or object a cute face. Amigurumi is the perfect crocheting craft for beginners, as the small scale of the project means they require few materials and take little time to complete. Crafters can use any type of yarn, provided it doesn't stretch too much.

Things You'll Need

• Size H/5mm crochet hook
• 1 or 2 colors of 4-ply yarn
• Yarn marker
• Polyester fiberfill
• Tapestry needle
• 2 buttons

Instructions

Main body

1. Form two single crochets and place the hook in the first stitch. Wrap the yarn over the hook and pull it through. Repeat this process with the second stitch. Wrap the yarn around the hook and slide on all the loops. This procedure is called the single crochet decrease.

2. Work a chain of three and join it. Form six single crochets in a loop without joining them. Each time, keep the first single crochet at the top of the previous round without joining it.

3. Add two single crochets to each of the previous. Note the final stitch by marking it with the yarn marker. Add one single crochet to each of the previous.

4. Add one single crochet to the next stitch, increasing to two for the next and then three to the following. Continue this pattern until you reach six single crochets.

5. Attach one single crochet around each of the previous. Repeat this a further six times. Fill the body with the fiberfill.

6. Complete two more single crochet decreases. Cut the yarn and fasten the loose end, using the tapestry needle, by weaving it through the final stitch closing the gap. Knot and sew a couple stitches to fasten the yarn. Sew the yarn along the middle of the body and cut off the rest of the yarn.

Ears

1. Create the ears by working a magic ring and one chain. Work four single crochets to the magic ring.

2. Add a single crochet to each stitch round and repeat. Join a slipstitch to the next stitch and secure the remaining yarn using the tapestry needle.

3. Cut the yarn, leaving enough to attach the ears to the head. Repeat this process to form the second ear. Sew both ears to the head using a whip stitch.

Legs

1. Form a magic ring and one chain. Connect five single crochets to the magic ring.

2. Attach a single crochet to each stitch round and repeat three times. Work a slipstitch to the following stitch and secure the yarn, leaving enough to join the legs to the body.

3. Repeat the procedure a further three times, or as many as you wish, to complete the legs of the animal. Stuff the legs with fiberfill and sew them to the body with a whip stitch.

Snout

1. Create a snout for your animal if you wish. Start with a magic ring and one chain. Work five single crochets to the magic ring followed by two single crochets to each stitch round.

2. Switch to the other color of yarn. Add a single crochet to every stitch round and repeat.

3. Connect a slipstitch to the next stitch and cut and secure the yarn, leaving enough to attach the snout to the head. Sew the snout to the head with a whip stitch, filling it with fiberfill before closing the gap.

Tail and Eyes

1. Form a tail for your animal if you wish. Make a chain at the length you desire the tail.

2. Attach the tail to the body by weaving the end of the yarn through the chains. Knot and fasten the end of yarn to the body with the tapestry needle.

3. Sew button eyes to the head. Knot and fasten the yarn to the head.

References

• Crochet Geek; Amigurumi Crochet Mouse; March 22, 2009
• Homemade Zen; Free Amigurumi Crochet Pattern: Little Pig; Feb 16, 2011
• Homemade Zen; What is Amigurumi?; April 6, 2011