Amigurumi for Beginners

BeginnerTechniques Updated 2026-10-28

What Is Amigurumi?

Amigurumi is the Japanese word for small stuffed toys that are crocheted or knitted. It combines ami (crocheted or knitted) and nuigurumi (stuffed toy). It is pronounced ah-mee-goo-roo-mee. Most amigurumi are crocheted in tight single crochet worked in a spiral, with a small hook, then stuffed with fiberfill.

What you need

• Worsted weight (4, Medium) or DK (3, Light) yarn in a smooth, light colour
• Crochet hook smaller than the label suggests, such as 3.5–4 mm for worsted or 2.5–3.5 mm for DK
• Polyester fiberfill stuffing
• Stitch marker
• Tapestry needle and scissors
• Safety eyes (optional; embroider eyes for toys for children under 3)

The core skills, in order

1. Magic ringAlmost every amigurumi piece starts with a magic ring and 6 single crochet, pulled closed so there is no hole in the centre.
2. Single crochet in a spiralWork single crochet round and round without joining. Put a stitch marker in the first (or last) stitch of each round and move it up every round, so you always know where a round starts.
3. IncreaseAn increase (inc) is 2 sc in one stitch. Increasing 6 times per round keeps the piece growing as a flat circle; stopping the increases makes the sides curve up.
4. Invisible decreaseThe invisible decrease works 2 stitches together through the front loops only, so it does not leave a bump or a gap. Decreasing 6 times per round closes a piece.
5. StuffingAdd polyester fiberfill in small pieces before the opening gets too small, and top it up just before closing. See how to stuff amigurumi.
6. Closing the last roundCut the yarn, pull it through, then thread it on a tapestry needle and pass it through the front loop of each remaining stitch. Pull like a drawstring to close the hole and hide the tail inside. See fastening off.
7. Sewing parts togetherLeave a long tail on arms, ears and legs, pin them in place, and whip stitch them on. See how to sew amigurumi parts together.
8. EyesInsert safety eyes before you stuff and close the head, and lock the washers from the inside. For toys for babies and children under 3, embroider the eyes with yarn instead.

First practice piece: a simple ball

This ball uses skills 1 to 6. It is worked in a continuous spiral in single crochet. The number in brackets is the stitch count at the end of each round.

If you want to practise safety eyes too, insert them after round 8, before stuffing. In a Chinese pattern this ball would be written 环起6X → 6V → (1X,1V)×6 → (2X,1V)×6 → 第5-8圈24X → (2X,1A)×6 → (1X,1A)×6 → 6A; see how to read Chinese crochet patterns.

What to make after the ball

• An egg or a simple body shape. Same as the ball but with more plain rounds in the middle.
• A toy with a few parts, such as a simple animal with a round head and small ears. This adds sewing and eye placement.
• A toy with a colour change, such as a striped body.
• Read how to read an amigurumi pattern before your first full pattern, so abbreviations and repeats are clear.

Common beginner problems

• Stuffing shows through. The fabric is too loose. Go down a hook size. See amigurumi gaps and holes.
• The ball is lumpy or pointy. Stuff in smaller pieces and roll it between your hands. Pointed tops can also come from stacked increases.
• The piece leans or twists. This is normal in a spiral; see why amigurumi leans.
• Lost count. Count at the end of every round and check it against the number in brackets before moving on.

What the word amigurumi means

In English the word is used for both one toy and many: “an amigurumi” and “three amigurumi”. You will also see “amigurumis”. In Chinese the usual terms are 钩针玩偶 or 毛线玩偶.

How to pronounce amigurumi

Say it in five even syllables: ah-mee-goo-roo-mee. Japanese does not stress one syllable much more than the others, so avoid a strong English-style stress. The “r” is a light tap, close to the “d” sound in the American English “ladder”.

What makes amigurumi different from other crochet

• Tight single crochet. Almost everything is worked in single crochet, with a hook smaller than the yarn label suggests, so the fabric is dense and the stuffing does not show.
• Worked in a spiral. Pieces start with a magic ring and are crocheted in continuous rounds without joining, tracked with a stitch marker.
• Shaped by increases and decreases. Increases make the piece grow and decreases close it up, so spheres, cones and tubes form without sewing darts.
• Made in parts. Heads, bodies, arms and ears are usually crocheted separately, stuffed and sewn together.
• Small and cute. Many designs have oversized heads and simple faces, but there is no rule about size or subject.

What you need to make amigurumi

Chart symbols on this page

Frequently asked questions

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