Amigurumi Tutorial 1
This tutorial is for all of you knitters who wish to learn how to make amigurumis. In the first part of this tutorial I’ll go over the basic crochet techniques you need to master. I know most people are visual learners, so I’m using a lot of videos (they may take some time to load).
Step 1: How to hold your yarn (make a chain too)
If you are a thrower (hold your yarn in your right hand), you’ll have to learn to hold your yarn on the left. It will feel awkward, but with time it will become easier. The following video shows you how to hold your yarn and make a chain. This is how I hold the yarn and hook, but you need to find what feels natural to you.
Step 2: Single crochet, increasing and decreasing
Most amigurumis are done in spirals of single crochets. You must to master this basic stitch. I recommend practicing it by going back a forward before you start doing spirals. First do a chain, and then do some rows of single crochets. One of may favorite amigurumi patterns requires to start from a chain, so it’s not a bad idea to learn how to do it.
In order to give shape to your creations you need to increase and decrease. Here’s how to increase:
And here is how to decrease:
Another way to decrease is to skip a stitch, but I find that that leaves a gap.
Setp 3: Single Crochet in Spirals to make a ball
There are two ways in which you can crochet in the round. One is by making a loop with a chain of 2 or 4 stitches, the other is with an adjustable ring. Start with the chain method, and once you are comfortable single crocheting in the round, try to move on to the adjustable ring (it makes a much neater project).
In the following video you can see how to make a circle, starting with a chain of 2. Notice how at the end you have small hole in the center.
The magic ring technique lets you make an initial ring that you can tighten so there is no hole in the center. Just make sure you don’t make the stitches in the ring too tight. (You can view this in YouTube)
In part 2 of this tutorial I’ll teach you how to read amigurumi patterns. In the mean time, make some single crochet dish cloths.
Go to Amigurumi Tutorial 2, Amigurumi Tutorial 3
Wow you teach it so well. Thank you soooo much. I am addicted to crocheting. Gracias
Comment by Charyl — April 24, 2009 @ 9:37 pm
Thank you for this wonderful post. I bought a book about amigurumi but the explanations were to limited. Especially the magic ring proved impossible to understand in the book. It was very discouraging for a beginner like me. Your video about it shows it so clear. Thank you, you’ve been a great help.
Comment by Tilia Linden — May 4, 2009 @ 4:17 pm
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Pingback by 101 things » 23. Amigurumi leren — May 6, 2009 @ 8:06 am
I can’t even figure out how to do the first part. I get it until she says pull it through the loop. What loop?
Comment by Sydney — May 6, 2009 @ 2:29 pm
Finally! I realized what I was doing wrong.
Comment by Sydney — May 6, 2009 @ 2:38 pm
[…] a great way to learn and practice crocheting in a spiral and increase/decrease. ***EDIT*** found this great tutorial with vids and everything, for those wanting to learn the basics for crocheting amigurumi. *** Since I was just practicing, I […]
Pingback by have a happy poo! « lunar craft — May 7, 2009 @ 7:38 am