A to Z Challenge: A is for Amigurumi
Amigurumi is a Japanese word meaning crocheted or knitted, stuffed doll (Ami = crocheted/knitted; Nuigurumi = Stuffed Doll). Most of the pieces for these stuffed dolls, are worked by crocheting in the round.
The art of amigurumi had been widely enjoyed in Japan for decades, before making its way to the United States. It was in the early 2000s that it gained in popularity with sites like Etsy (an online marketplace for handmade goods) and Ravelry (specializing in knit/crochet patterns only).
Not only could you now purchase these amis handmade from creative artists themselves, you could also buy patterns or find free patterns (see my Free Happy Sunflower pattern) if you were daring enough to try your hand at making one yourself.
The first amigurumi I ever made came from the book, “I Can’t Believe I’m Crocheting!” by Leisure Arts. I had purchased the book from Michaels craft store. The pattern was for a koala bear, shown in the back of the book.
My yarn tension was terrible and I stitched inside out when I started (not intentionally—you can imagine my dismay when I realized). The gaps between the stitches of the black nose were so large, you could see the white stuffing inside!
I was proud of the fact that I’d made one all by myself. At a young age, my mom had taught me how to crochet granny squares, but since that time, I had forgotten all the essential knowledge.
In order to re-learn the basics, I looked through books on crocheting and watched YouTube videos stepping me through the process of how to make each stitch. They even had videos on how to assemble the pieces once they were made, a technique I’d never done before, even in my earlier years with crochet.
Going from something 2-dimensional to a 3-dimensional toy was a bit of an adjustment and seemed daunting at first. Taking my time as I crafted each piece, and being okay remaking a piece if it didn’t come out quite right, was all I needed to begin creating these adorable plush toys!
What was the first thing you ever crocheted?
44 Comments
Chris Ryan
Great start to the A-Z challenge. Glad I stopped by. I don’t do any Crochet, but it’s always fun to learn something new.
@cryancom from cryan.com
JHWinter
Thank you for stopping by Chris! I will have a lot more to share this month, aside from crochet related topics. I hope you stop by again!
Ros
Great post 🙂 the first thing I ever crocheted was coat hanger covers- my grandma taught me to make some for a stall at a church fete. I then used the same technique to make dresses for my Barbie dolls – I think I was about 10. Then didn’t crochet for years until I inherited a heap of unfinished things from my grandmother, including the beginning of a blanket. After I added a few inches to it, my housemate turned it into a skirt!
JHWinter
I still have some hangers my own grandmother had made for us. How neat that your friend was able to re-purpose the unfinished blanket and make it into a skirt that could be seen by all! Sometimes the thing you think you are starting, isn’t what you end up with. This is true with any type of art. Thank you for the comment!
Paul Baldowski
These are really cute. I really wish I had the focus and hand-eye coordination to do something like this myself. Great stuff. I’m off to check out Ravelry, which I had never heard of before you mentioned it…
Paul @ theironpact.com
JHWinter
Thank you Paul! Ravelry is a lot of fun. I am over there as well, so I hope you come find me: jhwinterauthor! I’ve gone over to check on your post now. Looking forward to reading 🙂
Jennifer Shelby
the first thing I ever crocheted was a pair of mittens for my daughter. They came out perfect! Every pair after that, on the other hand…not so much.
JHWinter
How funny is that! Is it because you were overly careful not to mess up on the first? Do you still enjoy crocheting? I tend not to make things that need to be worn, only because having to get the size just right would set me up for failure. I make knitted slippers for my family as needed and that’s about it. I would like to venture out though in future. We shall see!
Stephanie Bird
I like crafting and making things and have spent some time in Japan but I’ve never heard of amigurumi. Thanks for sharing. I love making dolls and I love the pictures you shared.
JHWinter
I’m glad you came by then Stephanie! I’ll have a lot of fun posts for you this month, so I hope you keep dropping in to learn more. I’m very jealous that you’ve been to Japan. That is definitely on my list of places to see!
C. Lee McKenzie
That word has a lovely sound to it! Like origami. I know nothing about this craft, so I look forward to learning from your blog posts this month.
http://writegame.blogspot.com
JHWinter
Thank you so much! I look forward to teaching what I know! Making amigurumi is so much fun. I would highly recommend it to anyone who has a crafty bone in their body. If you don’t, I have other posts coming related to my other passions as well: writing, illustration, and more. A little something for everyone 🙂 I’ve enjoyed your posts (well post so far) as well, and look forward to more!
Eric
These are fantastic. You mentioned Amigurumi in a comment on one of my posts and I had to look it up. Once I discovered what Amigurumi was I fascinated. My son has a knitted stuffie he got from the hospital last summer. My wife is into crocheting and I think these would fun for her to make.
JHWinter
I’m sure she would love making these and they take far less time than the blanket she is working on! 🙂 I plan to share some freebies later on this month, so keep checking back, Eric. I really enjoyed your “A is for Ask” post as well. Looking forward to the posts ahead!
Mary Burris
I’ve always enjoyed the crocheted stuffed dolls – and now I know they have a name! Looking forward to more of your upcoming posts.
Mary
Twitter: @KnottyMarie
Literary Gold
Jingle Jangle Jungle
JHWinter
I look forward to sharing my posts with you! I just got back from checking out your blog as well and am wondering which musician you will pick for B 🙂
Gayl Wright
I enjoy crocheting, too. I’ve mostly made simple things like dish cloths and some mittens. One year I found a pattern online to make a Totoro (from the anime movie “My Neighbor Totoro”) for my grandson. It was somewhat difficult, but I did it and it was fun! This is my first year for the A to Z Blogging Challenge, and I’ve seen so many great ideas!
JHWinter
Hi Gayl! I probably made the exact same Totoro 4-5 times as gifts and for myself of course. In fact, he’s sitting right behind me on the bookshelf! I hope you keep checking back because I’ll have some freebies coming up soon!
Sarah McKelvy
I’ve never crocheted, since my mother did not know how to crochet. She knew how to knit, so I learned to knit. I’ll have to look up some knit amigurumi patterns.
(Found you from the A to Z Challenge.)
JHWinter
I’m glad you found me, Sarah! I knit as well, although I’ve only really made slippers and blankets made using circular needles. That is about the extent of my knitting knowledge at the moment. I’d love to branch out and make myself a nice long sweater someday. There was a book that came out I found intriguing called, “No Sew Knits” by Kristen TenDyke. Have you ever heard of it? It seems like without needing to sew, it might be a bit easier? I haven’t dug deep enough to see if this is true yet. Anyway, thank you for coming, and I hope you stop by throughout the month!
Nancy
Popping over from the A to Z! I really love the style and how this crocheting looks. I’ve never done anything like this before but my husband’s grandmother was quite good and I’m so happy to have some of the delicate doilies and knitted pot holders she made.
JHWinter
Hi Nancy! I’m glad you found me through the challenge. Amigurumi are a style all their own and make amazing gifts as well. You don’t see doilies and pot holders made as often anymore, so cherish those that you do have. They always add a personal touch, since you know the time your family member took to make them. I find those I give these amigurumi to, cherish them just as much. I hope you enjoy my posts throughout the month and beyond!
Sheila Good
Julianne,
Day I, and I’ve already learned something new – Amigurumi. I think they are precious! I have never crocheted but I have a sister who loves to and I will be sharing this with her. Nice way to start the #AtoZchallenge. @sheilamgood at Cow Pasture Chronicles
JHWinter
Thank you for passing my blog on to your sister! I also blog about writing, illustration, and crafting as well, so I hope you will find many of these posts interesting and worth stopping a moment to read. Good luck with the challenge! You have a new follower as well!
Myfanwy Hart
Glad to have found you. I haven’t tried 3D yet. Thanks for dropping in earlier.
JHWinter
Of course! I really enjoyed all the pictures of the Amaryllis flower on your A post. Beautiful! Thank you for coming over here as well.
P. J. Lazos
These are great. Now can you just tell me how to pronounce amigurumi? 🙂
JHWinter
This gave me a laugh! I have seen it pronounced many different ways, but from taking a quarter of Japanese in college, I pronounce it, “ah-me-goo-roo-me.” Just don’t pronounce it “Oragami” and you should be just fine 🙂
Bhawna Saini
I have never crocheted but I would love to try it! It might put it in my “to learn” list for the year. Thank you for sharing.
Yellow Mellow Life
JHWinter
I love your first post and the visual of your wedding in Delhi. I’m your newest follower. Good luck with the challenge and I hope you keep checking back here as well!
J.R.
Hi there!
Just hitting you back for the A-to-Z blog challenge.
I’m glad that I finally know what to call these dolls now! A friend of mine has been making them for a while and sharing pictures, but never called the craft by name. I really like your koala too. Keep up the crafting. 🙂
JHWinter
Hi J.R. Thank you for coming by! The koala amigurumi picture is actually from the how-to book I had used to create one like it. Mine, unfortunately, did not come out quite so cute, since it was the first amigurumi I’d ever made. I hope you keep checking back to see more. I’ll have posts on writing, illustration, and crafting as well. I’m looking forward to reading your posts too!
Stefani
I haven’t yet tried my hand at Amigurumi yet, but one of these days it will happen.
I cannot remember the first thing I crocheted. Probably a scarf. My grandmother taught me to crochet when I was very young. I remember she handed me some yarn and a hook and I just did the same stitch over and over until I made a really long “scarf” like thing. 🙂
Stefani | Dreams of Nyssa
JHWinter
I am a big believer that you should try it! Crocheting is a lot of fun. I will have how-to videos up soon on my YouTube channel if you’d like me to help you learn. There are lots of great resources out there as well.
marie
The first thing i ever made, was a scarf. It took me about 5 years and it’s still my favourite 🙂
I love your drawings and the cute orange cat 😀 maybe one day….
JHWinter
There are so many practical things I want to make for myself and others, but every time I pick up a crochet hook and yarn, an amigurumi begins to take shape. They are very eager to be made. Thank you for the compliments on my work. I’m sure you’ll pick back up that hook one day and something new will come from it. I’m also following you over on your blog as well! I’m glad you found me!
Jackie
Love all your amigurumi creations! I’m always impressed when I see ones you made :). Can’t wait to see what you’ll make next!
JHWinter
I can’t wait to show you more and see what you think! I’ll be unveiling the Adeline doll on my YouTube channel soon, so make sure to Subscribe to my channel so you won’t miss any of the videos 🙂
Freya
Same pinch 😉 The first things I crocheted were also granny squares!
I made a baby blanket with them. I still do crochet off and on but I’m yet to transition to 3-dimensional objects. I’m looking forward to my first amigurumi.
@freya3377 from Life as Freya
JHWinter
I can’t wait to see how it turns out!
Lori
Ooo these look like fun! I’ve only crocheted blankets and flowers, never toys. Not sure I have the skill-set for this, but is fascinating to look at 😀
Have a great weekend!
Lori
My A2Zs @ As the Fates Would Have It & Promptly Written
Follow Me (Ravyne) Twitter|Facebook
JHWinter
If you’d like to try your hand at making one, I have a free pattern available on my blog. It’s also a flower, so that goes in line with what you enjoy 🙂 Here is my: Happy Sunflower Free Pattern.
Vilje Daisuki
I have only crocheted a Star Trek Enterprise in 3D and I remember that was hard, I am not sure it qualifies as an amigurumi though. I am much better at 2D things, but one of these days I will make a bunny. Since I love bunnies I think I will have more of a drive to finish even if I struggle with it. ^^ I look forward to seeing more of your posts.
JHWinter
Thank you, Vilje! If you ever get stuck on anything while you are making amigurumi, let me know and I can help step you through the process. I am always happy to help a fellow crocheter with a question!