Many of us are staying at home due to governmental restrictions concerning the spread of COVID-19. This is the perfect time to learn new skills and practice your technique. You’re already home – may as well have something to show for it!

Working with your hands requires focus and discipline, especially when learning a new stitch or technique. Crochet has been my breath of fresh air during this endless cycle of business and school closings. Stop the endless scrolling through bad news, jumbling your thought process and raising your heart rate, and use your hands for something productive! I guarantee you that focusing your mind on a physical project will increase your mental clarity.

So if you’re looking for a new craft to learn, I highly recommend amigurumi! Amigurumi is the craft of crocheting or knitting small, stuffed creatures. The monetary barrier is low, requiring only yarn and a hook to start learning.

Materials Needed

  • Clover Amour Crochet Hook, Size C, 2.75mm
    You can use any hook for amigurumi but it needs to be small enough to make tight stitches so stuffing doesn’t show through. If you’re using the yarn I recommend below, choose this size C. You’ll thank me later for recommending an ergonomic grip!
  • Bernat Softee Baby Cotton Yarn, or any yarn you happen to have. I prefer a lightweight/DK yarn but worsted weight is popular, too. The Bernat yarn I linked is my absolute favorite to use and deserves its own post! I prefer cotton or a cotton/acrylic blend but many people like and use acrylic.
  • Optional: stitch markers. You can buy ones made specifically for yarn craft or use a safety pin, bobby pin, or even a yarn scrap. I prefer the real deal. Stitch markers are for marking your first or last stitch of a round. Amigurumi is usually worked in a continuous spiral so you must keep track of where one round ends and the next begins. Some people can do this in their head. I am not that person. Just assume you are not that person either.

Tutorials to Get Started

Now that you have your tools, go check out some tutorials from one of the most exhaustive resources around: Planet June.

The Internet can be an overwhelming place. Information is difficult to find when you don’t know what to search for. If you’re a beginner, stay on Planet June’s tutorials until you have the basics down. She has done the hard work of creating and compiling every tutorial you could possibly need!

And if you’re really feeling brave… try following your first pattern! This mini octopus pattern was my first attempt at following a pattern. It’s perfect for beginners because it’s small, requires only one color, and is an easy introduction to sewing pieces together. Plus, practice will beget you your own octopus army. You’ll need more tools though: toy stuffing, a yarn needle to weave in ends, and safety eyes.

My first amigurumi, when I had little idea what I was doing
After much practice, I now sell these in my Etsy store.

Good luck and let me know if you have any questions!

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