Ever scroll through Instagram, pause on an image and think, wow, that’s next level!
We’ll go into the reasons why and I’ll share three amigurumi crochet patterns that will teach new skills, add visual interest to your projects, and level up your amigurumi game.
Three Amigurumi Crochet Patterns to Level Up Your Game
Coco the Bunny – JoHandmadeDesign
Amigurumi is all about the shape. Instead of a flat two-dimensional piece like a blanket or a washcloth, amigurumi is three-dimensional and requires sculptural elements. A lot of amigurumi requires only basic shapes: spheres, tubes, etc. Simple shaping is where every amigurumist starts. Leveling up requires learning where to place your increases and decreases to create a more complex shape.
I purchased the pattern for Coco the Bunny a few months ago and WOW, the shaping of the bunny is impressive. From the cute little legs to the unique head shape to the dress, you can create such differences in shaping by using only single crochet stitches! It’ll blow your mind if you are anything like me and accustomed to only basic increasing and decreasing.
The pattern is easy to follow but does require concentration and lots of counting stitches. I highly recommend it if you’re mystified by shaping and want to learn how to create more complex shapes. The pattern costs a bit more than other patterns but the instructions and photos are top-notch – I guarantee you it’s worth the extra cost. Plus you get two color options of bunny with different facial details, and two dress options. AND BOY ARE THEY CUTE.
The Mini Kingdom – Aradiya Toys
Adding hair or fur through texture is another way to level up your amigurumi. There are many methods of attaching hair to amigurumi. You could hook the yarn strands in individually, crochet a separate wig cap, or crochet separate pieces to sew onto your project. I prefer different methods depending on the project but I learned most of my hair-attaching skills from The Mini Kingdom by Olka Novytska (Aradiya Toys). Yes, I know I said I was showcasing patterns in this post but the whole book is just too good. You need it!
This book is incredible in terms of instructions and photos – absolutely a must-add to your crochet amigurumi book library. I would buy it for the stitch tutorials alone, but you also get 36 patterns! The work she put into this book is staggering.
Creating hair and attaching it to your amigurumi is undoubtedly more work but the visual impact is unbeatable. So far I’ve completed the princess as well as the lost prince, which was a bonus pattern the designer released as part of an ami-along with Amigurumi Patterns. Their ami-alongs are great because you get access to their forums and can ask the designer questions about the pattern as they arise.
The crocheted curls add so much more visual interest than a plain yellow head, right?
Get the book, or at least check out her Etsy shop and choose a pattern with complicated hair. You’ll work harder but the work pays off when you master that new skill!
Daddy n Baby Pheasant – Foxy Crochet Design
The last pattern that will help you level up your amigurumi is all about color. Visit the link above and you’ll see that the shaping may be simple but the color changes make this pattern stand out. How can you use color creatively in your own designs or projects? I love how the designer here uses color changes to create pictures on her amigurumi. You don’t see it often, which is why it stands out!
So there you go: three patterns to teach three skills that will level up your crochet amigurumi game. Learning these skills will make you a better crocheter (or designer) and more comfortable with complex patterns, which will make you stand out. Win win!
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