If you've ever watched someone crochet and thought "I could never do that", this guide is for you. Amigurumi – small crocheted toys – are the friendliest way to learn, because they use just a handful of stitches and you get something wonderful at the end. Here's everything you need to make your first one.
What you need
- Yarn – a soft, medium-weight yarn in a light colour is easiest, because you can see your stitches clearly.
- A crochet hook – usually 3.5–4 mm for amigurumi.
- Safety eyes and stuffing – to bring your creature to life.
- A stitch marker – to mark the start of each round.
- A yarn needle – to sew pieces together and hide the ends.
A beginner kit such as a Pelotine First Timer kit includes all of this, so you can start straight away.
Step 1: Hold the hook and yarn
Hold the hook like a pencil (or like a knife, if that feels more natural). Wrap the yarn around the fingers of your other hand so that it runs smoothly with a little tension. There's no single right way – comfortable is correct.
Step 2: Make a magic ring
Almost every amigurumi starts with a magic ring: a loop of yarn that you crochet into and then pull tight, so there's no hole at the top of the head. It feels fiddly the first time and easy by the third. Don't worry if you need a few attempts.
Step 3: Learn one stitch
Amigurumi are mostly made with a single stitch: the US single crochet, which is called a double crochet in UK terms. Insert the hook, yarn over, pull up a loop, yarn over again and pull through both loops. That's it – repeat it all the way round.
Step 4: Work in a spiral
Amigurumi are crocheted in continuous rounds, like a spiral. Place your stitch marker in the first stitch of each round so you always know where you are, and count your stitches at the end of each round.
Step 5: Increase and decrease
To make a round shape bigger, you increase by working two stitches into one. To make it smaller again, you decrease by joining two stitches into one. Follow your pattern's numbers and the shape appears almost by magic.
Step 6: Eyes, stuffing and finishing
Fit the safety eyes before you close the head, stuff firmly, then close the last round and weave in the ends with your yarn needle. Sew on any arms, fins or ears – and say hello.
Tips for your first evening
- Count your stitches every round. Most mistakes are one stitch too many or too few.
- Keep your tension relaxed. Tight stitches are the most common beginner struggle.
- Pause the video as often as you like. Nobody is timing you.
- Finished beats perfect. A slightly wonky creature has far more personality.
Ready to try?
Our First Timer kits take about two to three hours and come with everything in the box and a step-by-step video tutorial. And if you can't finish your first Pelotin, our Finish-It Guarantee means we'll refund you.