The word itself, amigurumi, sounds difficult and complicated and something that would take a multitude of time to complete. This is not so. Amigurumi crochet is a method to make tiny stuffed animals that are made by crocheting yarn and, as you would surmise, the technique comes from Japan.
The word itself is taken from two Japanese words, ami meaning knitted and nuigurumi, a popular doll in Japan.
These little animals are stuffed with soft material and are extremely easy to make.
You may wonder how crochet animals came from Japan when the art of crocheting was not done prior to around the nineteen fifties.
In fact, the only Japanese people that actually knew how to knit were the Samurai warriors who made their own socks with toes in order to be able to get a better range of movement. Because they did not have patterns that came from their ancestors they made up their own unique techniques.
They would make charts to crochet instead of writing the method out and used symbols and calligraphy to explain what stitches to make.
The charts are beautiful and can almost be framed to hang on the wall they are so beautiful. Amigurumi were first made when it was culturally acceptable for things to be cute during the fifties. During this time Hello Kitty, the white large headed cat with pink bows, made its debut in Japan.
In the sixties Hello Kitty was even more popular. She was mass produced along with other sweet little cartoonish animals. At this point in time the office revolution was happening in Japan. Many families were moving to the big cities and children did not see their parents often because they were dedicated to work rather than family. Kitty and other cartoon characters were a way to keep that element of cuteness in life.
The crochet animals were made and used like greeting cards to lift the spirits. To make some of these cute little animals you use a smaller crochet hook than you would normally use for the size of yarn.
The whole pattern is made in a spiral that never connects which entails marking the first stitch of each row so you do not get lost in the pattern.
The Japanese charts are very hard for some to read because of the characters.
It should be noted that the charts are merely a suggestion of how to make the animals.
It is expected that once you understand how they are made you deviate from the pattern to make your own creation. Today you can find patterns that are written out just like regular patterns for crochet sweaters or other items.
It is very easy to make because you only use a few stitches. One is a single crochet and the other is a chain.
The only thing you do is either increase or decrease the amount of stitches in a row that make the animal take shape.
The best thing about making the crochet animals is that any yarn left over from a project can be used.
They do not take much and certainly not an entire hank of yarn. Some put beads and sequins on their creations.
They are usually stuffed with poly fiberfill but old torn stockings can also be used. Many times they are filled with pellets or dry beans to make them more of a bean bag consistency. Patterns for cupcakes, lions, kittens, birds, and human like dolls in different professions can be found on line with a simple search.
If you can crochet you will have no trouble trying to make one. And if you do be careful, they get very addictive and you will not be able to stop.
Looking to find the best easy crochet patterns for you.
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