Guide
What Is Amigurumi? Meaning, Pronunciation and How to Start
By Notion Creative Art · Updated
If you have seen a tiny crocheted bear, bunny or avocado and wondered what it is called, the answer is amigurumi. So, what is amigurumi exactly? It is the craft of making small stuffed toys and figures with yarn, usually by crochet. This guide explains the meaning of the word, how to say it, what makes it different from other crochet, and what you need to make your first one.
Amigurumi meaning
Amigurumi is a Japanese word. It is usually explained as a mix of two parts: "ami", which means crocheted or knitted, and "nuigurumi", which means a stuffed doll. Put together, the word describes a crocheted or knitted stuffed toy. Today people use it for the toys themselves and for the craft of making them. The craft is linked with Japan.
How to pronounce amigurumi
One common way to say it in English is ah-mee-goo-roo-mee, with five even syllables and the stress spread fairly evenly. You will hear small differences from person to person, and that is normal for a word borrowed from another language. Many crocheters simply shorten it to "ami" when they talk about their projects.
What makes amigurumi different from other crochet
Any crocheted toy can be called a crochet toy, but amigurumi has a recognizable method. Most patterns share these features:
- Small size. Many projects are between 3 and 10 inches (8 to 25 cm) tall, depending on the yarn and hook.
- Worked mostly in spiral rounds. You make a tube or a ball without turning, so there is no seam up the side. See our guide to crocheting in the round.
- A tight fabric. A hook smaller than the yarn label suggests keeps the stitches close, so the stuffing does not show through.
- Stuffed with fiberfill. The toy keeps its shape because of the filling.
- Shaped by increases and decreases. Adding stitches makes the work wider, and removing them makes it narrower, which is how a flat circle turns into a ball.
Amigurumi vs crochet toys
The two terms overlap. A crochet toy is any toy made with crochet, including flat or flexible ones such as a rattle or a puppet. Amigurumi usually means the stuffed, rounded, worked-in-the-round style described above. In everyday use many people treat the words as the same thing, and that is fine.
The basic skills you need
| Skill | What it does | Where to learn it |
|---|---|---|
| Magic ring | Starts a round with no hole in the center | [Magic ring guide](/guides/how-to-make-a-magic-ring-crochet) |
| Single crochet | The main stitch, short and dense | [Single crochet guide](/guides/how-to-single-crochet) |
| Increase | Two stitches in one stitch, to widen the shape | [How to read a crochet pattern](/guides/how-to-read-a-crochet-pattern) |
| Decrease | Two stitches into one, to narrow the shape | [Invisible decrease](/guides/invisible-decrease-amigurumi) |
| Stuffing | Fills each part so it keeps its shape | [Stuffing and assembly](/guides/how-to-stuff-and-assemble-amigurumi) |
| Sewing | Joins parts with a yarn needle | [Stuffing and assembly](/guides/how-to-stuff-and-assemble-amigurumi) |
Materials you need
- Yarn. Smooth cotton or acrylic in a light color is easiest to see and count. See our guide to yarn for amigurumi.
- A crochet hook. Many patterns use a hook between 2 mm and 3.5 mm, and each pattern lists the size it needs. Our hook size chart explains the numbers.
- Fiberfill stuffing.
- A yarn needle with a large eye, and scissors.
- Stitch markers, or a scrap of yarn in a different color, to mark the start of each round.
- Safety eyes or embroidery thread for the face, if the pattern uses them.
Kinds of amigurumi
- Animals: bears, bunnies, cats and other creatures, the most popular kind.
- Dolls: figures with hair, clothes and small accessories.
- Food: tiny fruits, vegetables, cakes and sushi, which are usually quick to make.
- Keychains: very small toys with a ring or clasp attached.
- No-sew amigurumi: toys worked in one piece, so you do not have to attach limbs. Browse our no-sew amigurumi patterns.
What beginners should start with
Start with a ball, then a small food item or a simple animal with few parts. These projects teach you the magic ring, even rounds and stuffing without the stress of sewing many pieces. Learn the basic crochet stitches first if you are new to crochet. Our page of crochet patterns for beginners lists easier patterns, and our amigurumi patterns show the skill level on each one.
How our patterns are written
Our patterns are written round by round, and the stitch count is shown in brackets at the end of each line. For example, "R3: (sc, inc) x 6 (18)" means that after round 3 you should have 18 stitches. Counting against the bracket is the best way to catch a mistake early. Each pattern also lists its materials and skill level. The pattern is a PDF you can download right after payment.
Common problems and fixes
| What you see | Why it happens | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Stuffing shows through the stitches | The hook is too large, or the stitches are too loose | Use a smaller hook and keep the tension firm. |
| The ball is lopsided | A stitch was missed or added in one round | Count the stitches in each round against the number in brackets. |
| There is a hole in the center | The magic ring was not pulled closed | Pull the tail until the ring closes, then secure it. |
| The shape is flat or floppy | Too little stuffing | Add stuffing in small pieces and push it into the corners. |
Next steps
Practice a magic ring and three rounds of single crochet until the circle lies flat, then try a small ball. When you are ready for a real project, try a free crochet pattern or one of our guides, and read the pattern through before you begin.
Quick answers
- What does amigurumi mean?
- It is a Japanese word that is usually explained as a mix of "ami", meaning crocheted or knitted, and "nuigurumi", meaning a stuffed doll. It describes small stuffed toys made with yarn.
- How do you pronounce amigurumi?
- One common pronunciation is ah-mee-goo-roo-mee. Small variations are normal in English.
- Is amigurumi hard for beginners?
- The stitches are simple, mostly single crochet, but you need to count carefully. A ball or a simple animal is a good first project, and the skills build quickly with practice.
- Can amigurumi be knitted?
- Yes. The word covers both crocheted and knitted stuffed toys, although most amigurumi patterns you will find are crochet. Our patterns are crochet.
- Do I need to sew amigurumi?
- Many patterns involve sewing the parts together with a yarn needle. If you prefer not to sew, choose a no-sew pattern, where the toy is worked in one piece.
More guides
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