Special textured stitches anyone? They are wonderful for making your crochet project more distinctive, likewise I love to use them in my amigurumis! In this post, we will be talking about what a bobble stitch is, how to change them into mini or large sizes, length-wise and width-wise. Then we will clear up the confusion with puff, popcorn and cluster stitches, see how they look in rows versus rounds. And finally, how I use that simple stitch in many different ways in my amigurumis!

When crocheting amigurumis, they are actually made up of various 3D shapes - of which the most commonly used ones include the sphere and the cylinder. By mixing and matching those two shapes, you could create a lot of different appearances for your amigurumi projects. To learn more about crocheting flat circles and round spheres for a start, remember to check out this blog post on '14 useful things you need to know about How to Crochet a Circle'.

The most basic crochet shape to create and also the base unit of an amigurumi - the crochet circle! Now this post is sort of a combination of other posts put together because I will be discussing a bit about crocheting a magic ring and also larger circles which might overlap with my tutorial blog post on increasing stitches. Along the way where it makes sense, I will reference these other posts as well.

Thinking about crocheting more than just basic circles? Add variations by trying out oval crochet patterns, and in this blog post I have 9 different suggestions on how to do it!

Each part will include a crochet oval written pattern, some step by step pictorial instructions, perhaps a video and finally how I apply it in my amigurumi!

Colour changes in crocheting amigurumi projects is really important, especially if you want your final toy to be unique and colourful! The technique to do colour change in crochet is fairly simple enough but did you know that it is slightly different in different crocheting situations?

Ever heard of milk cotton yarn and wondering what is that all about? It is super nice to crochet with, even better than acrylic and even cotton! So let’s talk a bit more about milk cotton yarn.

Starting off crocheting amigurumi with DK yarn is probably the commonest and easiest way for beginners to start. If you have seen those beautiful big huggable plushies, you must be wondering whether that ball of chunky yarn is worth it, am I right? Here I break down the many differences between DK and chunky yarn and why it might be worth it to just give it a try!

Always wondered whether the toy you made yourself is safe enough for child consumption - or specifically toddler consumption? Amigurumi are oftentimes made by crocheters to be gifted to children, whether for daughters or sons, nieces or nephews, or for grandchildren.

If you have been wondering how do I start learning amigurumi, then this article is meant for you. I have broken it down into 3 different segments with 15 steps in total, hopefully to make this step-by-step guide in crocheting amigurumi easier to understand.

I need pattern testers again! This time it is for animals!

If you have always wondered which side of the crochet project is the right side or the wrong side, then hopefully you get the answers here! There is a combination of various ways to do this, some by just visually looking at your project and some by the techniques you actuallly use when crocheting. By the end of this post, you should know your right from your wrong very easily!

Even wondered about the front loop only and back loop crochet stitches? Or maybe you never even know that you have been working into both loops? If you are wondering what's the difference and what's the point then you are in the right place. 

Decreasing crochet stitches can be quite confusing for new crocheters. Increasing crochet stitches just involves doing multiple stitches in the same stitch. On the other hand, decreases can include a simple decrease, an invisible decrease or even a cluster of stitches. I will go through each of them individually below. 

Increases in crochet stitches create a wider appearance while decreases in crochet stiches create a narrower appearance. This is important for shaping in general, especially for amigurumi projects, when creating 3D shapes and structures. By combining changes in width and changes in stitch heights, you could create many different variations in amigurumi shapes.

Struggling with starting off your amigurumi, especially with the dreaded magic ring? There are a few ways to tackle it and a few different types of stitches to master. Or if you want to try alternatives to crocheting magic rings, here are some ideas below as well. You could say this whole article is a crochet magic ring for dummies guide!

Find your existing way of making eyes for your amigurumi boring? Or maybe you just want to switch things up and see what other options there are for making crochet eyes. Look no further for 10 creative ideas to use for amigurumi eyes! 

If you have taken the leap to get your first crochet hook and ball of yarn and you are excited to get started on crocheting then you are in the right place. Just in case you need ideas for crochet hooks or yarn, remember to check out these 2 articles:

If you are struggling with counting your stitches when you are crocheting, then this guide will help you! Just to start off, let us review some basic foundational skills like how to count stitches when crocheting. Then we will move onto how using crochet stitch markers can help you keep count of your crochet project, and in particular for amigurumi!

The only other thing you need apart from the yarn to actually get started on your amigurumi project! If all else is not available, you could really get by with just your hook and yarn. So because this is so important, remember to select one that you really like and if the quality is good, it can last you a lifetime!

Before deciding on the best yarn for your next amigurumi, there are a couple of considerations to think about before you go hunting for the best buys. If you are a crocheter, you could be in any part of the world with any number of different types of yarn. Universally though, it would be really useful to think through this 12-point checklist of what you want to achieve at the end of your project, irregardless of your yarn sources!