Beginner Crochet Projects (Amigurumi)
Learning how to crochet or knit can seem like a daunting journey. I’ve taken a few online classes in the past, but I found that I needed beginner crochet projects long after the classes ended. (Things didn’t turn out well when I tackled it on my own.) That’s when I discovered the easiest way to get started crocheting as a beginner.
This post was sponsored by Hooks & Needles, but all opinions are my own. This post also contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links. For more information, please see my disclosures.
Recently, I was fortunate to receive crochet, knitting, and amigurumi subscription boxes from Hooks & Needles. I was thrilled!
I had only tried crochet as a young girl when I learned from a cousin. Barbie blankets and potholders were the extent of my crochet expertise back then, and I can’t say I’ve touched a crochet needle since.
So, the bottom line is I needed help as a beginner!
In just a few weeks, I went from being a crochet novice to making my first-ever amigurumi project. (How cute is my little crocheted bear?!) Now I can’t wait for the next project!
What is Amigurumi?
Amigurumi is a Japanese style of crochet focused on making 3D dolls or toys using various crochet stitches and techniques.
How can you learn to crochet?
If you’ve never tried crochet, the two main supplies you’ll need are yarn and a hook.
As with many handicrafts, you’ll find no limit to the variety of yarn and hooks out there. Yarns can have different fibers, weights, and textures, which in turn require different hooks.
Picking out the “best” materials for a project isn’t always a breeze. That’s where kits come in handy.
Find out below how you can get 20% off your first crochet box!
Hooks & Needles Amigurumi Kit
There are plenty of YouTube tutorials for beginner crochet, but I’ve found that the key to success is having the right tools for the task and detailed instructions.
I tested the amigurumi kit with Hooks & Needles, and I’m totally in love with how my first project turned out!
Amigurumi Kit Supplies
Hooks & Needles supplies all of the tools and materials needed to construct a full amigurumi project, including:
- Premium cotton yarns
- A crochet hook
- Stitch marker
- Tapestry needle
- Safety Eyes
- Toy stuffing
- Pattern with step-by-step instructions
I’m not completely new to yarn crafts, but making a figurine was totally out of my wheelhouse. I had a lot of questions, as I’m sure you do.
I’m sharing some lessons I learned along the way, hoping that they will help you on your journey.
Is amigurumi harder than regular crochet?
Amigurumi is not necessarily easier or harder than “regular crochet,” but it helps to understand the nuances.
Stitch Count and Time Required
Amigurumi uses various kinds of crochet stitches to create unique shapes. In that sense, it may seem complicated at first.
However, the size of an amigurumi project makes it very manageable. My amigurumi bear only took a few weeks to make, whereas a crocheted afghan could take months.
Stitch Variety
Typical beginner crochet projects with flat patterns may have more repetition (less stitch variety), which could seem easier compared to amigurumi.
However, with amigurumi, you often make two copies of the body parts (e.g., ears, arms, legs). Practice makes perfect, and the stitch variety improves your skills, IMHO.
My speed at crochet stitches increased as I reached the end of the amigurumi project. The variety of stitches also kept my boredom at bay.
Yarn and Needle Size
One challenge you may find with this beginner crochet project is the delicate yarn weight and hook size.
The cotton yarn for my project was fairly lightweight, and the 2.5mm crochet hook could be small for some beginners. After some practice, this challenge was easy to overcome.
The resulting amigurumi bear also looks tighter and neater than many other amigurumi kits on the market that use chunky yarn.
Which crochet stitches do you use for amigurumi?
In amigurumi, you’ll use a wide range of stitches. I loved the fact that Hooks & Needles provides a Crochet Techniques booklet that illustrates the various types of stitches and abbreviations found in the provided pattern.
Common Amigurumi Stitches & Techniques
- Chain stitch
- Slip stitch
- Single crochet and double crochet
- Increase and invisible decrease
- Working in the round
- Magic ring
- Changing colors
Tips for Success with Beginner Crochet Projects
Diving into a crochet project kit is the best way to learn this craft. Throughout my beginner amigurumi crochet project, I gained useful tips:
Get 20% off a beginner crochet kit
Use the code Crissy20 to get 20% off your first Hooks & Needles subscription box. Cancel any time, without any hassles.
More Yarn Crafts to Try
Hooks & Needles also offers regular crochet and knitting boxes. Each box is perfectly curated with projects to complete within a month and includes high-quality Italian or Portuguese yarns.
I decided to make a knitting project to test out that kit as well.
Like the amigurumi kits, the knitting boxes come with all the necessary supplies.
My knitting kit included not only the yarn (100% wool), circular knitting needles, and cute scissors, but also a magazine with three tiers of projects: beginner, intermediate, and advanced.
After making a small purse to hold my cell phone, I still have a whole skein of yarn left to tackle the more advanced knitting projects in the magazine!
I’m embracing my new Grannycore hobbies and can’t wait to experiment more with traditional crochet, amigurumi, and knitting.
I firmly believe it’s never too late to learn something new. If you’ve wanted to try crochet or knitting, now is your chance to have everything conveniently packaged for you. What are you waiting for?
Remember to use the code Crissy20 for 20% off your first crochet or knitting box!
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