How to Knit an Amigurumi Turtle?
Amigurumi, which originated in Japan and is very popular around the world, are crocheted or knitted stuffed toys that are usually worked in the round. Amigurumi is a compound word made up of the Japanese words ‘ami’ (knit, crochet or knit) and ‘nuigurumi’ (literally ‘upright and wrap’ – meaning many kinds of sewn stuffed toys).
Amugurumi are mostly dolls or animals, but can also be made into any kind of inanimate object, often with cute faces and features added. Amigurumi is cute, which goes a long way in explaining its appeal, but it’s very quick and easy to make, especially when compared to more traditional crochet projects. They use very little material, making them both inexpensive and portable. The techniques are easy to learn, as toys are often worked with only one crochet, so they’re great beginner projects.
They also make great personalized gifts.
History of Amigurumi
The history of amigurumi is rather uncertain. The technique may have been brought from China, where crochet dolls have been made since ancient times, but there isn’t much evidence that they were popular until a decade or two ago. The 1970s saw the explosion of ‘kawaii’ (cute) culture in Japan as characters like Hello Kitty became an overnight hit and the Japanese obsession with all things cute really started. In the late ’80s, Japanese national broadcaster NHK made a program called ‘Ami’ and the amigurumi craze was born. In 2002, the Japanese Amigurumi Association was established to share knowledge and promote amigurumi design.
A search for ‘amigurumi’ on Amazon Japan these days brings up around 200 pattern books and almost 300 pattern sets, and it’s Japanese only. This does not include the hundreds or even hundreds of models available online in all languages, mostly by independent designers.
amigurumi making
Amigurumis usually consist of circular embroidery of spheres or hemispheres and tubes. Some prefer to work in a spiral, while others prefer combined rounds. Simple amigurumis are usually made in one piece and interior material is added as they are worked on. More intricate designs may have extra piping or straight shapes, such as arms, legs, and ears, which are individually embroidered and then sewn with thread.
The basic stitch for amigurumi is single crochet because this results in a sturdy fabric with fewer holes.
