Amigurumi Course

Lesson 1 • History and Style of Amigurumi

Traces amigurumi's Japanese origins and its global evolution as a craft form. Establishes cultural context that informs design choices throughout the course.

Lesson 2 • Yarn and Colour Selection

Covers fibre properties, colour theory basics, and how yarn choice affects texture and scale. Learners match yarn to project requirements with confidence.

Lesson 3 • Essential Tools and Materials

Identifies crochet hooks, yarn types, stuffing, and notions required for amigurumi. Correct tool selection directly affects stitch quality and finished piece durability.

Lesson 1 • Increases and Decreases

Covers standard increase and invisible decrease techniques that shape three-dimensional forms. Mastery of shaping is essential before constructing any body part.

Lesson 2 • Magic Ring Technique

Teaches the adjustable magic ring used to begin nearly all amigurumi rounds. A tight, closed centre ring is critical for seamless spherical shapes.

Lesson 3 • Half Double and Double Crochet

Expands the stitch vocabulary with taller stitches used for ears, limbs, and decorative elements. Learners apply these selectively within predominantly single-crochet projects.

Lesson 4 • Single Crochet and Slip Stitch

Introduces the single crochet as the primary amigurumi stitch and the slip stitch for joining. These two stitches form the structural basis of all projects.

Lesson 1 • Crocheting Spheres and Rounds

Demonstrates the increase-plateau-decrease sequence that produces a perfect sphere. The sphere is the most common amigurumi head and body shape.

Lesson 2 • Flat Circles and Discs

Covers the flat circle formula for ears, eyes, and base pieces using consistent increase spacing. Flat pieces require different tension management than three-dimensional shapes.

Lesson 3 • Cylinders and Tube Shapes

Builds straight-sided tubes used for arms, legs, and tails by working even rounds without shaping. Learners vary length and diameter to create proportional limbs.

Lesson 4 • Stuffing and Shaping Techniques

Teaches when and how to stuff pieces for optimal firmness and shape retention. Proper stuffing technique prevents lumpy or misshapen finished figures.

Lesson 1 • Whipstitch and Mattress Stitch

Compares whipstitch and mattress stitch for attaching limbs and flat pieces. Stitch choice affects seam visibility and joint flexibility in the finished figure.

Lesson 2 • Weaving In and Hiding Ends

Demonstrates secure methods for weaving yarn tails into the fabric to prevent unravelling. Neat end management is the mark of a professional-quality finished piece.

Lesson 3 • Positioning and Pinning Parts

Establishes methods for symmetrical placement of limbs, ears, and facial features before sewing. Accurate positioning prevents asymmetrical figures that require disassembly.

Lesson 4 • Attaching Safety Eyes and Noses

Covers correct placement, sizing, and secure installation of safety eyes and plastic noses. Proper installation before closing the head is essential for child-safe figures.

Lesson 1 • Clothing and Accessory Details

Designs simple removable or attached clothing pieces that complement the main figure. Accessories reinforce character identity and expand creative design options.

Lesson 2 • Embroidering Mouths and Noses

Applies satin stitch, backstitch, and straight stitch to create facial features on crocheted fabric. Embroidery placement and tension determine the character's expression.

Lesson 3 • Adding Blush and Texture Effects

Introduces dry-brush blush application and surface texture techniques for lifelike details. These finishing touches elevate amateur work to professional presentation quality.

Lesson 4 • Crocheted Appliqué Elements

Constructs small crocheted patches, spots, and decorative shapes sewn onto the main body. Appliqué adds visual complexity without changing the base pattern structure.

Lesson 1 • Joining New Yarn Colours

Teaches mid-round and end-of-round colour joins with minimal visible knots. Clean joins are foundational to all striped and multi-colour amigurumi designs.

Lesson 2 • Bobble and Popcorn Stitches

Constructs three-dimensional bobble and popcorn stitches for textured surface details. These stitches create raised features like bumps, snouts, and decorative patterns.

Lesson 3 • Stripes and Colour Blocking

Applies regular and irregular colour sequences to create stripes and blocked sections. Learners plan colour repeats before beginning to avoid miscounts.

Lesson 4 • Tapestry Crochet Basics

Introduces carrying multiple yarn colours within a round to create surface patterns. Tapestry technique enables logos, spots, and geometric motifs on amigurumi bodies.

Lesson 1 • Character Concept and Sketching

Translates a character idea into a proportional sketch that guides crochet construction. Visual planning reduces errors and rework during the crocheting phase.

Lesson 2 • Calculating Proportions and Gauge

Uses gauge swatches and mathematical formulas to determine stitch counts for desired dimensions. Accurate gauge calculation ensures parts fit together as designed.

Lesson 3 • Writing Clear Pattern Instructions

Structures pattern text using standard notation, round-by-round formatting, and stitch count verification. Clear instructions allow others to reproduce the design accurately.

Lesson 4 • Testing and Refining Patterns

Establishes a test-crochet workflow to identify errors, ambiguities, and proportion issues. Pattern testing is essential before sharing or publishing any original design.

Lesson 1 • Crocheting All Body Components

Produces each body part in the correct order to maintain consistent tension and colour continuity. Systematic part production prevents mismatched pieces in the final assembly.

Lesson 2 • Full Assembly Workflow

Applies assembly techniques from Chapter 4 in a structured sequence for a complete figure. A defined workflow ensures symmetry and structural integrity in the final piece.

Lesson 3 • Final Detailing and Quality Check

Applies facial features, surface details, and accessories, then evaluates the piece against quality criteria. Quality review identifies and corrects issues before the project is complete.

Lesson 4 • Project Planning and Material Prep

Organises materials, tools, and a production schedule before beginning a full project. Upfront planning reduces mid-project interruptions and material shortages.