Beginner Amigurumi: Understanding the Basic Shapes
Most amigurumi toys are made from a handful of simple shapes. Learn the sphere, tube, cone, and oval, and you can read and adapt countless patterns.
- Published
- Reading time
- 9 min read
- Skill level:
- Advanced beginner
Inspiration photo by Hasnain Ayaz on Unsplash
In this article (6 sections)
Amigurumi, the Japanese art of crocheting small stuffed figures, looks complicated, but nearly every design is assembled from a few basic shapes. A head is usually a sphere, legs are tubes, ears are small cones or flat circles, and bodies are often ovals. Once you understand how increases and decreases create these shapes, patterns start to make sense.
Before you start
- Work in a continuous spiral. Most amigurumi rounds aren't joined. Place a stitch marker in the first stitch of each round and move it up as you go.
- Use a smaller hook than the yarn label suggests. Tight stitches stop stuffing from showing through. With worsted yarn, a 3.5 to 4 mm hook is common.
- Know two key terms: inc (increase) means work 2 sc in the same stitch; dec (decrease) means join two stitches into one.
Shape 1: The sphere
A sphere grows by increasing evenly, works a few rounds straight, and then decreases at the same rate. Use it for heads, bodies, and the classic practice ball.
Practice sphere (about 2 in / 5 cm in worsted)
- Rnd 1
- 6 sc in a magic ring. (6)
- Rnd 2
- Inc in each st around. (12)
- Rnd 3
- (Sc 1, inc) 6 times. (18)
- Rnd 4
- (Sc 2, inc) 6 times. (24)
- Rnds 5–8
- Sc in each st around. (24)
- Rnd 9
- (Sc 2, dec) 6 times. (18)
- Rnd 10
- (Sc 1, dec) 6 times. (12) Stuff firmly.
- Rnd 11
- Dec 6 times. (6) Fasten off, thread the tail through the front loops of the remaining stitches, and pull to close.
Notice the pattern: each increase round adds 6 stitches, and the number of plain stitches between increases goes up by one. Decreases mirror that in reverse. To make a larger sphere, add more increase rounds and a few more plain rounds.
Shape 2: The tube
A tube (cylinder) increases to the width you want, then works even for as long as you need. Use it for arms, legs, tails, and necks.
Small tube
- Rnd 1
- 6 sc in a magic ring. (6)
- Rnd 2
- Inc in each st around. (12)
- Rnd 3
- Sc in the back loop only of each st. (12) This creates a crisp edge so the tube has a flat end.
- Rnd 4 onward
- Sc in each st around until the tube is the length you want. (12)
Shape 3: The cone
A cone increases gradually, adding just a few stitches each round instead of six. Use it for pointed ears, beaks, carrots, and tails.
Small cone
- Rnd 1
- 6 sc in a magic ring. (6)
- Rnd 2
- (Sc 2, inc) 2 times. (8)
- Rnd 3
- (Sc 3, inc) 2 times. (10)
- Rnd 4
- (Sc 4, inc) 2 times. (12)
- Rnd 5
- Sc in each st around. (12) Continue increasing or working even to adjust the point.
Shape 4: The oval
An oval starts from a foundation chain and works around both sides of it. Use it for bodies, feet, snouts, and the flat bases of baskets and bags.
Oval base
- Foundation
- Ch 6.
- Rnd 1
- Sc in the 2nd ch from the hook, sc in the next 3 ch, 3 sc in the last ch. Rotate and work along the other side of the chain: sc in the next 3 ch, 2 sc in the last ch. (12)
- Rnd 2
- Inc in the next st, sc in the next 3 sts, inc in each of the next 3 sts, sc in the next 3 sts, inc in each of the last 2 sts. (18)
The increases cluster at the two curved ends, while the long sides stay straight. To make a longer oval, start with a longer chain.
Putting shapes together
A simple animal might be a sphere head, an oval body, four short tubes for legs, and two small cones or flat circles for ears. Pin each piece in place before sewing, and use the yarn tails left at fastening off to sew the parts together.
New to crochet? Build confidence with the beginner's first steps guide first, then come back to these shapes.
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