How to Find the Best Yarn For Amigurumi Online

This fun, colorful, and often quirky Japanese craft is going to take over your crafting world. Seriously, just make one Amigurumi and you’ll be hooked (pun intended). Because there are no boundaries with this craft, you can be as creative as you want. From nostalgic teddy bears to colorful cartoon characters to food, furniture, and beyond, there is an Amigurumi for everyone.

The Selection Process

So, if you’re serious about learning this seriously fun craft, let’s talk about how to select the best yarn for Amigurumi. Selecting the best yarn for your Amigurumi project is actually a very important step.

If you get the wrong type of yarn you could end up with a project that is too big, too small, full of gaps between stitches, or crooked. There are a few ways to decide what the best yarn is for your Amigurumi project, so let’s talk about those now.

Project Recommendation

The first way to determine what type of yarn is best for your project is simply to use the yarn recommended by the designer of the pattern you have selected. The pattern designer will recommend a product that is suitable for the item you are creating in gauge, color, and texture. This provides more surety that the Amigurumi project will look great once it is complete.

Tweaked Project Recommendation

The second way to determine what type of yarn is best for your project is to use a yarn that is similar but not exactly the same as what is recommended by the pattern designer.

In this way, you can either select a yarn that has the same gauge, color, and texture but is made by a different brand or, you can select a different color or gauge of the yarn brand recommended on the pattern.

Personal Preference

A third way to determine what type of yarn is best for your project is to choose the yarn you prefer. If you are familiar with how to knit or crochet, you should be able to figure out how to work on a project with any type of yarn. Choosing yarn based on personal preference will free you to choose yarn of any gauge, color, and texture.  

Features and Factors to Consider

the Best Yarn for Amigurumi

Yarn is extremely versatile and is produced with many different features and factors that should be considered before adding a particular skein to your project. Even though it is important, there is more to this crafting material than color. If you choose your yarn based on personal preference, keep the following factors in mind:

Elasticity

Some types of yarn are very stretchy while other types are not. You will have to decide how stretchy you want your yarn to be for each project, but it is recommended that the yarn used in Amigurumi projects has some stretchiness. Plus, a little stretchiness actually helps keep your hand from hurting a lot after hours of crocheting or knitting.

Gauge

This is a reference to how thin or thick the strand of yarn is. If you choose to use yarn with a different gauge than what is presented in your selected pattern, it will create a project that is either bigger or smaller. This means you may need more yarn if you choose yarn of a larger gauge since it will create a bigger project.  

Weight

This is a reference to how long and how heavy the strand of yarn is. It is important to consider this feature since you want to get enough yarn to finish your project. Sure, you can always buy more, but you run the risk of not getting yarn from the same color lot, which can ruin the look of the overall project.

Yarn Fiber

This refers to the fibers that make up the yarn, eg, wool, cotton, acrylic. Different fibers produce different textures which can hang differently, feel differently to the touch, and wash differently. If you know yarn well, you can easily select a different type of fiber without worrying about how the finished project will look.

The Best Amigurumi Yarn

If you are still wondering whether or not there is a particular type of yarn that will work best for Amigurumi projects, then the answer is yes. Actually, there are several types of yarn that are highly recommended for this craft. Let’s examine each of these so you can make a more informed decision when you select yarn for your project.

Cotton Yarn

This type of yarn is great for Amigurumi projects because it is easy to wash, doesn’t pill, and it creates a tight stitch or knit.

Recommended Yarn: Paintbox Yarns

Cotton Yarn

This yarn comes in 49 different colors shades that will suit the color palette needs of any crafter.  

  • Yarn Weight (Gauge): Light worsted
  • Contents: 100% Cotton
  • Skein Weight: 1.8 oz.
  • Skein Yardage: 137 yards
  • Care: Machine wash in warm water; air dry; iron with medium heat
  • Recommended Knitting Needles: US 6 (4mm)
  • Recommended Crochet Hook: F (4mm)

Recommended Projects: Crochet Alligator

Crochet Alligator

If you like to crochet Amigurumi, try this adorable alligator pattern. You are going to have so much fun working it and giving it to a loved one.

Knit Call

Knit Call

This llama is Amigurumi perfection . It will make a great gift for a baby shower or for the animal lover in your life. 

Merino Wool

This type of wool comes from a specific breed of sheep which originated in Spain. It is soft wool that is made from very fine fibers.

Recommended Yarn: Yarn Bee Authentic Hand-Dyed Yarn

Yarn Bee Authentic Hand-Dyed Yarn

This yarn offers textures that are beyond belief combined with unique color patterns. With this yarn in hand, you can be sure of an Amigurumi that is cute and quirky.

  • Yarn Weight (Gauge): Superfine
  • Contents: 100% Merino wool
  • Skin Weight: 3.5 oz.
  • Skein Yardage: 400 yards
  • Care: Hand wash in cool water; lay flat to dry; iron on low heat
  • Recommended Knitting Needles: 3mm
  • Recommended Crochet Hook: C (3mm)

Recommended Projects: Bunny Amigurumi

Bunny Amigurumi

Sure, you can make an Amigurumi bunny with traditional and realistic colors, but why? Use the unique color patterns from Yarn Bee’s hand-dyed Merino yarn to create a one-of-a-kind gift for a loved one.

Cotton Blend Yarn

This type of yarn is soft, washable, and has typically more elasticity than 100% cotton. It also forms a tight stitch or knits.

Recommended Yarn: Yarn Bee Yarn Cakes

Yarn Bee Yarn Cakes

This selection of yarn has many fun and wild color combinations that can be used to create Amigurumi from the perspective of a free spirit. Don’t let color blocking hold you back, get this yarn and explore all your creative options.

  • Yarn Weight (Gauge): Super Fine
  • Contents: 60% cotton with 40% acrylic
  • Skein Weight: 7 oz.
  • Skein Yardage: 918 yards
  • Care: Hand wash in cool water; lay flat to dry; iron on low heat
  • Recommended Knitting Needles: 2.75mm
  • Recommended Crochet Hook: D (3.25mm)

Recommended Projects: Amigurumi Octopus

These are playful and colorful creatures in nature and the colorful yarn found in Yarn Bee’s yarn cakes will capture these features very well.

Acrylic Yarn

This type of yarn is inexpensive, full of color options, has just the right amount of elasticity, and can still hold a great stitch or knit.

Recommended Yarn: Rainbow Brava Mini Pack

knit picks

Here is a pack of twenty-five different colors that will enhance any Amigurumi project. You’ll love the color selection and the quality of the yarn.

  • Yarn Weight (Gauge): Worsted
  • Contents: 100% Acrylic
  • Skein Weight: 600 grams
  • Skein Yardage: 1308 yards
  • Care: Machine wash and dry
  • Recommended Knitting Needles: 4.5 to 5 mm
  • Recommended Crochet Hook: 5.5 to 6.5 mm

Recommended Projects: Tiny Curl Day & Night Owls

Tiny Curl Day & Night Owls

These owls are so cute that you’ll be making pairs of them for everyone you know. On top of that, the tutorial is free and it is available in both written instructions and video format.

Mercerized Cotton Yarn

This type of yarn goes through a process that allows the yarn fibers to absorb dyes and water better than fibers that have not been mercerized. The process also makes the fibers shinier.

Recommended Yarn: Scheepjes Catona Color Pack

Scheepjes Catona Color Pack

This is a set of 109 colorful skeins of mercerized cotton yarn. It is going to fill your craft room with joy just to look at all the beautiful shades of blues, greens, purples, and so on. Give your Amigurumi crafts a little shine with this wonderful collection of yarn.

  • Yarn Weight (Gauge): Fingering
  • Contents: 100% Mercerized Cotton
  • Skein Yardage: 27 yards per skein or 2,943 yards altogether
  • Care: Machine wash on a gentle cycle; lay flat to dry
  • Recommended Knitting Needles: 2.5mm
  • Recommended Crochet Hook: E (2.5mm)

Recommended Projects: Amigurumi Food

Amigurumi Food

Since this is a set of colorful yarn, take advantage of it. Use these tiny skeins of color to create wonderfully playful Amigurumi food . The choices are endless.

FAQs

Question: Should I Select the Amigurumi Pattern or the Yarn First?

Answer: The best way to work on an Amigurumi project is to first select a pattern. Choosing a pattern first will benefit the crafting process because it will give some guidance to the type of yarn that will work best for that specific project. Consider the following factors that will benefit from making this first step:
• Choosing the pattern first will help with the selection of the color palette. The pattern may call for several colors and knowing this in advance will help you as you select your colors. It may also help you to select unique colors, for instance, you may prefer crafting a pink alligator rather than a traditional green alligator. If you have your pattern selected, you will be aware of this more quickly.
• Choosing the pattern first will help with the amount of yarn chosen. If the pattern you have chosen is large and calls for several skeins, it is nice to know this in advance so you do not run the risk of running out of yarn or purchasing yarn from different color lots.

Question: Is Amigurumi Only for Crochet?

Answer: This craft used to be all about crochet, but today it includes knit patterns as well. So, no matter what yarn art you have a preference for, you can be sure there is an Amigurumi pattern to suit you.  

Question: Where Can I Find Amigurumi Patterns?

Answer: Amigurumi patterns are available in three different ways. They can be found in books, online blog sites, and YouTube videos. Depending on how you like to learn, each of these resources has its own advantage.
Amigurumi Book Recommendations
Here are a few books you may want to consider purchasing and keeping as references:
Amigurumi Knits
Crochet Cafe
Crochet Cute Critters
Knotmonsters
Blog Site Recommendations
Here are few websites you may want to consider following and using for design inspiration:
All About Ami
friend
Lilleli
YouTube Channel Recommendations
Here are a few YouTube channels that will really get your creative juices flowing:
Amiguruku
Le Petit Saint Crochet
Odinka Wisanindhi
Ollie + holly

Question: What is the Best Type of Filling for Amigurumi?

Answer: There are so many different fillings in Amigurumi crafts Nearly That It is impossible to run out of options. You can either purchase the filling that is recommended by the pattern designer of the Amigurumi project you have selected or you can use scrap yarn, scrap material, plastic bags, fluff from a pillow you are no longer using, cotton balls, or any soft and pliable product that is available to you.

Question: Should I Wash My Yarn Before or After Creating the Amigurumi?

Answer: If you have selected the yarn is dirty or feels rough, it Should be washed and softened before you use it to create an Amigurumi project. There are three different methods that you can use to wash yarn while it is still in a ball, hank, or skein form. Let’s look at them so you can decide which is best for your yarn.
Fabric Softener Method
Gather these supplies:
• Fabric softener
• Dryer sheet

Method:
• Wash the yarn in your machine washer with plenty of fabric softener. Dry the yarn in your machine dryer with a dryer sheet.

Hair Conditioner Method
Gather these supplies:
• Shampoo
• Hair Conditioner
• Cool water
• Container to hold the water

Method:
Fill the container with cool water and hand wash the yarn with the shampoo. Rinse out the shampoo. Cover the yarn with the hair conditioner and let it soak in the water for an hour. Rinse out the hair conditioner. Machine wash the yarn with a fabric softener and machine dry the yarn with a dryer sheet.

The Vinegar Method
Gather these supplies:
• White vinegar
• Cool water
• Container to hold the water

Method:
Fill the container with cool water and white vinegar (1TBSP of vinegar for every 4 cups of water). Allow the yarn to soak in the vinegar and water mixture for 20 minutes. Machine wash the yarn with a fabric softener and machine dry the yarn with a dryer sheet.

In Conclusion

Amigurumi art is fun and exciting. This type of crafting allows crafters to think beyond blankets and scarves; it allows crafts to be three-dimensional and completely unordinary. I personally love crocheting an Amigurumi octopus for the kids in my life when they have birthdays.

They love the cute and cuddly features of the octopus and the bright and vibrant colors of the yarn. Plus, each Amigurumi project is unique and specially made for each kid.

Hopefully, this article has inspired you to take up your crochet hooks or your knitting needles to try something new. You will be surprised at how much fun this craft is and how rewarding the end results will be. Happy crafting!

Research Citations

For more stitching and crocheting  related guides check the links below:

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