PlanetJune by June Gilbank

Amigurumi Help

Here’s a handy list of all my amigurumi tutorials in one place. If you think of something that’s not on this page that you’d like to see, please let me know!

Crochet Basics (right-handed)
Crochet Basics (left-handed)
Magic Ring (right-handed)
Magic Ring (left-handed)
Invisible Decrease
Which is the ‘Right’ Side?
Fastening Off
Eyes and Noses
Eye Sources
Joining Amigurumi
Colour Changes
Fuzzy Yarn Tips
Fuzzy to Brushed Crochet

18 Comments »

S Faloon Said,

March 7, 2008 @ 12:52 pm

Hi June,

I got the Fuzzy Bunny & Chick pattern and am thrilled. I can not wait to
get the yarn and make a set. A pattern and site to visit, awesome deal.
Thank you so very much!
Susan
becky Said,

March 23, 2008 @ 7:27 am

Hi,
I am new to the knitting way of life and I am enjoying it so much. I have been felting most of my projects until I saw a book about Amigurumi and was absolutely hooked! Thankyou very much for putting up this site for us to share these great patterns, I am excited about picking my first project
Sincerely,
becky
ale Said,

June 24, 2008 @ 5:21 pm

Hi! I love all the amigurumi help you have, specially the color changing one, that really helped me with that issue… I have one request if possible, I’m lousy at sewing, and I am having a real problem doing my amigurumis smile!! do you think you can help me out with that or tell me where to look how to do that??

thanks a lot!
alex
June Said,

June 26, 2008 @ 12:41 pm

Alex, there are lots of different embroidery stitches you could use to add a smile to your amigurumi, but back stitch is probably the easiest. Here is a link to instructions for different types of stitch you could use – maybe you could try a couple of different ones and see what works best for you?

Good luck!
Amigurumi Help and Pattern Sites! « Said,

December 29, 2008 @ 10:27 pm

[...] off is PlanetJune Here you can find some great crocheting tips and tricks for making Amigurumi, from crochet basics [...]
Michelle Hamilton Said,

February 17, 2009 @ 6:18 pm

Hi-
I am new to crochet and have purchased Tami Snow’s book for Tiny Yarn animals and I have a question. I do the pattern as described (thanks for unlocking the sc2tog mystery) but do not have a closed body. I have a little more than a semi-circle that is “cupped at the sides” but it is not fastened to make a closed body on all sides. There does not seem to be an instruction for doing this or perhaps being a novice do not know the nuances.
June Said,

February 18, 2009 @ 12:53 pm

Michelle: many amigurumi patterns are written so that the body is not closed – you work from the bottom up, and the body remains open at the neck. You close up that gap later by resting the head on top of the opening and stitching the two together. Read ahead to the assembly instructions and see if you can figure out if that applies in your pattern.

The other alternative is that you have miscounted your increases and/or decreases. If you use a stitch marker to mark the first stitch in each round, you can always make sure that you have the correct number of stitches when you get to the end of each round (good patterns should have a stitch count, e.g. (12 st), written at the end of each round).

I can’t say which of the two applies here, as I haven’t seen your pattern or your work, but hopefully some of this advice will help you!
SephXIII Said,

March 22, 2009 @ 3:20 am

Hi. An absolute newbie here and I’ve a question. What hook size do you use with your work? I noticed in your fuzzy yarn tutorial, you seeming use the same size hook as the ones in your other tutorials. I’m at a loss at what hook type to buy as the yarns sold locally do not provide any recommendations on hook size, and all the ones I’ve seen are a lot smaller than yours (more for crochet yarns than the thick ones you’ve been working with).

Thanks in advance.
June Said,

March 22, 2009 @ 5:07 am

Seph: I use different hooks sizes depending on the yarn I’m working with. Here are my top recommendations:

Worsted weight yarn: size E US/3.5mm
Bulky weight yarn: size G7 US/4.5mm
Fuzzy yarn: size H US/5mm

Depending on the actual yarn I’m using, I might sometimes use an F (3.75mm) or G (4mm) hook too, but I haven’t used anything smaller than an E or larger than an H in my designs. So if you pick up some hooks within that range (3.5mm – 5mm) you will probably be covered for any amigurumi-type work you’d like to make!
One Crafty Place » Amigurumi: Free* Patterns and Tutorials Said,

May 8, 2009 @ 1:17 pm

[...] Planet June for many tutorials to help you along your [...]
skrunkycat Said,

May 15, 2009 @ 5:33 pm

How to finish?

What do you do with your spare yarn ends once your piece is the required size? I don’t know how to tie it all off so it won’t unravel… Please help!
teerose Said,

May 28, 2009 @ 10:15 am

love your work. Am new at amigurumi (email and tell me how to SAY it
so far, have made little mouse. any suggestions for a beginner. your tutorials are a big help

thanks
rose
Bell Said,

June 9, 2009 @ 8:40 am

Thank you so much for putting up your Amigurumi tutorials! I am a crochet beginner and found your instructions and photos really helpful. Especially the tutorial on joining it all up. I’m going to try your Fuzzy Kitten and/or a AmiDog Jack Russell next! All of your patterns look so adorable!
Kira Said,

July 11, 2009 @ 7:19 pm

I still cant figure out the magic circle!! I need to use it for the saftey cone pattern from aliciakachmar.com but I cant figure it out :’(
Julie Said,

November 15, 2009 @ 4:43 pm

What about joining heads and bodies? Closed to closed things. I usually end up with wobbly heads or ugly looking necks.
June Said,

November 15, 2009 @ 5:15 pm

Julie: a well-written pattern won’t join a closed piece to another closed piece. Either the head or the body (or both) should be left open at the neck so the other piece can nestle against it and you can sew them together that way. The only other options, if you really want to join 2 closed pieces are:

1) Squash the 2 pieces together so they are touching in a neck-width circle, not just at one point, then sew them together all around the circle where they are touching, keeping them squashed together the whole time.

2) Crochet a short neck piece that’s a cylinder (open at both ends), then stitch it to the top of the body. Insert a little stuffing into the neck if necessary, then balance the head on top and attach it to the neck. This would work well for something with a long neck (e.g. a horse or giraffe) but not so well for a little bear or something that doesn’t really have a noticeable neck.

But in general, design the pieces so one edge is always left open, and you won’t have this problem in the first place!
Shelly Said,

December 23, 2009 @ 1:27 am

Hi June!

Well I have just been hooked into the world of amigurumi..My moms old co worker was a pro at this! I haven’t bought any of the materials so I want to know what you would recommend (yarn/hook size/ ANYTHING!) I should buy.. I wanted to know if there was a hook size that would work for practically everything..

Thanks,

Shelly
June Said,

December 23, 2009 @ 10:33 am

Shelly: good question! The most commonly used yarn is a worsted weight, and the most commonly used hook is a size E (3.5mm). If you can’t find an E, an F (3.75mm) would also be fine

Other essentials: a metal yarn needle and a stitch marker or two. I’d also recommend plastic animal (safety) eyes, although the size you need depends on the size of amigurumi you’re planning to make! If you’d like to buy eyes and stitch markers, they can be hard to find in stores, but I sell both in my shop.

Hope that helps! And welcome to the wonderful world of amigurumi