If you want to learn how to crochet miniature dolls, animals, fruits, vegetables, and desserts, this post is for you! We’re sharing everything you need to know below – arigurumi essentials and beginner basics, plus 9 step-by-step amigurumi tutorials for beginners and tons of free patterns. Arigurumi is such a fun craft you can do on your own or with your kids to unwind at the end of a long day, and the designs we’ve curated make fantastic gifts and keepsakes for family and friends!
What Is Amigurumi?
Amigurumi is a popular form of crocheting and knitting small, stuffed items out of yarn.
The word ‘amigurumi’ is a compound of 2 Japanese words:
Ami: crocheted or knitted
Nuigurumi: stuffed doll
Amigurumi has been around for decades in Japan, but it didn’t gain popularity around the world until the early 2000s.
9 Amigurumi Essentials to Invest In
1. Crochet hook set
The hooks you’ll use for the amigurumi tutorials for beginners below will depend on the pattern and type of yarn you are working with, but a good rule of thumb is to choose a hook that is 2 sizes smaller than your yarn. A smaller hook will make smaller stitches, which will result in smaller holes on your design, making it less likely that your stuffing will show through. This set of crochet hooks is a great set for beginners as it includes 12 different sizes to choose from.
2. Yarn
There are many different types and weights of yarn you can choose from, and if you are following a pattern, it will likely tell you which type of yarn to use. If you’re unsure, many of the amigurumi tutorials for beginners we’ve shared in this post recommend acrylic yarn, but feel free to play around with different options until you find one you feel most comfortable with.
3. Yarn cutter
Yes, you can use standard scissors, but a yarn cutter will give you a more precise cut. Yarn cutters are also easier and safer to transport if you plan on crocheting on the go as they come with a lid!
4. Yarn organizer
There are lots of stylish yarn organizers to choose from depending on your style as well as whether you intend on traveling with your amigurumi supplies or keep them at home. I love this one!
5. Stitch markers
As you begin branching out to more advanced amigurumi tutorials, you’ll definitely need a set of stitch markers!
6. Embroidery Thread
Whether you’re sewing your amigurumi design together, or creating details like eyes and eyelashes to bring your creation to life, you’ll need some sort of thread. I recommend stranded embroidery cotton thread (aka ’embroidery floss’) as it comes with 6 strands that are easy to separate based on your needs, and you can buy it in so many colors fairly inexpensively.
7. Needles
You can use any kind of needles to add the finishing touches to your amigurumi designs. I like these large eye needles as I find them super easy to thread!
8. Stuffing
This probably goes without saying, but make sure you have some stuffing handy before trying the amigurumi tutorials for beginners below!
9. Plastic Safety Eyes and Noses
If you plan on trying the doll and animal patterns in the amigurumi tutorials for beginners we’ve curated, this set of plastic safety eyes and noses is a great investment as it will allow you to easily personalize your creations.
Amigurumi Basics for Beginners
The best way to learn amigurumi is to jump right in and give it a try, and this tutorial by Ollie + Holly is a great one to help you get started. You’ll learn how to make an arigurumi ball along with tons of great tips and tricks.
9 Step-by-Step Amigurumi Tutorials for Beginners
And now for the fun part! These step-by-step amigurumi tutorials for beginners include a mix of different designs that are fairly easy and oh so cute!
Crochet Amigurumi Flower Keychain | Hooked by Robin
Amigurumi Crochet Kawaii Octopus | Hooked by Robin
Mini Crochet Doughnuts | HappyBerry Crochet
How to Crochet Stuffed Animals | Amigurumi Puppy Dog & Kitty Cat! | kirrilalia
Sushi Crochet Tutorial | Amigurumi Food | Ami Amour
Amigurumi Unicorn | Alan Craft Crochet Diy
Mermaid Doll Amigurumi Chibi | Crimson & Wool
French Macaron Crochet Tutorial | AFarmhouseFull
Amigurumi Ballerina | Círculo S/A
10 Free Amigurumi Patterns for Beginners
In addition to providing a collection of step-by-step amigurumi tutorials for beginners, I wanted to share a list of free patterns you can use to create designs on your own. But before we dive into those, I thought it would be helpful to share a great tutorial by NVkatherine that will teach you how to read amigurumi patterns.
There are TONS of free amigurumi patterns for beginners (and beyond) online. Here are some of my favourites!
Little Pig | Hainchan
Amigurumi Bunny | Once Upon a Cheerio
Unicorn Pig | Law-Gurumis
Amigurumi Crochet Elephant | Supergurumi
Bubble Seal Amigurumi | I Crochet Things
Octopus Amigurumi | Moogly
Rainbow Cake Slice | Genuine Mudpie
Dinosaurs Amigurumi | Stringy Ding Ding
Clownfish Arigurumi | Natalina Craft
Ice Cream Arigurumi | Furls Crochet
You can also purchase arigurumi pattern books with specific themes, and I’ve linked to a few great ones below!
Mini Amigurumi Animals: 26 Tiny Creatures to Crochet
Adorable Fruits & Vegetables to Crochet
Stylish Succulents to Crochet
Kawaii Crochet: 40 Super Cute Crochet Patterns for Adorable Amigurumi
If you’re trying to learn how to crochet miniature masterpieces, I hope this collection of amigurumi tutorials for beginners proves useful to you!