All about unusual amigurumi dolls

In the Land of the Rising Sun, so many artistic directions have been created that it is difficult to find that niche where talented Japanese have had their hand. Ikebana a couple of decades ago broke all the records of popularity, relatively recently, kanzashi has become the trend of hand-made. One of the popular areas of Japanese needlework today is amigurumi. Incredibly cute, touching, aesthetically perfect knitted dolls have become popular far beyond their homeland.

Amigurumi literally translates to Knitted-wrapped. This is the Japanese art of knitting or crocheting that many people have loved because of the theme of knitting. Knitted amigirumi dolls are very cute, as “mimic” say today. Usually these are cute animals - hares, kittens, puppies, bears, etc. But there can be toys and inanimate ones, however endowed with human qualities - cupcakes and handbags, hats, cosmetic bags.

Many probably remember how in the 90s in the post-Soviet space there was a boom in Japanese cartoons. Pikachu was a favorite of children. Sweet, big-eyed, naive, he impressed everyone with his charm. It was the heroes of the cartoons that became the reason for the popularization of amigurumi, when they wanted to touch these characters, hug them, and play with them. And today amigurumi toys are images of small charming creatures.

Knitting amigurumi now mainly happens by crochet: it is both easier and more affordable. A hook, yarn, the right pattern - and the new hero is ready. Even children who are already physically capable of knitting will master this art. If it’s hard for them to read the diagrams, they can do video tutorials.

The heads of the characters are usually large, and the body is miniature. If you used to knit pupae no more than 8 cm high, today amigurumi knit up to half a meter in length. They become the perfect gift for the child: immediately fall in love with themselves.

Amigurumi is considered small work, that is, yarn for knitting is not suitable for any here. But there is a choice.

What do needlewomen most often choose:

• acrylic yarn - it does not double, it fits comfortably and is also comfortable in dissolution, keeps its shape perfectly, does not cause allergies;
• cotton - the thread is reliable, since knitting with its help comes out neat, but this option is more suitable for experienced knitters;
• mohair - an option exclusively for the pros, although the toys will be cute pussies, there is something to try.

Those who just study the hook should use smooth yarn, those who knit practically blindly can refer to “shaggy” patterns.

If you specifically list the brands, then here it is worth noting some nuances. For example, popular Iris threads are suitable for knitting miniature toys, these are thin and even threads. About the same characteristic can be given to the threads of "Narcissus". From "Alpina Alpaki" they knit furry bears and hare. But it is more difficult to knit from them than from smooth cotton.

“Baby Best” is also suitable, very tender, tactilely pleasant amigurumi dolls come out of them. For small manipulations, the domestic “Children's novelty” is also suitable - high-quality and not the most expensive material. It is difficult to advise on color: it depends only on the taste of the craftswoman, on her idea of ​​what the toy will be.

The hook is the main working tool of the knitter. It must match the yarn in thickness, otherwise the work will not do without blemish. If the yarn is thin, you need a hook of 1.5-2, if the thread is thicker, the number of the hook is increasing. Hooks can be selected plastic, metal, bone, wooden. And again, this is a matter of convenience and personal preference. The craftswoman usually uses knitting needles only for knitting certain attributes of a toy - for example, making a dress or other outfit for a hero.

Also in the work you will definitely need sharp scissors, games and threads for stitching parts of the toy. Beads, plastic eyes or a nose, beads, rhinestones, satin, as well as braid, lace, sequins, etc. will come in handy for decorating a finished doll. Here everything depends only on the imagination of the master.

If the needlewoman plans to make a toy, the movements of which can be fixed, a wire frame must be built into it. But usually beginners do not resort to this measure. If the toy is knitted for a gift (or for sale), you need to worry about packaging. In the case of amigurumi, its importance is not exaggerated: Many craftswomen pay special attention to packaging, craft or vintage, as it makes the toy even more charming.

This is the basis of this needlework, only having mastered this technique can you move on. Amigurumi ring is considered one of the possible ways to start the starting row. There is another way: you can dial 2 air loops, knit in the second loop from the hook the desired number of columns without a crochet. But the knitting technique of the ring has a real plus - it is an adjustable loop, it makes it possible to tighten the central hole.

1. You need to make a loop 2.5 cm from the end of the thread. The working thread should be placed between the fingers (index and middle).
2. The hook is inserted into the loop, the working thread is caught and pulled in front of the loop. Attention, the next step: the working thread is now carried out through the loop.
3. The working thread needs to be pulled out and tightened - this loop will not be the first column in the ring.
4. The hook should be brought from below under both threads, which form a large loop. There is a capture of the working thread.
5. The loop should be pulled out and again hooked to pick up the thread. Pull it through 2 loops on the instrument. So it turns out the first single crochet in the ring.
6. Now you need to knit as many columns as the scheme suggests. That's it, the ring is connected!

In the next video, you can clearly get acquainted with the process of knitting amigurumi rings.

You need to knit for master classes that step by step paint the entire course of work. Only pros can knit without looking at the patterns, because their hands are already working on automatism, an eye gauge is developed, etc.

Typical mistakes novice knitter amigurumi

• Yarn and hook do not match each other. You can call it a "schoolgirl mistake." If you get loose knitting, the point is a thick, disproportionate yarn hook. Moreover, what is indicated on the yarn itself does not correspond to what is to be connected. If the instructions for the yarn say that you need to take a 3.5-4 hook, then for knitting amigurumi to the same yarn, the hook is taken 1.75-2.

• The confusion of the wrong side and the front side is another big mistake for beginners. Yes, sometimes this is a deliberate action, but rarely. The product must not turn out during knitting. Immediately you need to determine how the inside will look like, how - the front part.

• The filler sticks out of the toy. Stuffing a toy can be said to be, if not a whole art, then a separate topic for consideration. When the part is completed, it is necessary to fill it not to the edges, but leave a small gap so that the hook slides. And on the last row through a small hole, this gap is filled with any suitable thin stick (skewer, for example).

• To work without a marker for a beginner is a big mistake. Counting loops and rows is simply not possible. Each last (or first, as an option) loop of the series must be marked. What will be a marker, the needlewoman decides: a contrasting thread, a paper clip or special markers for creativity are suitable.

• If it’s ugly to sew on details, all the work becomes untidy. Fingers, head to body, hands and ears need to be sewn this way: from the part to be sewn to the main one. The seam should be neat and invisible, this is stated in any description of amigurumi. And you need to make your hair as delicately as possible, and embroider the eyes on the face without haste, so as to avoid shrinkage of the face.

• No need to use "running Chinese eyes." They really cheapen the work visually. Beads or half beads are already better than this cheap plastic. And it’s better, of course, to embroider the eyes. The glass version is the most chic.

• If the craftswoman uses low-grade filler, the work seriously loses its value. Knitted toys still can not be stuffed with anything, especially frame. And very small, and 24 cm, and half a meter long - any toy deserves high-quality stuffing. The filler can be seen through the holes and even seep through them. Excellent stuffing - holofiber, sintepuh is also suitable. But the synthetic winterizer is not very suitable for stuffing, it is used only as a last resort. The fact is that the last filler is not evenly distributed, which is why what appears on the toy is what knitters and knitters (men also knit) are often called “cellulite”.

• Asymmetry - Another typical problem that cannot be hidden behind clothes. Tighten should be the same thread from which they were knitted. But if the yarn is completely unsuitable for weighting, you will have to replace it. For example, textured yarn is not suitable for this purpose. You just need to take similar threads, only cotton. It is important to follow the symmetry so that the nose does not "move" to the side, and the legs do not differ in size.

• And another common mistake, it does not concern knitting directly, but it is very important if the toys are put up for sale. You can make a chic amigurumi: for example, a boy artist in elegant boots, a red beret, a sweater with deers, but the buyer will not see all these trifles. A toy can be cheapened by a bad background or light. If the doll has shoes and a dress of curly knitting, this should be emphasized. A photophone should be like a toy, and the frame can be anything themed. Red lollipops in the form of hearts, if the photo is laid out for Valentine's Day or summer forget-me-nots, if the content is June, etc.

Knitting patterns are in numbers and tables, it is difficult for a beginner to read them, because the descriptions in Russian are most in demand and understandable. But there are also Japanese patterns in pictures, they are the most complex. But in general, any description is suitable if the master himself is easier to work with. And yet, it makes sense to start not with diagrams and descriptions, but with video tutorials: the principle of visualization works to its full potential.

Toys can be not only fun for the child - although this, of course, is the main, initial purpose of amigurumi. But a lot of work is being done in these techniques, which become interior decorative elements - they decorate the home with their good looks and, of course, the fact that they are made with their own hands. Amigurumi is also great for home puppet theater. Moreover, they can be connected with finger puppets, and then it will be a wonderful gift for the baby - with the help of such dolls you can study animals, colors and even sizes.

Amigurumi make special decorative “wraps” on the teapot: they look charming and leave the contents of the teapot warm longer. In the same way, you can make clothes for a children's cup, the child is insured against burns on the hot walls of the container, and drinking from a cup in knitted clothes with his head, for example, an octopus, of course, is much tastier.

You can make a keychain for a children's backpack, tie educational toys for speech therapy lessons or make voluminous parts for children's outfits from amigurumi - there are a lot of ideas. And copyright interior options in needlework are only welcome.

• Sell ​​them through a social network (Instagram is the most convenient platform for this today).
• To sell content, you need to take at least a few photo lessons (including processing). This will significantly increase the competitiveness of the account.
• More advertising will attract that page where the toys are shown not only ready. If the goal of the author is to attract an audience that will also learn, you need to lay out lessons, schemes, descriptions. Or arrange free newsletter promotions.
• Packaging and packaging again. In its perfection, sometimes the same cherry lies on the cake.

If the toys will be in groups (like the heroes of one fairy tale), this will attract attention and, perhaps, encourage the buyer to make a "massive" purchase. Again, packaging is important at the show. Sometimes a toy is given exclusivity as a small gift: for example, a mini-bouquet of lavender in the foot of a hare or a mini-set of colored pencils next to a knitted artist.

In this list, those works in the amigurumi technique that are the best example for beginners in this needlework.

• A simple and cute gray kitten will take root on the child’s desk, become its keeper and pet.

• Classic amigurumi bunnies appeal to both children and adults. You can tie several pieces at once, make them brothers or sisters.

• If a child loves fur seals, then the knitted version of his beloved animal will be the most anticipated gift.

• And this is how a little elephant girl looks, very gentle and touching.With such a toy you can give a girl participating in a wedding ceremony (the one that bears the rings) - a wonderful gift for help and a reminder of the celebration.

• And here are the dolls - they will have to make their hair out of yarn, otherwise it’s a classic amigurumi.

• Brother Fox and Brother Wolf in person - in a pair are even more charming.

• A very gentle bee for a baby, it should be miniature.

• And this doll is impossible not to love. Often she becomes the favorite toy of even the most fastidious kids.

• Having found such a gift in a box, not a single birthday person will be disappointed.

• Mugs and cupcakes come to life - the real magic of amigurumi.

• Who said that only girls can love amigurumi: here is an example of a toy that can captivate a little superhero.

• If you give your child a whole set of heroes, he will be just happy.

• And even a couple will be happy even adults, on their first wedding anniversary - a nice gift.

• This Leva will be the king of children's toys.

• The two Frida in the amigurumi technique are an interesting interpretation.

For someone who is not a guru in knitting, but wants to start with something solid, allowing you to not wait for the final result for a very long time, this technique is optimal.

Have a nice try!