Tips for Making Crochet Toys

Making crochet animals and dolls is fun! Not only do they make great toys, but they can also be wonderful decorations. Here are some useful tips to make your creations look perfect and last a long time:

Yarn & Hook Selection

The first thing you should do when you crochet an amigurumi is to know why and for whom you are creating this animal or doll. Will it be used as a toy? Will it be used by small children? What size do you want it to be? Asking questions helps you to decide which yarn and hook to use. Most toys are made with worsted-weight yarn, but you can choose other weights. I have changed the size of the toy by simply using different weights of yarn—everything from sockweight yarn to chunky-weight yarn. Remember that if the toy is to be played with, the yarn must be washable! Whichever yarn weight you choose, make sure that you use an appropriate size hook so the stitches are tightly worked. Depending on your tension as you crochet, especially if you tend to work loosely, you may want to go down a hook size from what the pattern recommends.

The Inside Job

A crochet toy will look good for years to come if it is stuffed properly. So what type of stuffing should be used and how do you stuff for success? The most commonly used stuffing is polyester fiberfill. It’s easy to use, washes well and can be found in most fabric and craft stores. Other types of stuffing made from fibers such as cotton, wool, bamboo and even corn fiber can be found on the internet. If you want the toy to be weighed down or have a squishy, beanbag-like feel to it, fill it with poly pellets. The pellets are small, so I recommend putting them in a tightly sealed plastic bag or a bag made from an old sock or nylon hosiery, then stuffing the bag into the toy. Stuffing the toy is what brings it to life! You want a piece to be well stuffed, but not overstuffed. I found out the hard way not to stuff when the toy is nearly finished as it is much easier to stuff as you go. Remove a chunk of stuffing from its bag, pull it apart into smaller pieces, then stuff your toy. Don’t be afraid to move the stuffing around a bit— you want to distribute it evenly and shape the toy as you stuff. For spaces that are small or hard to reach, I’ve used my crochet hook, a chopstick or a knitting needle to push in the stuffing.

The Finishing Touches

For any toy that has parts such as a nose, ears and limbs that need to be sewn on, remember to sew very securely and weave in the ends properly. I usually use matching yarn to sew, but if the toy is made with a yarn that frays easily or doesn’t sew smoothly, consider sewing with a matching color of non-fraying yarn or crochet cotton instead. Give the attached item a good, hard pull to make sure that it won’t come loose. The personality of any toy comes from the face. You can embroider facial features with yarn, thread or floss. These embroidered features and expressions will last for years. If you crochet eyes or a mouth, make sure they are sewn on very securely. Felt can also be used; sewing felt pieces to the face will last better than adhering with glue. If the toy is not to be used by little ones, you can sew on buttons or glue googly eyes. There are many varieties of plastic eyes and noses that have a post and a washer to secure them. I really like the look of these and use them frequently, but this comes with a warning: The plastic washers have not always worn well and have cracked with age. I have lost eyes that way. Crochet toys are a wonderful way to share your love and thoughtfulness and, with correct construction and proper care, should last for years of enjoyment.