Amigurumi: Basic Techniques

Here’s a quick photo guide showing you some basic amigurumi techniques to get you started making your own adorable creations!

• Single Crochet in the Round / Front Loop Only Single Crochet & Back Loop Only Single Crochet
• Placing Stitch Markers
• Increasing
• Making an Invisible Decrease

This tutorial begins after you’ve made your magic circle.  If you haven’t made your magic circle and need help, Click HERE for my magic circle photo guide!

Making Single Crochet in the Round 

Making a single crochet in the round is just like making a single crochet regularly, you’re just working in a circle instead of back and forth rows.  The loops are along the outside of the circle (left).  Unless the pattern specifies working out of the front loop only or the back loop only, insert your hook underneath both loops as in the center and right picture.

Now, wrap the yarn over your hook (left), and pull through those top loops, as in the center and right photo.

You will now have two loops on your hook (left). Wrap yarn over your hook again (center).  Pull through the remaining two loops left on your hook (right). 

And that’s how you make a single crochet in the round!

If you are following a pattern that specifies working out of the front loop only or the back loop only, it may be helpful to view this video:

Placing a Stitch Marker 

Don’t forget your stitch marker!  Let’s say you made a mistake and you needed to frog to the end of your round.  Since working in (unjoined) rounds creates one long, continuous spiral, if you didn’t have a stitch marker, it can be pretty difficult to find where your row ends.  Avoid any problems like this and use these to mark where your round ends.  Place your stitch marker in the last stitch of your round so you know exactly where your round ends and begins.

Making an Increase 

To make an increase, you will make two single crochet stitches into the same stitch.  See how in the left picture there is a single crochet made already, and the space left next to it in the same stitch?  Stick your hook through there again and make another single crochet.  When you see “inc” in the pattern, that’s where you’ll be making two single crochets into the same stitch.

Making Invisible Decrease 

The invisible decrease is a great method for amigurumi, as a regular decrease can leave a noticeable bump on your fabric.  To make an invisible decrease, you’ll be working through the front loops of the two stitches you are decreasing, so you’ll be using the loop closest to you (left).  To start, insert your hook under the front loop of the first stitch (center).  Then, insert your hook under the front loop of the next stitch (right).

You should now have three loops on your hook (left).  Now, yarn over (center), and pull through the first two loops on your hook (right).

You will now have two loops left on your hook (left).  Now, yarn over (center) and pull through the remaining two loops on your hook (right).

And now you’ve made an invisible decrease!

I hope this quick photo guide has been helpful to you!  Have fun making your amigurumi!