Crochet Amigurumi: Storm the Craft Scene

I'm somewhat new to the crochet world, I will admit. So, many things that are brand new to me are in fact, not new. Take for example, this phenomenon known as crochet amigurumi - taken from the Japanese words "ami" meaning crochet or knit and "nuigurumi" meaning stuffed animal or doll. Literally this is the art of creating stuffed crochet dolls and animals!

Let me tell you, if you didn't already know, crochet amigurumi patterns are everywhere! Countless people have set up web sites, blogs, etsy stores and so on, dedicated to these crochet amigurumi animals. I've seen everything from the standard bears, rabbits and other critters, to cute little people wearing costumes and real-deal holiday decorations like squash and gourds for Thanksgiving and ornaments for Christmas. My favorite thing about stuffed crochet amigurumi patterns is that the possibilities are literally endless. What will they think of next? Since most anything can be made using the amigurumi technique, children's toys could take on a whole new face. Soft, homemade toys that the kids will love - can you imagine playing kitchen and restaurant with amigurumi food? What fun!

Crochet amigurumi are typically worked in rounds first, then the separate parts are joined together at the end of the project. They are also typically made using a smaller size crochet hook to maintain the tight look without many gaps in the yarn. Stuffing is necessary for "stuffed animal" aspect of the project, and sometimes small weights are inserted into an animal's limbs to give it some balance (otherwise the limbs would float much like an actual stuffed animal). Amigurumi are definitely known for being cute, so the odds of coming across an ugly crochet amigurumi pattern are slim. As I continue to immerse myself into this crochet world and continue to learn more about the different "brands" of crochet, I'm continually amazed by all that exists already.