Fast and Cute Amigurumi Worm or Caterpillar

Amigurumi is a combination of the Japanese words meaning string worked (knitted or crochet) and stuffed toy or doll. It is literally an animal or anthropomorphic creature made of yarn and stuffed. This little worm project is fast and relatively simple and cheap to make. If you have never knit or crocheted before, you probably should not attempt a more complicated amigurumi as your first project. Before making this simple toy, you may first learn to crochet here and here, or learn to knit here. If you can't learn from videos, you can try taking a class at your local Jo-Ann Fabrics Store or community college.

Materials You will need 1 skein of medium weight boucle yarn, needles of the proper size - see yarn label, an upholstery needle, cotton balls or other stuffing, and buttons or googly eyes. If you want, you can use paint or a different color of yarn to make a mouth and a tiny pompom for a nose. To create a caterpillar instead of a worm, use two skeins of yarn in different shades and alternate between the two colors every 2 or 4 rows. You also will need chenille pipe cleaners, in complementary colors, to make legs.

Worm Cast on 8-10 stitches, or about 2 inches wide. Knit 22 rows or until your swath is 4-5 inches long. Bind off. Thread the needle with 1 foot of yarn by tying a large knot in one end of the yarn and threading the other end through the eye about 2 inches. Roll your swath into a cylinder, stuff with cotton, and sew together. Use large stitches on the ends to round the head and tail of the worm. Sew buttons to one end to make eyes (or glue on googly eyes).

Caterpillar Cast on 8-10 stitches, or about 2 inches wide. Knit 2 or 4 rows. Make slip knot in the end of second color and use this as the yarn over of the first stitch in the next row. Knit 2 or 4 more rows and change color on the yarn over of the first stitch of the next row. Repeat until your swath is 4-5 inches long. Continue as for worm through eye attachment. Cut chenille into 4 inch lengths then thread into the caterpillar width wise and bend into shape on either side. Repeat every inch until animal has 4-6 pairs of legs.