Is Amigurumi Hard to Crochet? [+ Top 10 Hardest Amigurumi Projects]
Want to know the skills you need to be able to crochet amigurumi? Worried that amigurumi will be hard to crochet? You’ll find everything you need to know as well as the top 10 hardest amigurumi projects I’ve ever crocheted.
Perhaps you’ve been thinking about starting to learn how to crochet amigurumi and this thought has popped into your head…
Is Amigurumi Hard to Crochet?
Amigurumi is not hard, but there are skills that you need to learn in order to be able to crochet toys that you’ll be proud of.
Although there are challenging aspects to amigurumi, it isn’t hard to crochet and I’m here to help you learn how to make them for yourself.
Amigurumi Is Not Hard to Crochet
Amigurumi is not hard to crochet.
But there are several skills that you need to learn so that you can begin happily crocheting the hours away (and ignoring other important things you really should be doing).
Can You Jump Right Into Crocheting Amigurumi?
You could just jump right into crocheting amigurumi with no prior experience, but I don’t recommend it. I think it’s better to have some basic crochet skills under your belt and it won’t take too much time. Plus you’ll have so much fun while you’re learning.
I’ve divided my recommendations based on your experience level:
- Those with zero crochet experience
- Those who already know how to crochet
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If You Have No Prior Crochet Experience
The first 1,000 people to use this link will get a 1 month free trial of Skillshare: https://skl.sh/lepetitsaintcrochet01221
Toni Lipsey from TLYarn Crafts has just released a brand new course on Skillshare.
Modern Crochet: Essential Skills for Getting Started is your one stop shop for learning all the things you need to know to get started crocheting.
I believe it is important to know the basics of crocheting before diving head first into making amigurumi. You will have more confidence and your stitches will look better if you take the time to learn these skills first.
This class covers topics like:
- Choosing Your Yarn
- Understanding Color Theory
- Gathering Your Tools
- Crocheting Basics
- Introducing Colors: Color Blocks & Stripes
- Blocking Basics & Aftercare
Once you have taken this course, you will be well on your way to crocheting your very first toy.
The first 1,000 people to use this link will get a 1 month free trial of Skillshare: https://skl.sh/lepetitsaintcrochet01221
Once you have those basics in place it’s time to move onto the skills you need specifically for amigurumi.
If You Already Know How to Crochet
Once you already know how to crochet, it’s just a matter of learning a handful of special skills to be able to create the cutest toys.
First you will want to get really good at making a magic ring.
You can find my full tutorial here for how to do it here: How to Crochet a Magic Ring
Then, you will want to get good at the very specific skill you need for amigurumi like:
- Joining/seaming body parts like legs, arms, heads and tails
- Changing colors
- Embroidering facial features
You can learn all of those skills with my full video tutorial [and FREE amigurumi pattern] here: How to Crochet Amigurumi
Top 10 Hardest Amigurumi Projects That I’ve Crocheted
Now that we’ve answered the question, “Is amigurumi hard to crochet?”, we can move on to the juicy part.
As I was thinking about this topic I began looking through my Instagram account to see all the amigurumi projects that I’ve made over the years.
While I was scrolling, memories of each project surfaced to my thoughts and I remembered what were the joys and challenges of each project.
Here you will find a list of the hardest amigurumi projects that I’ve ever crocheted in order from least hard to the hardest.
The main purpose for showing you these projects, is to prove that amigurumi isn’t so hard.
Each one proved a challenge at the time, but now I am able to do these skills with ease.
It just too practice, a little perseverance and lot of being gentle with myself.
10. Victor the Frog
Victor the Frog was the first amigurumi project that I used a pattern to crochet.
What I found challenging about Victor was at the part when you join the eyes together by chaining and then crocheting back on the chain.
Check out the Animal Friends of Pica Pau: Gather All 20 Colorful Amigurumi Animal Characters book with the Victor Frog pattern and many more!
In the beginning of my amigurumi journey, I found that skill very difficult.
Now I could do it in my sleep [proof that amigurumi skills just take practice].
I also got an urge to make Victor into a girl frog adorned with a ballerina tutu.
You can find a tutorial for how to do that to any amigurumi toy here: Easy Amigurumi Tutu Tutorial
9. Lula
How cute is Lula and her little teddy bear?
Check out Amigurumi Doll Tips & Tricks for helpful information for how to crochet dolls.
Although Lula isn’t a complicated pattern, I found the sheer size of this amigurumi doll to be a challenge.
I have a little problem with patience and attention, so crocheting a big toy like this takes work for this old gal.
Find the Lula Amigurumi Doll Pattern Here
8. Goose
The Goose Amigurumi Pattern by Straw Animals is one of my favorite patterns ever, but that beak was a new skill.
Check out the 11 Best Cottage Style Amigurumi Projects Here
I wasn’t used to making amigurumi parts in this way, but I’m glad I learned something new.
Find the Goose Amigurumi Pattern Here
7. Squirrel
This adorable Squirrel pattern by Big Bebez is one of my favorite projects, but that doesn’t mean it wasn’t tough. The colorwork on the face was a big challenge for me to make it symmetrical.
Check Out 10 Awesome Amigurumi Designers You’ve Never Heard Of Here
Single crochet stitches naturally lean to the right (if you’re right handed – left if you’re left handed). That can make color changes troublesome with amigurumi.
Thankfully, I didn’t give up and I can live with a little asymmetry.
Find the Squirrel Amigurumi Pattern Here
6. Granny
Ummm, this is exactly what I want to look like when I’m a granny.
Find the Old Couple Zoe & Zach Amigurumi Pattern Here
I love her sweet smile and round little body.
Her little jacket is totally adorable and gave me a little trouble. But, I could not wrap my mind around it’s construction. I trusted the process and continued crocheting it, even when it made no sense to me.
I learned a new way to make amigurumi clothes and I think she looks pretty darn cute in it.
Check out 6 Lovable Grandma & Grandpa Amigurumi Patterns Here
5. Bonny Puffin
I loved this pattern so much, I’ve made it more than once.
Bonny Puffin proved to be a great opportunity to learn how to do tapestry crochet and reading a colorwork chart.
Animal Friends of Pica Pau: Gather All 20 Colorful Amigurumi Animal Characters
My biggest lesson I learned was to use high contrast colors so that you can see all that hard work Notice on the puffin in the back that you aren’t able to see the color changes on his neck as well as the one in the front.
I also learned how to crochet back on the chain. That was a new skill for me at the time, and I’ve used it in many amigurumi patterns since.
Check Out How to Crochet on the Opposite Side of the Chain Here
4. Snow Day Doll
Adding doll hair was one of the more challenging things I’ve done while making amigurumi.
I still don’t love to do it, but it sure does make an impact.
Although the original pattern doesn’t have hair, I was able to use her other pattern (Rose Doll Pattern) to help.
Find the Snowflake Doll Pattern Here
3. Wolf
Symmetry is always easier said than done when it comes to amigurumi.
Harry Wolf is one of those patterns that requires symmetry in the snout. But that task is challenging due to the color changes on the snout as well as the embroidery.
I’ve made this pattern several times and each one has gotten better. I’ve found that this skill just takes practice, practice and more practice.
Animal Friends of Pica Pau: Gather All 20 Colorful Amigurumi Animal Characters
2. Marcia Alpaca
I named my little alpaca Agnes and I have always loved her spunky personality.
What challenged me about this pattern was the construction of the underbelly. After crocheting the legs you create a flap that must be seamed closed.
The problem is that sewing that flap takes patience and practice to make it look neat and tidy.
Animal Friends of Pica Pau: Gather All 20 Colorful Amigurumi Animal Characters
1. Lobster
Finally, Philip Lobster was the toughest amigurumi project I’ve made for only one reason.
I decided that I wanted to make this adorable little lobster by crocheting the single crochets yarn under, rather than yarn over.
Check Out Yarn Over vs Yarn Under Here
I had such a challenging experience with it that I wrote an entire blog post and made a video all about it. In the post/video I shared the difference between yarn over vs yarn under.
But I also expressed my personal (and strong) opinion about the technique.
Animal Friends of Pica Pau 2: Gather All 20 Original Amigurumi Characters
Is Amigurumi Hard to Crochet?
I hope that you have found that amigurumi really isn’t hard to crochet and that it just takes learning something new.
As always, I would love to hear from you and know your opinions about amigurumi.
Pin for Later!
They are all very cute and nicely done
Thank you so much! â¤ï¸