Amigurumi for beginners - how to start

My amigurumi for beginners series of posts and videos is designed to help people interested in making crochet toys with very specific areas, ones where they typically need most support.

In my first video for beginner crocheters I demonstrated how to single crochet into a magic ring and how to double crochet into a magic ring:

Knowing how to double crochet into a magic ring is handy for some hat and granny square patterns.

In my latest video I review how to start most amigurumi pieces by:

• making a magic ring;
• single crocheting in the magic ring to complete round 1;
• increasing your stitch count; and
• safely securing your starting tail end

If you're wondering how the above would look written out in a crochet pattern, here's an example from one of my amigurumi designs:

Round 1: With MC, sc 6 times in MR (6)

Round 2: inc in each st (12)

All of my patterns contain an Abbreviations section at the start - a list of all the terms used and what they mean so you don't have to waste time trying to work out what the pattern is instructing you to do. In addition, I use the standard abbreviations outlined in the Craft Yarn Council's master list.

As an example of how the above translates into long form:

Round 1: With your main colour, single crochet 6 times in the magic ring. The number of stitches in the round is then shown in brackets - (6)

Round 2: increase in each stitch (12)

In the Abbreviations section of each pattern I define an increase as 2 single crochets in the same stitch.

If you'd like to learn how to make a project by crocheting in rows rather than in the round, take a look at this blog post featuring a Free, easy bunny pattern and how-to video tutorial.

Hopefully you find the videos and information in this post helpful. Please do let me know if there are other amigurumi or crochet topics you’d love to see videos on. The next video in this amigurumi beginners series will be covering the topic of eyes: what to use for them, where to get them and how to attach them.

Here's links to all my amigurumi patterns: