What is the best yarn for amigurumi?

One really common beginner question is “what is the best yarn for amigurumi?” The answer is… That’s up to you! Remember – there’s no such thing as bad yarn, only yarn which is ill-suited for a project.

What weight yarn should you use for amigurumi?

Generally, I use DK weight yarn, with a 3mm hook. Notice I said ‘I’! That’s because it’s my personal preference, and it creates a firm fabric I like. You can use a giant hook and super-bulky yarn to make giant amigurumi, or fine yarn and a tiny hook to create teeny-tiny amigurumi… it’s all up to you!

Obviously, yarn weight and hook size do make a difference to your finished object. The larger the hook, and the bigger the yarn, the bigger your ami will be!

My Happy Pills were crocheted with exta-bulky yarn and a 10mm hook. So they’re HUGE!

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This adorable elephant was crocheted with bulky yarn and a 4mm hook. (And there’s a free pattern – check it out!)

This tiny little turtle was made out of thread, and a 0.6mm hook! Check out the pattern for all the details.

So whatever size yarn you prefer, there’s an amigurumi pattern for you.

What type of yarn is best for amigurumi?

The yarn content is important. Eyelash, furry or textured yarn can create interesting effects, but it’s not as easy to work with.

This adorable ‘soot sprite’ is a great example of amigurumi created with novelty yarn. Check out the free pattern.

Acrylic yarn may sometimes ‘squeak’ or feel unpleasant to work, but it’s cheap, comes in a range of bright colours, and is basically indestructible – great for toys! Acrylic and cotton are great for people with wool allergies.

Beautiful natural fibres, like merino, are lovely to work with, but are more expensive, and can’t be machine washed. I personally prefer to use natural fibres, but they’re often leftovers from other projects.

So what is the best yarn for amigurumi?

Ask yourself these questions:

• Will it need to be machine washed?
• Will it be played with, or just looked at?
• What texture do I want to create?
• What’s my budget?

If I’m making a gift, I will think of the person and what yarn will suit their lifestyle best. If it’s for a baby, I use acrylic or washable cotton yarn, and eyes are embroidered, rather than sewn on. However, if it’s for an adult, and will probably just sit on a desk, I might use a wool yarn – just because it’s nicer to work with.

Usually, I let the yarn chose the project, picking up from my scraps jars and thinking what does this want to be? One of the lovely things about amigurumi is it’s cheap! You can make a beautiful and unique object with scraps of yarn from other projects, or very little outlay.