8 Materials You Need To Start Crocheting Amigurumi

Last Updated on May 9, 2024 by Holly Lanier

If you want to learn how to crochet amigurumi but have no idea where to start or what materials you need, keep reading. I’ll share the 8 materials you need to start crocheting amigurumi and where to find them!

8 Materials You Need To Start Crocheting Amigurumi

1. Yarn
2. Crochet hook
3. Bent tapestry needle
4. Stitch markers
5. Scissors
6. Fiberfill
7. Safety eyes
8. Straight pins

Let’s discuss each of these seven materials in more detail now!

What Kind of Yarn to Buy (The Most Important Material You Need to Start Crocheting Amigurumi)

The yarn you choose is arguably the most important material you need to start crocheting amigurumi. I like to use worsted/medium weight, #4 100% acrylic yarn for my amigurumi. To check and see if you are buying the right yarn weight, you’ll look at the label on the yarn skein. The product description will give you this information if you’re buying yarn online. The weight of yarn you use is the biggest deciding factor in how big your amigurumi will turn out. Worsted weight #4 (sometimes called medium or Aran weight) and sport weight #3 (sometimes called DK weight) are the two most common yarns used in amigurumi patterns. The smaller the number, the thinner the yarn is, so #3 yarn will give you a smaller amigurumi than #4 yarn. When you get more experience, it can be fun to experiment with different yarn weights to get different-sized amigurumi using the same pattern.

I like to use acrylic yarn because it has a sturdy texture, which is great for helping amigurumi hold their shape. It is also affordable and easy to find at any craft store in the U.S. If you’re looking to use more natural fibers, cotton yarn is also an excellent option and the more popular option in Europe!

Where to Buy Yarn

My favorite place to buy yarn is Hobby Lobby because of the consistent quality and wide range of colors available. Their yarn is also soft but sturdy enough for crocheting amigurumi. I’ve also used a lot of Red Heart yarn and still use it when I need certain colors only they offer.

Websites I love buying my yarn from:

Hobby Lobby – “I Love This Yarn” is a worsted-weight yarn from Hobby Lobby. It is my favorite and what I use most often for my designs. You can find it HERE.

LoveCrafts – LoveCrafts is another great place to purchase yarn, especially if you don’t have access to local yarn stores. You can find my favorite LoveCrafts yarn, Paintbox Yarns Simply Aran HERE. It’s worsted-weight (Aran weight), and the color options are fantastic—there are over 50 colors to choose from! They also offer a #3 sport-weight (DK weight) that you can find HERE with over 60 color options!

Lion Brand Yarn—Lion Brand offers many types of yarn, but my favorite for crocheting amigurumi is Vanna’s Choice. You can find it HERE.

Yarnspirations – Yarnspirations offers one of the most classic yarn brands in the U.S. – Red Heart! Red Heart Super Saver yarn is probably the yarn you’ll most likely find buried in your grandmother’s house under stacks of afghan magazines from the 80s. My feelings about this yarn are mixed due to its inconsistent quality and tendency to be rougher than most yarns. However, this is the most affordable worsted-weight yarn out there and comes in many colors. You can find it HERE.

Crochet Hooks (The Second Most Important Material You Need to Start Crocheting Amigurumi)

Finding a crochet hook that works for you is one of the most important things you can do when learning to crochet amigurumi. Finding one that is comfortable for you will ensure you can crochet for many hours with little discomfort. You won’t know what works for you until you try. You might have to experiment a little bit and go through some trial and error before settling on the perfect one.

There are two types of crochet hooks: ergonomic and non-ergonomic. Most people find the ergonomic ones more comfortable and easier to use without hand or wrist pain.

Let’s Talk Hook Sizes

Before you decide which crochet hook you want, you’ll need to know which size to get! Let’s talk a little bit about hook sizes. There are two ways of measuring hook sizes: the U.S. and numerical. The U.S. way uses the alphabet to size hooks, while the numerical method uses numbers. Most U.S. hooks will also have the numerical size listed after the letter size, so there won’t be any confusion.

When making amigurumi, we want our stitches to be tight so that the stuffing doesn’t show through the stitches. If you look at the label on any skein of yarn it will have a suggested hook size for that weight of yarn. This size suggestion is made with blankets and wearable crochet items in mind. With those items you want the drape of the fabric to be looser and more stretchy. But, as I mentioned earlier, we want our amigurumi to be sturdy and hold its shape, and having tight stitches will help achieve this.

That being said, you’ll want to go down at least a full size from what the yarn label suggests. If the label says to use a 5 mm crochet hook, then you’ll want to go down to at least a 4 mm crochet hook. If, when you start crocheting, your stitches are too loose even after going down a size, you’ll need to choose a smaller hook to achieve nice, tight stitches. It might take a bit of experimentation, but it will be worth it!

I use a 4 mm or 3.75 mm hook when working with worsted-weight yarn.

Where to Buy Crochet Hooks

My favorite crochet hook set is the Clover Amour set from Clover which you can find HERE. These are a bit pricey, especially if you’re just starting out, so you can always purchase a single hook. My two go-to hook sizes are 3.7 mm, which you can find HERE, or 4 mm, which you can find HERE. These hooks are high quality and being ergonomic are extremely comfortable to use!

There are many different brands of crochet hooks, so you may need to experiment with a few before settling on one that is right for you.

Bent Tapestry Needle (The Third Most Important Material You Need to Start Crocheting Amigurumi)

Bent tapestry needles are a must-have for sewing your amigurumi pieces together. The bent tip is more effective at helping you grab stitches than a regular tapestry needle. You can find the ones I use HERE.

Stitch Markers

Stitch markers are another useful tool to help you while you crochet. This one is easy because you don’t need to buy any, and using a paperclip or bobby pin is sufficient! If you do want to buy some, I bought my stitch markers from Clover and you can find them HERE.

Scissors

I think everyone has scissors lying around their home but if you want some cute embroidery scissors to add to your craft bag, I love these HERE.

Fiberfill

You’ll need something to stuff your adorable amigurumi creation with, so you’ll want to pick up some fiberfill stuffing. I like to use PolyFil for all my amigurumi because of its texture and consistent quality. You can find what I use HERE. Otherwise, just search for “fiberfill stuffing” and you’ll find many options!

Safety Eyes

If you want to take your amigurumi to the next level you’ll want to use safety eyes! Safety eyes are plastic doll eyes with a screw-like backing and a washer that you can fit on the back to secure it. They can really elevate the look of your amigurumi and make them look more professional. It’s fun to play around with different sizes of eyes to find what looks best on your amigurumi. My absolute favorite place to buy safety eyes from is 6060eyes HERE.

You can also use buttons as eyes or crochet or embroider your own eyes. Embroidering eyes is the best way to go if you are concerned about safety eyes being a choking hazard.

Straight Pins

You might be wondering how straight pins can be one of the essential materials you need to start crocheting amigurumi but trust me on this one. Sewing amigurumi body parts together can sometimes be tricky. Using straight pins to hold the pieces together while you are sewing them on is a game changer! You can find the ones I used HERE and the cute magnetic pin holder pictured HERE.

Time to Get Started

Once you have these eight materials, you’ll be ready to start crocheting your own amigurumi. As far as hobbies go, crocheting can be fairly inexpensive. It’s such a fun, addictive craft, and I’m confident you won’t be able to stop once you start!

Let me know if you plan on starting this hobby and what you plan on making first! If you need some inspiration check out my premium pattern website HERE. Want a great FREE pattern to start with? Check out my Baby Yoda amigurumi pattern HERE.

Until next time, then – stay crafty!