Looking to make your own adorable amigurumi toys? Choosing the right yarn is essential to ensure your creations look and feel just right.
Since I started crocheting and designing amigurumi, I've been mixing different types of yarn (mostly worsted weight cotton and acrylic yarn) for my amigurumi projects because it all depends on what I can find in my local craft store.
For example, I would want a particular color but it only came in cotton and I have been using acrylic yarn for the rest of the project.
Luckily, most of the time, amigurumi projects are very forgiving and don't matter as much as long as the yarn weights match and/or are similar to what the pattern calls for.
In fact, sometimes even if the entire crochet pattern calls for worsted-weight yarn, crocheters would substitute it with bulky yarn to make a larger version of the amigurumi!
Best Yarn for Amigurumi
With so many yarn options on the market, it can be difficult to know where to start. In this blog post, we'll explore the best yarns for amigurumi and what to look for when selecting yarn for your next project.
Whether you're a seasoned amigurumi crafter or new to the art, this guide will help you choose the perfect yarn for your next creation.
Best Acrylic Yarn for Amigurumi
Acrylic yarn is a great option for amigurumi as it's affordable, widely available, and comes in many colors, textures, and yarn weights. One of the many benefits of acrylic yarn is that it's easy to care for. It can be machine-washed and dried. It makes it a practical choice for toys that will be played with and potentially exposed to dirt and/or spills.
Keep in mind that acrylic yarn comes in many different qualities. Cheap acrylic yarn is more prone to pilling than others and you might want to keep that in mind if your amigurumi will be handled often.
If you intend on using a slicker brush to brush up the fibers of the yarn to give your amigurumi a furry look, then I would advise you to go with acrylic and wool yarn. Cotton yarn does not brush up or become hairy like acrylic and wool does when brushed with a slicker brush.
Here are some of my favorite acrylic yarns to use for amigurumi:
WeCrochet's Brava Yarn
WeCrochet's Brava yarn is a premium acrylic yarn. It comes in many colors and yarn weights. Personally, I prefer using Brava Worsted, which is a worsted-weight yarn, but if you like making smaller amigurumis, you can also try WeCrochet's Brava Sport.
The yarn is soft and gentle on the skin for you to make toys for children and is also very durable. It's machine washable and dryable. Easy to take care of and very affordable. I made my amigurumi Disgust from Inside Out using Brava Worsted.
Hobbii's Amigo Yarn
Hobbii's Amigo yarn is 100% acrylic yarn that comes in many different colors and yarn weights. The regular Hobbii Amigo is a lightweight yarn. But there's also Amigo XL (medium weight), Amigo Chunky (bulky weight), and Amigo Giga (Super Bulky). All the acrylic yarn has a lot of volume in it, so
I've used Hobbii Giga once to recreate my Some Bunny in the Hood amigurumi and I *loved* how it turned out! Hobbii's Amigo is a great choice for amigurumi toys for children as it's durable, machine washable, and dry.
Loops and Threads' Impeccable Yarn
I started off my crochet journey making amigurumis using Loops and Threads Impeccable. This yarn remains to be one of my favorite yarns to date. While the variety of colors I have access to at my local craft store is not as vast as the online stores, I can always count on it being a quality and durable yarn.
It's an affordable quality acrylic yarn and has great yardage. I made my amigurumi egg tarts using Loops and Threads Impeccable yarn.
Best Cotton Yarn for Amigurumi
I personally love using cotton yarn for amigurumi. When crocheting with cotton yarn, the stitches are beautifully defined and are great for beginners because you can easily visualize the stitches. Cotton yarn is strong and durable, which makes it great for toys that will be handled often.
Cotton yarn also doesn't pill, which means that your toy will look great for a long period. It's also easy to care for and can usually be machine-washed and dried.
Cotton yarn can be slightly more expensive than synthetic fibers such as acrylic. However, they offer many benefits such as a more durable and easy-to-care-for amigurumi toy that will look good for a long time.
Here are some of my favorite cotton yarns to use for amigurumi:
Hobbii Friends Cotton Yarn
Hobbii Friends Cotton is an amazing 100% cotton yarn to work with. It's clean and easy to work with. It's great for beginners as it's very durable and doesn't split. Hobbii Friends Cotton has a great variety of colors available and yarn weights:
- Hobbii Friends Cotton 8/8 (light worsted weight)
- Hobbii Friends Cotton 8/6 (fine weight)
- and Hobbii Friends Cotton 8/4 (superfine weight)
I made this little mini amigurumi Sun named Raya using Hobbii Friends Cotton 8/8.
Bernat's Handicrafter and Lily Sugar n' Cream
I have been using Bernat's Handicrafter and Lily Sugar n' Cream for many of my amigurumi dolls. Bernat Handicrafter is a worsted-weight yarn that is very durable and great for making toys.
This cotton yarn is easy to care for. It's machine washable and dryable, and it gets softer with every wash and is great for making toys and loveys/security blankets for babies.
I used Lily Sugar n' Cream and Bernat Handicrafter for all the skin color parts of my Sailor Moon amigurumi dolls.
Best Novelty Yarns for Amigurumi
Over the last decade or so, many novelty polyester yarns have made their way into the market, and we are so grateful for it! I've always wanted a way to make my amigurumi more like a plush toy that you can get from a store and I think many of these polyester yarns have started helping me fill that void.
However, depending on the novelty yarn and the experience of the crocheter, they're not always the easiest to use. If the yarn is too fluffy, it can be hard to visualize the stitches and you may need to rely on feeling for the stitches.
Here are some of my favorite novelty yarns to use for amigurumi:
Bernat's Blanket Yarn
Bernat's Blanket yarn is a great yarn to use for plush amigurumi. It's also beginner-friendly because you can still see your stitches. The yarn is super bulky, which means that it won't take you as many stitches to achieve a greater size.
The yarn is incredibly soft, great for making toys and I haven't had any issues with it shedding. I used Bernat Blanket yarn to make these giant amigurumi plush pencils!
Hobbii's Honey Bunny and Baby Snuggle Yarn
Hobbii's Honey Bunny and Baby Snuggle Yarn are practically interchangeable. Honey Bunny is a soft and fluffy yarn made from 100% polyester. The yarn has a plush texture that resembles fur and comes in a range of colors.
Honey Bunny is classified as a bulky weight yarn and has a gauge of 9 stitches and 14 rows per 4 inches (10cm) on a 6mm hook or needle. This makes it ideal for projects that require a quick knit or crochet, such as blankets, scarves, and cuddle-size amigurumi like this giant Chinese Lucky Candy pillow.
Lion Brand's Go for Faux Yarn
Lion Brand's Go for Faux is a super bulky, eyelash-style yarn made from 100% polyester. Its unique, fluffy texture makes it a popular choice for plush amigurumi animals.
The yarn comes in a wide range of solid colors and variegated shades. Despite its bulky size, Go for Faux is surprisingly lightweight. It's recommended for more experienced crocheters, but I also wrote a guide with some tips for working with faux fur yarns (including how to make a magic ring).
This faux fur yarn is machine washable and can be dried in a low heat setting. I used Lion Brand's Go for Faux to make this plush black cat amigurumi (Jiji from Kiki's Delivery Service) and it remains to be my children's favorite stuffed toy to date!
Bernat's Pipsqueak Yarn
Bernat Pipsqueak is a bulky, chenille-style yarn made from 100% polyester. It's slightly thinner than the other novelty polyester yarn mentioned above. It's super soft and plush, and it's also machine washable and dryable, making it a popular choice for baby blankets and toys.
This yarn is recommended for more experienced crocheters as it's difficult to see your stitches. However, you can double it up with some lightweight yarn to make it easier to work with while still keeping the furriness. I used Bernat Pipsqueak to add a touch of softness to Rosemary the amigurumi sheep for her hair and body.
What should I consider when choosing the best yarn for amigurumi?
There are a couple different things to consider when choosing the right yarn for your project. Let's take a look to see what they are:
1. What are you making?
The color and texture of the yarn you choose can have a big impact on the look and feel of your finished toy. If you're making an animal amigurumi, you might decide to be a little bit more adventurous and choose a fluffy eyelash yarn, or faux fur yarn for the plush effect.
But let's face it, those types of yarn might not necessarily work for a crochet doll. Eyelash yarn and faux fur yarn may also not be the easiest to work with depending on the experience of the crocheter.
The other thing you may want to consider is whether this amigurumi is going to be played with a lot, or if is it meant for display purposes only? Depending on the intended purpose of the amigurumi, you may want to consider a yarn that is easy to care for.
2. How big is the size of the completed project?
The thickness or weight of the yarn that you choose will affect the final look and size of the project. For small amigurumi toys, a lightweight or fingering-weight yarn is often preferred. While larger toys may require worsted or bulky-weight yarn.
Many amigurumis on the market are now made with blanket and chenille yarn which is a bulky or super bulky weight yarn. It's got a great plush feel to it and the yarn is thick enough that you don't require many stitches to achieve the large huggable size.
3. Who is it meant for?
Depending on the recipient of your amigurumi gift, choosing the right yarn is important for both safety and comfort. For example, if you're giving it to a baby, you may want to choose something easy to care for. Look for yarns that are machine washable and dryable, as this will make it easier to keep the toy clean and fresh.
Acrylic yarn is a good option because they're machine washable and dryable. Even if it's spot-cleaning, acrylic yarn is a good choice. Cotton yarn is also a good choice but stains might be harder to get out.
4. How much does it cost and where can I buy it?
Yarn can vary in terms of cost. While luxury or hand-dyed yarns are beautiful, they may not be practical for making amigurumi. When choosing a yarn for your amigurumi, you will want to consider what colors you need and how widely it's available.
If you're making multiples of the same toy or experimenting with different designs, you will want to use a yarn with a variety of colors to choose from so you can go back to it and buy more if needed.
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