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You are here: Home / crochet During a craft fair earlier this year I got a question about adding details to your amigurumi. What is the best way to do that? How do you secure your thread nicely? There are multiple way to add details. In the video below I will show you how I embroider faces to these cute little cacti. What do you need In this tutorial I use a thread that is a little bit thinner than the yarn I used to crochet the cacti with. These cacti are crocheted with Yarn and Colors Super and the faces are stitched with Yarn and Colors Must Have. The thinner you thread, the more precise you can work. Just try different threads and see what works best for you.

The pattern for the little cacti can be found over here: Cactus Cloe, Cactus Casper, Cactus Cooper Thanks for watching! If you have any questions, just let me know in the comments.


This post was shared on Create Link Inspire (http://www.happygoluckyblog.com/)

11/08/2017/0 Comments/by Irene
https://www.sugaridoo.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Cactusjes-2.jpg 563 1000 Irene http://www.sugaridoo.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Sugaridoo_transparant2.png Irene2017-08-11 17:00:492017-08-29 09:53:29How to add details to your amigurumi While writing the introduction for the Puck the Penguin crochet along, I kept adding and adding information to the yarn and crochet hook section. Apparently there is a lot to say about that. I think this topic deserves it’s own blog post. Lets discuss some yarns and their matching hooks shall we? Different brands of cotton yarn. Red: Phildar coton 4, green: Phildar coton 3, pink: Catania Original, blue: Catania Grande, yellow: Drops Paris


You can make amigurumi with many different types of yarn, but some work better than others. I personally love to work with 100% cotton yarn. It’s easy to wash and it keeps it shape very well. I use brands like Phildar, Catania and Drops. Phildar is a very soft cotton, they worked Aloe vera into the yarn, best idea ever if you ask me.

Phildar has a coton 3 and coton 4 version which differ in the thickness of the thread. Phildar cotton 3 is the same thickness as Catania Originals and they can therefor be mixed together perfectly. Most of my amigurumi’s are made with Phildar cotton 3 and Catania. Catania also has a thicker version which is called Catania Grande. Drops Paris is about the same thickness as Catania Grande. If you want to compare two cotton threads you can look at the weight/length which are both mentioned on the label of the yarn. For example Drops Paris weights 50g/75m, Catania Grande weights 50gr/63m, thats about the same. I love the look of this thicker yarn. It will make amigurumi a bit bigger and bulkier. For thicker yarn I prefer Catania Grande over Drops Pars. Paris tends to split a little bit more than Catania, so your crochet hook will slipt in between the strands of the yarn sometimes. The recommended crochet hook for Drops Paris is 5 mm. I like to use a 4 mm hook, the 3.5 mm is a bit to tight and with the 4.5 mm my stitches become to big.

I do use acrylic yarn sometimes. I like Stylecraft Special DK a lot, it is soft and very easy to work with. It gives a more cuddly feel to your amigurumi. The Mike the Monkeys below are crocheted with Stylecraft. Because acrylic yarn it is a bit more stretchy than cotton, the stuffing can show through the stitches more easily. For the monkeys this was something that happened in the arms. In the bodies and heads it didn’t show at all. Mike the Monkey and friends, crocheted with Stylecraft Special DK and a 3mm hook

So, which yarn is best for a beginner? I’m not sure. I started my first project with Catania, but really any smooth pretty colored yarn will do. Find a yarn that comes in all the colors you like and that feels nice to you. You’ll be holding it a lot during your crochet project, so make sure it doesn’t feel itchy to you ;)

Crochet hook

Yes a crochet hook. That’s the next thing you will need. So you picked a pretty yarn, now you need a hook that matches the yarn. On the label of the yarn there will be a mention of recommended hook/needle size for that type of yarn.

Hook size

I usually take a slightly smaller hook than recommended. With a bigger hook the stitches will get bigger. For an amigurumi you want the stitches to be tightly stacked on top of each other so the filling won’t show through. Using a smaller hook than recommended on the label can help with that. For Stylecraft Special DK a 4 mm hook is recommended. However, I prefer to work with a 3 mm hook with that yarn for amigurumis.  In the picture below you can see a slight difference in size between the 3.5 and 3 mm hook. Also you see some small holes with the 3.5mm piece. Stylecraft recommends a 4 mm hook for the Special DK yarn. I prefer to use a 3 mm hook to get a tight finish.

These are the yarn and hook combinations that I usually use for amigurumi.

These are all hook sizes in metric. To convert them to the US system you can check the conversion chart below. Note that not all metric sized are available in US sizes.

Type of crochet hook

So now you have an idea of what size hook you need. But there are still many many options of hooks you can buy. Plastic, aluminium, wood, bamboo. It’s really a personal preference what type of hook you like te work with. I started with the one in the bottom, a simple aluminium hook. That one is fine to work with, but can give you cramp in your hand when you crochet for too long. The black one in the bottom, a Prym hook, has a rubber handle and is much better already. But since it is completely round it’s not my favorite. The hooks I like best are the Clover crochet hooks (the four in the top). The once I use most are the special clover hook, called Clover Amour. Those are the yellow and red one, in that series each hook size has it own color. I’m pretty hooked to those ;)

A thing to keep in mind is that two people with the same yarn and same hook will make different sized stitches. One person will crochet tighter than the other. Nothing to worry about yet. First thing is to get used to making stitches and making consistent sized stitched. After that you can try out using a smaller or bigger hook with to see if that improves your work or not. Tony the Turtle crocheted with Catania and Phildar Coton 3 and a 2.25 mm hook

When I just started I used to crochet with Catania and a 2.25 mm crochet hook, I thought that would give a very neat and tight look. The stitches were indeed very neat and tight, but when I tried the 2.5 mm hook and released my yarn tension a bit, my amigurumis got a much softer while the stitches were still tight enough to not show any stuffing.

Do you wan to know more about a specific yarn or want to check you yarn/hook combination, just leave a comment and I’ll get back to you soon!


01/09/2016/4 Comments/by Irene
https://www.sugaridoo.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Different-brands-of-cotton-yarn-_slider.jpg 425 845 Irene http://www.sugaridoo.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Sugaridoo_transparant2.png Irene2016-09-01 12:23:272018-07-30 17:47:33Yarn and hook combination for Crocheting Amigurumi 
Picking the right colors of yarn for your crochet project can be challenging. Choosing the perfect color combination can really give your work that bit of extra pop. But which colors match and which aren’t so great together?

How do you pick colors when you’re about to paint your house? With color swatches! Super easy to use, pick a few, hold them next to each other and you’ll quickly see if the combination is a winner. So why not use color swatches for crochet yarn :) They are super easy to make. Let me show you how.

What do we need Let’s get started. Take a thread bobbin and put a small piece of double sided tape on the back. You can skip this step if you want. I like to secure the thread to the bobbin this way, but it also works without the tape. Now stick the end of the thread to the double sided tape and start winding you thread around the bobbin. Wind and wind and wind and wind.. Secure the end in the notch of the bobbin and cut off the thread. Now write down the brand and color number of the yarn on the bobbin. I use one letter to remember the brand (in this case P for Phidar coton 3) and then the number for the color.

And that’s it! Just repeat this for all the yarn lying around in your house and you’re all set to mix and match yarn colors.

When you make it a habit to make color swatches every time you buy new yarn, you won’t have the problem of not knowing the brand or color number anymore (happend to me too often haha..). Easy peasy right? Let me know what you think of yarn color swatches!


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Create Link Inspire 15/08/2016/6 Comments/by Irene
https://www.sugaridoo.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/color-Swatches-slider.jpg 425 845 Irene http://www.sugaridoo.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Sugaridoo_transparant2.png Irene2016-08-15 17:00:122016-08-16 10:27:38Selecting yarn colors for crochet The Sugaridoodles are taking over the Sugaridoo headquarters. They are everywhere! Not that I can blame them, I’m getting a bit addicted to crocheting them to be honest. The are so fun to make. Quick little cute projects that make you stay up way to late and postpone de dished three days. (Yesterday: Let me make one more, I really have to add purple whale to the collection.) Well, I guess you get the idea :) If you follow me on Instagram you might have seen some of the Sugaridoodles already. This week I started writing out the crochet patterns. Super exiting, because shortly everyone can start their own Sugaridoodle collection. Walter the Whale was the first one to be turned in to a pattern. And I would like to share it with you guys as a preview for all the patterns to come. Just grab your download below and let me know what you think. Make your very own Whale Walter Leave your name and email to receive the free crochet pattern for Walter the Whale.

(It's a format that reads super easy from your phone or tablet)


The pattern uses the following abbreviations:
sc.    –    single crochet
inc.  –    increase (2sc in the next sc)
dec.  –   decrease (crochet the next 2sc together)
BLO –   crochet in the back loops only

What do you think? Isn’t he a cutie? I just want to make him in all colors of the rainbow.

I also received these perfect little boxes in the mail this week. The crew already checked it out and approved ;) These boxes will be turned in to mini crochet kits. Yay! So, I’m off to make some more Sugaridoodles. Oh and before I forget, there is a little giveaway running on the blog!
11/08/2016/9 Comments/by Irene
https://www.sugaridoo.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Slider_walter.png 423 845 Irene http://www.sugaridoo.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Sugaridoo_transparant2.png Irene2016-08-11 12:09:042016-08-12 09:57:04Sugaridoodle invasion - Free whale crochet pattern Yeah finally I turned my favorite monster in to a pattern! I’m in love with this funny guy. His happy face, his wiggly toes, just too cute not to cuddle him. He has found a new home in the mean time. I did start to miss him, so at the moment I’m working on a new Pinky just for myself :) Do you wanna make you own Pinky? You can find the pattern in my shops on Etsy and on Craftsy.

Pinky the o-so-friendly monster on Etsy

Pinky the o-so-friendly monster on Craftsy

I would love to see your version of Pinky if you are going to make him! Those feet! Aren’t they the cutest? I love how they turned out. It’s always exiting to see a design on paper turn into a real crocheted toy!

When you are going to make Pinky and have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask. I’m happy to help along the way! One more close up of his feet. Sewing everything together is actually my least favorite part of making a toy. Strange isn’t it? Only by putting it together you’ll get to cuddle your monster. But still sometimes all the part will lay around in the house a long time before I will finish it. Happy crocheting,
Love Irene

06/05/2014/6 Comments/by Irene
https://www.sugaridoo.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/P10207621-1.jpg 425 845 Irene http://www.sugaridoo.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Sugaridoo_transparant2.png Irene2014-05-06 14:31:232016-07-13 12:20:21Pinky the o-so-friendly monster Summer is on the way! Lovely weather and all those beautiful colors outside. This cute caterpillar will fit right in don’t you think?In this blog post you’ll find a free pattern to crochet him yourself! Lets start!
Are you ready? Lets start crocheting.

Body, large balls
(Make 5: 2 in light blue, 2 in dark blue and 1 in grey)
R1: 6sc in a magic loop                                    (6)
R2: 6 x inc.                                                           (12)
R3: {1sc, 1 x inc.} x 6                                       (18)
R4: {2sc, 1 x inc.} x 6                                      (24)
R5-R8: 24sc
R9: {2sc, 1 x inc.} x 6                                       (18)
R10: {1v, 1 x min.} x 6                                     (12)

Fill up the ball.

R11: 6 x dec.                                                         (6)
Finish off and leave a tail to be able to sew the balls together later on. (grey yarn)
Place the safety eyes between R3 and R4 with about 3sc in between.
R9: {2sc, 1 x dec.} x 6                                      (18)
R10: {1sc, 1 x dec.} x 6                                    (12)
Fill up the head.
R11: 6 x dec.                                                        (6)
Finish off and leave a tail to sew the head to the body later on.

(Make 2 of these in light blue yarn)
R1: 4sc in a magic loop                                   (4)
R2-R3: 4sc
Fasten off and leave a tail to attach them to the head.

Tail, small ball
R1: 6sc in a magic loop                                   (6)
R2: 6 x inc.                                                          (12)
R3: {1sc, 1 x inc.} x 6                                      (18)
R4-R6: 18sc
R7: {1sc, 1 x dec.} x 6                                      (12)


R8: 6 x dec.                                                          (6)
Fasten off leave a tail to attach the tail to the body later on.

Tail, mini ball
(Dark blue yarn)
R3-R4: 12sc
R5: 6 x dec.                                                          (6)
Fill up the ball, fasten off and leave a tail. Putting the caterpillar together.
Sew the caterpillar together. First you attach the five balls of the body to each other.  Then you can sew on the balls for the tail. Then the head with the feelers.  Now stitch on a nose with the pink yarn and a sweet little mouth with the black yarn. And you’re done! Wasn’t that fun? Go make another one in an other happy color!

Have fun crocheting!


30/04/2014/1 Comment/by Irene
https://www.sugaridoo.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Rups3_blog.jpg 450 750 Irene http://www.sugaridoo.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Sugaridoo_transparant2.png Irene2014-04-30 18:00:182016-07-12 16:58:03Caterpillar amigurumi [Pattern] 


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