The must-have crochet supplies for amigurumi
Every crocheter should have a personal toolkit outfitted with their absolute favorite crochet tools – the can’t-live-without things that make crochet work a breeze. I mainly crochet amigurumi and my toolkit reflects that. I keep this list updated with my favorite amigurumi tools as I discover new must-haves and find even better tools!
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Clover Amour Crochet Hooks
I started crocheting using Susan Bates and Boye aluminum hooks, but they hurt my fingers after long crochet sessions and the yarn would sometimes catch on the seam of the hook. I upgraded all of my hooks to Clover Amours and have NEVER looked back. The shape, feel, and grip are perfection. This set has most of the hooks you’ll need for amigurumi crochet all the way to looser crochet for blankets or garments. You can also buy the hooks individually before committing to the full set. The hooks I reach for the most are size B (2.25 mm), size C (2.75 mm), and size D (3.25 mm) depending on my yarn weight.
Cotton Yarn
You’ll most often see amigurumi made with cotton yarn because they have great stitch definition, are easy to find, and are inexpensive. My current favorite amigurumi yarns are Ricorumi DK weight yarn and Paintbox Yarns Cotton Aran. If you want more yarn recommendations, check out this blog post for reviews of some of the most popular cotton yarns for amigurumi!
Clover Stitch Markers
These are an absolute must if you are crocheting amigurumi to mark the first stitch of each round. I use both the locking and split kinds depending on the project. (Update: These Clover Quick Locking stitch markers are my new #1 favorite stitch markers for crocheting amigurumi. They are really thin and unlock just by giving them a tug. AND they don’t leave a hole in your work.)
Gingher Stork Embroidery Scissors
I must admit I first got these because of their cuteness factor. Don’t you want to cut your yarn by pretending that your stork friend is biting it off for you? I DO! But these actually are the best scissors I own. They are sharp. Like “you may cut yourself on accident” sharp. Which is why they come with their own sheath. Use this sheath. I have had many a stabbing accident because I was lazy and didn’t use the sheath. You’ve been warned.
Fairfield Poly-Fil Premium Fibre Fill
This is kind of a boring amigurumi topic, but stuffing has a huge impact on the finished product. I thought I would be smart and buy some generic/cheap polyester stuffing. Surprise, surprise – it was lumpy and dense. Not really what you want your dolls to be. Fairfield Poly-fil stuffing is the real deal. It is soft and squishy and SO NICE in amigurumi. The one con is that the fibers tend to get everywhere because they are very fine. I now buy my Poly-Fil in these awesome 5 pound boxes – it’s a really great deal if you know you’re going to use a lot of stuffing!
Thin Tapestry Needles
Because you are working with such a thin hook for amigurumi, you’re going to need a thin tapestry needle to weave in you ends. This collection has served me very well and has a good assortment of sizes.
Embroidery Needles
Not much to say about these. They’re needles. They’re good. You need them.
Jewelry Flat Nose Pliers
This might seem like a random addition to my toolkit, but I use it ALL THE TIME. When I am weaving in my ends or embroidering my faces directly onto my crochet, the needle tends to get stuck. Instead of pulling the needle with all my might and hurting my little fingers, I just grip the needle with my pliers and give a quick yank. It works like a charm.
Retractable Tape Measure
My retractable tape measure is always by my side when I design amigurumi patterns. I check my progress against my tape measure as I write. They are also super useful when a pattern tells you to leave your yarn tails a certain length for attaching!
Bamboo Felt
I choose to use primarily vegan materials in my work, so when I found this bamboo blend felt I was so pleased! It is super soft and luxurious, doesn’t stretch or warp, and is a dream to stitch. This bamboo felt from TaDaa Studios on Etsy is my favorite!
DMC Pearl Cotton Ball Black in Size 8
I was originally using the normal 6-ply DMC embroidery floss (that ones in little skeins) for all of my embroidery needs. Then I discovered these DMC Pearl Cotton Balls – the thread is all in one piece, so you won’t have the same fraying that normal embroidery floss gives you. Size 8 is equivalent to 3 strands of the regular 6-ply embroidery floss. I still use and love the 6-ply DMC embroidery floss when I want a thicker embroidered face.
Llamarama Large Zipper Pouch by Danica Studio
My dear friend gifted me this llama pouch and it is the perfect size for all of my tools (and super cute to boot)!
I hope you’ve enjoyed this little crochet tools round-up. What are your must have crochet tools? I’d love to know!
Love your collection! Ok now the pliers totally make sense ? I have the stork scissors too and I have to say I’ve also stabbed myself on occasion! Mine didn’t come with a sheath but it sounds like a very good idea!
I totally agree with curating your amigurumi supplies to fit your style. I myself have a minimalist approach to my supplies. Great post!
Yes! It makes it so much more fun to have tools you love to use 🙂