What a Difference Yarn Weight Makes (and Cheese Puff Pattern!)

Have you ever loved an amigurumi pattern, but didn’t love its size? Easy! Use a different yarn weight and crochet hook! Test it out on the free Cheese Puff crochet pattern below!

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With almost any crochet pattern, you can switch out the yarn listed for a thinner yarn or thicker yarn with a corresponding crochet hook and change its size completely. Such a simple switch makes a BIG difference. The Cheese Puffs above are all made using the same free crochet pattern, but with different yarn weight and crochet hook combinations.

My Monsieur Bear pattern calls for a worsted weight yarn and a size C hook (2.75mm). For the yellow Monsieur Bear, I used Paintbox Yarns Cotton Aran and a Clover Amour C Hook for a finished height of 11 inches. But look how much smaller the blue Monsieur Bear is because I made him with a DK yarn (Paintbox Yarns Cotton DK) and size B hook (2.25mm)!! He only measures 8 inches in height. Isn’t that awesome!

For the Cheese puffs I used the following yarn weight and crochet hook combos (circumference of finished cheese puff in parentheses):

Small Puff (6 inches) – DK weight yarn + 2.25 mm hook

Medium Puff (8.5 inches) – Worsted weight yarn + 3.25 mm hook

Large Puff (12.5 inches) – 2 strands of worsted weight held together (to mimic bulky yarn) + 5.5 mm hook

If you’d like to make your own amigurumi Cheese Puff, I’ve written up the pattern below. It’s really just an easy ball pattern with a cute face, so it’s great for all skill levels!

CHEESE BALL PATTERN (or a easy ball pattern)

MATERIALS (what I used in parentheses)

• Orange yarn (see above yarn +  hook combos)
• Crochet hook (see above yarn +  hook combos)
• Toy stuffing (Fairfield Poly-Fil)
• Stitch marker (Tulip Heart Stitch Markers)
• 9mm safety eyes for Medium and Large Puffs
• Black worsted weight yarn for Medium and Large Puff face detail
• Embroidery floss for Small Puff face
• Embroidery/sewing needle (DMC Embroidery Needle)
• Tapestry needle (DMC Tapestry Needle Size 16)
• Scissors (Gingher Stork Scissors)

SPECIAL TECHNIQUES

• Magic ring – Watch tutorial here.
• Invisible decrease – Watch tutorial here.
• Finish off – Watch tutorial here.

NOTES

• All sections are worked in a continuous round, unless otherwise specified.
• Mark the beginning of each round with a stitch marker.

BALL
rnd 1: Start with a mr, sc 7 into ring (7 sts)
rnd 2: Inc 7 (14 sts)
rnd 3: [sc 1, inc 1] 7x (21 sts)
rnd 4: [sc 2, inc 1] 7x (28 sts)
rnd 5: [sc 3, inc 1] 7x (35 sts)
rnd 6: Sc around (35 sts)
rnd 7: [sc 4, inc 1] 7x (42 sts)
rnds 8-14: Sc around (42 sts for 7 rnds)

– – – STOP AND MAKE FACE NOW.  Insert safety eyes or embroider eyes between rnds 9 and 10. Embroider mouth under and between eyes. – – –

Click here for an in-depth amigurumi face embroidery tutorial

rnd 15: [sc 4, inv dec] 7x (35 sts)
rnd 16: Sc around (35 sts)
rnd 17: [sc 3, inv dec] 7x (28 sts)

 – – – BEGIN STUFFING AND CONTINUE STUFFING UNTIL YOU CLOSE THE BODY. – – –

rnd 18: [sc 2, inv dec] 7x (21 sts)
rnd 19: [sc 1, inv dec] 7x (14 sts)
rnd 20: Inv dec 7x (7 sts)
Fasten off, leaving a 8-inch yarn tail. Finish off and weave in tails.

I hope this posts helps expand your amigurumi horizons. A fun way to check this out would be to dive into your pattern library and pick a pattern to make tiny or big!

ヽ(ﾟｰﾟ*ヽ) 
This amigurumi pattern is an original crochet pattern by Kristina Turner of Tiny Curl. Please do not claim this pattern as your own. If you wish to share this free pattern, you may link to it, but please do not reprint it on your site. You may keep a copy for your own personal use, but please DO NOT sell the crochet pattern or distribute it. Thank you for your understanding.

You can sell items made from this free crochet pattern, as long as they are handmade by you in a limited number and you give credit to me as the crochet designer. Please use the following line in the item description of any toy you are selling:
• This amigurumi toy is handmade by (your name) from a design and pattern by Tiny Curl, Kristina Turner | tinycurl.co • 
(ﾉ*ﾟｰﾟ)ﾉ