Not knowing how to stuff your amigurumi properly is the main reason why so many fail at making them. Stuffing is the heart and sole of your amigurumi and if done incorrectly you will be stuck with a floppy and disformed toy within a few hours after everyone at the market picks it up and squishes it! If you have been making amigurumi and struggling to get it looking plump and perfect you will want to keep on reading.
Learning how to stuff your amigurumi properly can impact the texture of your toy. If you overstuff your toy, it may become too firm and less huggable, an over stuffed toy that is hard and firm can also be a danger to small children when thrown or swung around. while if you under-stuff it, it may feel floppy or lack structure. Proper stuffing can help create a toy with a pleasant and appealing texture that is also functional and durable.
7 Tips to stuff your amigurumi properly:
1. Closing your project enough before stuffing
When making an amigurumi, it is important to close the hole small enough before stuffing the toy to ensure a neat and finished appearance. If the hole is not closed enough, it can be difficult to stuff the toy properly, and you may end up with a lumpy or uneven appearance. I always stuff my toy at the last three rounds I have to make before closing the opening. This would usually be around 18/12 stitches, depending on the pattern
2. Not stuffing more as you close your project
This is a mistake a lot of beginners make, not continuing to stuff the section as they close up the hole. Every time you complete a round before you reach the end, place some more stuffing in the hole. continue doing this till you have reached your last round, usually 6 single crochet round. Even at the very last round you still need to add a little bit more stuffing, you can use the back of your crochet hook to get the stuffing into the hole.
Stuffing is full of air pockets, and just like a balloon it deflates after a couple of days. The stuffing in the toy will settle and air pockets will disappear, that is why even if your ami feels stiff and firm you will notice after a couple of days or weeks it will be soft and floppy. So even if it does seem pretty stiff and well stuffed, just adding that little amount of stuffing at the end would make a world of difference.
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3. Not fluffing the stuffing!
If your toy is full of lumps and bumps, fluffing out the stuffing will help eliminate those uneven sections. By taking the time to fluff out the stuffing, you can ensure that it is evenly distributed throughout the toy, resulting in a smooth surface. Additionally, fluffing out the stuffing can help to create a firm yet soft texture, which is ideal for amigurumi when helped and played with by small children.
4. Use small amounts of stuffing at a time
Instead of stuffing your toy with large clumps of stuffing, use smaller pieces. This will help ensure that the stuffing is distributed evenly throughout the toy and will prevent lumps from forming. This will also minimize the amount of air pockets trapped between big chunks of stuffing, that tend to deflate over time causing your toy to loose shape and become floppy when played with.
5. Stuff in layers, starting from the bottom and the sides
Once you are ready to start stuffing your amigurumi project you have to start at the bottom and on the sides. Many think by just pushing in a huge clump of stuffing is enough and that the stuffing will find it’s way into all the bends of the section. I have had people contact me before on my patterns, asking how I get the head so round, because theirs ends up looking like an egg.
When you stuff, start at the bottom and make sure the bottom of the section is nicely covered in stuffing, from there you will build up the layers, once you are about three quarters of your way up, you will have to push the stuffing to the sides of your project. At the very end you will fill up the center of the section you are stuffing.
6. Stuff firmly but not to tightly
You want your toy to feel firm and hold its shape, but be careful not to overstuff it. Overstuffing can make your toy feel hard and lumpy, and it can stretch out the stitches causing the stuffing to show through. To make sure your stuffing is enough squeeze and push your toy between your hands like a small child would, if it looses shape or left a dent you need to add more stuffing. If it jumps back into shape without feeling bumpy and soft you have added enough stuffing.
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7. Feel around for bumps and lumps
For the final tip, once your are satisfied with the section you stuffed, run your hands over your project to make sure that you don’t have any bumps or lumps in your piece. Also feel for any soft spots and dents where you may have not stuffed enough.
With these 7 tips on stuffing your amigurumi will look like something out of a magazine!
Proper stuffing can make a big difference in the appearance of your amigurumi. Under-stuffing can result in a floppy or deformed toy, while over-stuffing can cause your toy to look lumpy or uneven, with open stitches and stuffing showing through. Proper stuffing helps to create a smooth, even surface and gives your toy the shape and structure that it needs.
Properly stuffing your toy will result in your toy holding up his shape overtime, this is a big bonus if you are looking for returning customers. If your toy looses its shape to quickly and gets floppy and deformed after one or two play session that customer may not return to buy more.
If you found these tips to be helpful and want to learn more about amigurumi and how to create the perfect amigurumi toy, sign up for my newsletter!
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