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How To Avoid Gaps When Making Amigurumi

May 25, 2018 by Amigurumi Today
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Have you ever been crocheting a super cute amigurumi doll and gotten frustrated by the gaps that form between stitches? Perhaps you’ve resorted to sewing the holes up after finishing the project in order to make your finished product look more professional. How do some crochet artists get their work to look so neat and professional?

There are solutions to this problem, and they’re probably not nearly as difficult to master as you might imagine. This article outlines some of the most common reasons for gaps occurring in your amigurumi and provides a simple, yet effective, technique for preventing the gaps from forming.

Pick up your yarn and hook and play with your yarn while you read. You’ll be amazed by how easy it is to implement these crochet hacks into every single amigurumi project you make from now on. Let’s get busy!

How To Avoid Gaps When Crocheting Amigurumi


Inappropriate Hook Size For Yarn Weight

Choosing the wrong hook size is one of the most common reasons for gaps forming while making amigurumi toys.

Unlike with other projects, amigurumi dolls should not be made using the crochet hook size guide on the yarn label. For instance, most worsted weight yarn labels will typically suggest that you use a hook between an H and a K. For DK, or double knitting yarn, most labels will generally recommend a hook between an F and H.

However, these hooks are more than likely going to be way too big to a crochet tight fabric without gaps, which is your goal when making crocheted toys.

You may have to experiment with hook sizes to find the right one. Using the hook suggested by the pattern is the best place to start, although depending on your tension, you may need to go up a size if your fabric is so tight that you struggle to insert your hook, or down a size if you find you are still forming noticeable gaps.

Insufficient Yarn Tension

As mentioned above, when your tension is not tight enough, you will likely find that you are crocheting a fabric that produces gaps in your amigurumi doll. Tension refers to how tightly you are holding the yarn, how hard you are pulling it from the skein and how tightly you make your finished stitches.

You don’t need to worry about gauge when creating amigurumi, so it really doesn’t matter how wide your stitches are, or how close together they are. Crochet toys are just about the only crochet project in which you actually want to make nice, tight stitches to form a fabric without obvious holes.

 

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33 thoughts on “How To Avoid Gaps When Making Amigurumi”

  1. sharyn estridge
    May 25, 2018 at 2:02 pm

    Thank you so much for these helpful hints. Now I know why mine looks so different from the patterns I use and the pictures of them.

    Reply
  2. Phi Loan
    May 25, 2018 at 2:17 pm

    Thank you for your guide.

    Reply
  3. Lúcia de Oliveira Pereira
    May 25, 2018 at 2:20 pm

    Gostaria de aprender a fazer bonecas amigurumi com orelhas, nariz e boca e dedinhos nas mãos. Não sei traduzir os vídeos.

    Reply
  4. Marjorie
    May 25, 2018 at 2:29 pm

    Merci mille fois pour toutes ces explications super utiles j’adore👍🏼😉

    Reply
  5. Annette Porter
    May 25, 2018 at 4:17 pm

    Wow, thank you very much!!! I love the invisible decrease, it’s truly invisible 😀

    Reply
  6. Joelma
    May 26, 2018 at 1:40 am

    Thank you so much.

    Reply
  7. Guadaupe
    May 26, 2018 at 4:10 pm

    Nunca se es tarde para seguir aprendiendo. Muchas gracias por las sugerencias. un abrazo con mucho cariño. Desde México.

    Reply
  8. Maggie Bell
    May 27, 2018 at 9:50 pm

    Thanks so very much! Fabulous information particularly re yarn types.
    I have crocheted all my life and now begining to appreciate that crocheting amigurumi is quite different compared to ‘normal’ crochet.😊

    Reply
  9. Stephanie Allman
    May 31, 2018 at 1:21 am

    Even for experienced hookers, gaps seem to be a normal occurrence. Thank you so much for the explanation! I’ve made so many different amigurumi toys, and this will help make them look even better. I love how versatile and forgiving amigurumii is. 🙂

    Reply
  10. Nandani Diaas Weerasinha
    June 11, 2018 at 11:40 am

    Thank you very much for the very important explanation. I’ve just started amigurumi. Just finished my first toy. There are lot of gaps especially at decreases. I just skipped one stitch which made a big gap. Now I know the correct way to do it. Thank you very much.

    Reply
    • Char
      February 6, 2019 at 5:48 am

      When i decrease, i use the invisible decrease and it isnt as noticeable

      Reply
  11. JUNE
    June 12, 2018 at 12:12 pm

    Thank you so much for these lovely patterns , guess I’ll be busy for a while , lol. And the hints that you gave was very helpful will keep me from having to sew the holes shut. Thanks Again.

    Reply
  12. bernadette jadusingh
    June 29, 2018 at 2:09 am

    So nice of you to help us with problems. I will try the invisible decrease method as the other way shows gaps

    Reply
  13. Jill
    July 22, 2018 at 6:39 pm

    Thank you so much for your advise. Have been crocheting for so many years and yet had never heard of decreasing through front loops only. Also thanks for the tip of not overstuffing toys. That is my big problem.

    Reply
  14. Linda
    July 26, 2018 at 6:30 am

    Thank you for explaining

    Reply
  15. Carrie
    September 10, 2018 at 11:45 pm

    Another “no gap” technique is to carry a strand of matching sewing thread alongside your yarn. I saw it on the past in purses and the like, I wonder if it would work with amigurumi.

    Reply
  16. Linda
    September 16, 2018 at 4:55 pm

    Thank you for the tips. Has anyone also heard about using the yarn under method, as opposed to yarn over? Some say it takes a little getting used to, but once mastered creates a tighter, more uniform stitch.

    Reply
  17. RM Bromagen
    February 22, 2019 at 10:19 pm

    I would like to sign up for your newsletter. Love all of your brilliant patterns.

    Reply
  18. Gilda Maria Oliveira
    March 17, 2019 at 10:44 pm

    Obrigada! Deveras importante suas informações! Sou iniciante no tecer amigurumi e sinto falta destas explicações para otimizar o trabalho final. Parabéns pela sua página!

    Reply
  19. Edna dá Silva e Silva
    April 4, 2019 at 4:46 pm

    Não consigo fazer a orelha do cachorro babe cocker spanel…

    Reply
  20. Theresa Lacko
    July 1, 2019 at 1:26 am

    Thanks for your tips! I just started my 1st Amigurumi project. I’m a naturally tight crocheted, I’m glad there’s no gauge! I did just use the the invisible decrease, it worked great!

    Now, I’m hoping you can help me? No matter what I do, after I make my “magic circle” and continue the rounds (bunny’s head), working counter clockwise. However, my piece curves so that I’m working inside the circle. I’ve read that this happens in right-handed stitchers, but puts the “right side” on the inside. The site I was on, said to simply turn it “right side out” when done. At first I thought this would work. However it would be thought when a ball is made. Also my pattern calls for 18 rounds, then add facial features, stuff, then final 2 rounds. If I do that, then rounds #19-20 would look different.

    What can I do?

    Thanks. Theresa

    Reply
    • Juli
      December 16, 2019 at 3:11 pm

      Did you ever learn what to do? I have the same issue!
      Ju

      Reply
  21. ahuva
    August 19, 2019 at 12:13 pm

    thank you for your instuctions and wonderfull toys. I love making them . i would like very much instructions how to embroider nicely , and how tomake that finished look . thank you.

    Reply
  22. Lois Bryant
    November 26, 2019 at 4:07 am

    The yarn under is much nicer than the yarn over style and it makes a much tighter fabric and is easier to stuff without over stuffing. It makes the amigurimi much more professional looking. The invisible decrease doesn’t show in it either. Thanks for your tips and hints also.

    Reply
    • Nancy
      December 8, 2019 at 7:08 pm

      Just saw your post and wondered if you knew of a visual illustration of the yarn under method because I just can’t get it into my head. Thanks!

      Reply
      • Kathy
        April 19, 2020 at 12:18 pm

        If you Google search yarn over versus yarn under when crocheting it will bring up lots of videos and images to better help you see the process.

        Reply
  23. Claire
    February 8, 2020 at 7:30 am

    Thank you very much for you tips, as I love amigurumi and I do struggle with gaps sometimes and I thank you again for your very useful guide.
    😀

    Reply
  24. martine
    November 14, 2020 at 5:31 pm

    Bonsoir, super et un grand merci pour tous ces conseils bien utiles lorsque l’on débute

    Reply
  25. Anny
    November 16, 2020 at 1:22 pm

    Hey Theresa, if you ever come back to read this: after a few rounds in amigurumi your work may form a cup shape. Simply flip the cup inside-out, and you will automatically end up working on the outside, the appearance won’t change at all. you’ll understand better if you try it! Hope this helped! xoxo

    Reply
  26. Batia
    January 25, 2021 at 4:59 am

    I would like to make little crochet buttons instead of beads or eyes. Toys are fir a two years old and I don’t want to add anything that may be hazardous fir a small child. I used the flower from the head band of the bear, but want something even smaller. Just a small circle, raised a bit.
    Thank you.

    Reply
  27. Nina
    March 4, 2021 at 7:24 pm

    Love it!

    Reply
  28. Jeanette
    March 22, 2021 at 3:33 am

    I’m new to Amigurumi but not to crocheting. My first attempt is with a Karma Chameleon pattern, but my stitching doesn’t look like the photograph. I have re-checked that the stitch I am using is is double crochet. A I missing something ?

    Reply
  29. Angel
    January 16, 2023 at 3:30 am

    Thank you so much for these hints. I kinda knew already about yarn and hook size but I’m glad I have learned the invisible decrease now.

    If possible, kindly make an article on how to embroider neatly (especially for the amigurumi that require facial features to be embroidered on) and how to neatly sew/join stuff together. It would be greatly appreciated!

    Reply

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