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What Is Amigurumi? Definition, History and Technique

March 27, 2018 by Amigurumi Today
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What does Amigurumi means? Amigurumi patterns


Hop onto any popular craft or DIY website, and there’s a good chance you’ll find a section dedicated to a trend that’s still expanding after well over a decade: amigurumi. If it seems unlikely that a miniature combination of yarn, stuffing and bright colors could dominate an entire arts and crafts genre, that’s because nothing quite like it has been on the market before. It’s a fresh concept built on a marriage of cultural aesthetics, and even better, it’s adorable.

Amigurumi is the Japanese word which describes small knitted or crocheted stuffed toys, often in the shape of characters, animals, mini foods, household objects and scenery. It comes from the two root words ami, meaning crocheted or knitted, and nuigurumi, which means stuffed doll. Since their inception, these handmade toys have become synonymous with the whimsical subculture many already associate with Japan, a movement which has spawned thousands of imaginative works. This particular branch, however, has no exact parallel anywhere else in the world.

The art of amigurumi. Where did it come from?

While amigurumi’s specific origins are murky, it definitely has its main roots in Japan. The first stuffed animals emerged in their earliest forms around the same time other countries discovered and, eventually, entered into trade with the Japanese civilization of the day. Crocheting and knitting techniques didn’t originally exist on the Japanese islands, and several theories circulate about how they arrived. Some speculate that they appeared as early as the dynasty periods, when sporadic interaction with the Chinese brought it to light, while others believe the specific techniques came later on in the 1600s-1800s with Dutch traders. Either way, the methods took up a quiet stand in their own niche of homemaking and practical needlework and didn’t truly blossom until much later.

The first actual amigurumi dolls appeared at the start of the 1970s. The concept sprang up alongside other kawaii (cute) trends, like chibis, which means “little” versions of normal people and objects, and formative (though not the earliest) types of anime and manga. At the time, they were still relatively new, and given Japan’s emerging focus on bolstering its economy, the development of a sub-culture built on kawaii was prime breeding ground for products just like amigurumi toys.

However, the bulk of the movement gained its footing when it reached the United States in the early 2000s. As soon as arts and crafts gurus in the U.S., already fascinated with Japanese aesthetics, grabbed hold of the idea, it exploded into the form most people know today, resulting from the blend of Eastern and Western creative thinking. Of course, the internet then made short work of bumping it to the top of the trend list.

From there, it evolved from fad to fundamental. Individuals started forming groups based around the movement, becoming the first of many who are dedicated to perfecting the art. There have since been meet-ups, galleries, conventions and social groups all over the world centered on crafting these delightful crocheted toys. Finding an active and/or local group is a simple matter of doing an internet search – but be careful: it’s an addictive pursuit.

Lying kitten amigurumi pattern by Amigurumi Today - Amigurumi for beginners

 

 

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13 thoughts on “What Is Amigurumi? Definition, History and Technique”

  1. Azucena
    April 8, 2018 at 6:39 pm

    me gustan los amigurumis y quiero seguir aprendiendo

    Reply
  2. Azucena
    April 8, 2018 at 6:41 pm

    me gustan los amigurumis y me gustaria eprender nuevas tecnicas con ustedes y seguir aprendiendo para poder hacerlos cada vez mejor

    Reply
  3. Nancy
    April 9, 2018 at 2:07 pm

    Beautyful explanations, thanks from Uruguay, South América

    Reply
    • Amigurumi Today
      April 9, 2018 at 7:15 pm

      Thank you, Nancy! 🌷

      Reply
      • martine
        May 10, 2020 at 5:01 pm

        Hartelijk dank voor de mooie patroontjes ben er dol op
        Dikke Dankjewel

        Reply
  4. Eraine Engelbrecht
    December 26, 2018 at 7:02 am

    I love Amigurumi today. I just wish we could get proper patterns on this web site and do not have pintrest interfering every time. I am not interested in pintrest or joining them

    Reply
  5. Gail Dudeck
    April 29, 2019 at 1:52 am

    Thank you so much for these beautiful patterns. I have just made the giraffe for my great grandson’s first birthday. It was my.first attempt and it turned our lovely and so cute. It is a nice change from baby blankets, beanies etc. I found instructions very easy to follow. Once again many thanks. Gail Queensland Australia.

    Reply
    • Amigurumi Today
      May 12, 2019 at 4:58 pm

      Thank you, Gail, for kind words! 🙂

      Reply
  6. Petra
    April 25, 2020 at 9:58 am

    Hi there, I love your page and your patterns! And I also really enjoyed this article. Have you written the whole article from a scratch? If so, then you are brilliant! 🙂

    Reply
  7. Lynne
    May 6, 2020 at 9:15 pm

    Thank you so much for your lovely free patterns. I am loving learning new skills especially making these cute little creatures.
    Thank you from
    Lynne
    Shropshire
    UK

    Reply
  8. ADA
    September 1, 2020 at 7:53 pm

    I am working in one of the bear patterns. Thank you very much for offering it as a free pattern. It is so well explained, the instructions are very easy to follow. I will post a picture once is done.

    Reply
  9. Amber
    November 23, 2020 at 10:40 am

    Thank you so much for the lovely projects. Will definitely try some. The patterns are written in a nice easy manner. I can understand and follow easily. Amber

    Reply
  10. Emilie
    December 25, 2020 at 9:56 pm

    Je débute et j adore ce site. Les explications sont simples et efficaces. Milles mercis. Je ne sait même pas par ‘equel commencé.

    Reply

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