Comparing Amigurumi Crocheted in One Loop or Both and Right Side and Wrong Side
I made this video to illustrate the differences in the final look of Amigurumi, depending on whether a person crochets in one loop or both, and whether the right side or the wrong side is facing out. I see a lot of Amigurumi that are done wrong side out, and it’s a shame because it can make the piece look more chunky, less flowing and “nice”, as it would had they been working right side out.
When I first started out making Amigurumi, I came across the unfortunate and in my opinion, incorrect advice that it is always best to crochet in one loop only, because you use less yarn and your stitches are taller so it takes less time to work a piece up. What they failed to mention is that this technique makes most of your shapes look like chunky messes and that they always stretch and get weird, are too long and you can’t do the invisible decrease. It took a lot of grief, pulled apart pieces, disappointed pieces and confusion on my part as to why I was so unable to make my final piece look anything like the pattern, and why my crocheting looks so Frankensteiny compared to what I was seeing online.
When I figured it all out, it was a lightbulb moment, but I made this video to pass on the wisdom. The balls, each having the same amount of stitches, increases and decreases arranged in the same way, same hook, same tension, yet looking so different. Have a look and figure out which one you’d like your piece to look like.
Thanks for this! I just taught myself to crochet and once I made some potholders I quickly wanted to make cute animals. My first few were cute, but the size was wrong. I was working through one loop, but thought it wouldn’t matter (my stitches were tight so getting both loops was sometimes tough). AND my first one was inside out! But they are all getting better. Thanks so much for the visual, now I can SEE the difference.
I just commented on your other video of spiral and joined. How do you do your magic ring because the way I do it always results in wrong side out. All my projects have been wrong side out, and I’ve made several. I just kept doing it because it looked neat to me (besides the dec) but what you said about the sides made sense. Help please.
I don’t actually do a magic ring, I just use the first round worked into the second CH from the hook. If you are finding it works naturally wrong side out, just flip it like in the video 🙂
I’ve used both the right and wrong side out while crocheting; I think it just depends on what kind of shape or texture you’re looking to give your ami. I usually freehand my patterns so I’ll use a mixture of both, depending on what effect I’m trying to achieve.
What a help! Thank you!
You’ve just saved me from so much trouble! Recently I began to do my own amigurumi, but everything looked so terrible wrong. First I thought it was the yarn’s fault so I bought a different one, no use. Then I thought, it must be the hook size, and switched to both a smaller and a bigger one. Then, obviously, I got to the terrible conclusion that I wasn’t good enough to crochet. Not that I was giving up or anything, but I really thought that I was destined to live up with the fugly ones.
Anyway, I only wanted to say thank you. My amigurumi are so much better now thanks to you, your blog and your Youtube channel. ^^
I dont get it with the both loops, back loop thing…. i’m extremely new to crocheting… but just curious…thanks so much
I’m still confused at to which is the right an wrong side…when you crochet in a round (like to make the ball you did), is the side that’s automatically facing out the right side or the wrong side?
What side is facing out automatically will vary depending on your technique and what hand you crochet with so that can’t be a way of knowing. Essentially when you are working in both loops, the side where each stitch looks like little neat V’s all in rows is the right side and the wrong side is the side where each stitch looks more squarish with a bar across the top, almost like the pi symbol, is the wrong side.
Thanks for this! I had been crocheting in back loop for a whole year, and only figured out my error recently. I love your “scientific” approach to showing the different outcomes…
I’ve been quietly wondering that to myself for ages, you see, I taught myself how to crochet and knit (you should have seen me banging my head against the kitchen table with the “Knitting for Dummies” book)
And now I finally have an answer to my question! Thanks a heap!
no wonder my teddy bears always end up sloppy and my tiny creatures are all different sizes!
You’re a life-saver!
After discovering all my amis were wrong side out, I decided to remake one right side out. He’s rounder and smaller. (I had been struggling with flat looking round objects.) Also, attaching limbs has been much easier since I’ve been crocheting right side out. 😀
That was really great advice! I was wondering about that recently as well. 🙂 Thanks!
Having your amigurumi face wrong side or right side out is really a matter of preference, there’s usually not much difference but I can’t imagine only working in one loop for an entire pattern that just seems silly. Someone out theres giving out some bad information. :3 Loved your video and I love all your creations. <3
Thanks so much for this! My first ami was wrong (inside out) and realized when I compared it to other ami pictures on the net. I now know the right way! Your video really helped to confirm that I now have a nice clean swirl and no longer have chunky amigurumi!