Amigurumi is the craft of crocheting (and sometimes knitting) stuffed dolls or figures. The word originally comes from the Japanese words “ami” and “nuigurumi”. “Ami" means to knit or crochet, and “nuigurumi" means stuffed doll.
Ami - to knit or crochet
Nuigurumi - stuffed doll
Amigurumi originally became popular in post-World War II Japan. This is around the time when a move towards a culture of cuteness or “kawaii” first began. This trend continued to grow and take hold in Japan with the help of mass-marketable icons like Hello Kitty. People loved these types of cartoonish figures, characterized by features such as oversized heads, googly eyes, and bright and fun colors. With the advent of amigurumi, knitting and crocheting were no longer just for making clothing or blankets, but could be used to create something fun, and became part of a prominent aspect of Japanese culture.
Starting in around 2003 the craft started to become more popular in the west as people began to see the appeal of creating amigurumi. In 2006, amigurumi were some of the most popular items sold on Etsy, and have continued to gain popularity since, selling anywhere from a couple dollars to $100. However, amigurumi is still a developing craft and it’s popularity can be greatly affected by trends and pop culture. Crafters are constantly coming up with new ways to apply the craft and creating new and exciting patterns keeping the art relevant and desired.
Crafters now use the art of amigurumi to create all sorts of things - from animals and mythical creatures to food with faces or even celebrity look-a-like dolls! While originally amigurumi are typically created for aesthetic purposes, we now see that many are being used for children’s toys.
So what exactly can you use amigurumi for? Well, just about anything! These little guys make great gifts, whether they’re for a birthday or baby shower, fun decor around the house, in a nursery or bedroom, or even as great props for newborn or children photoshoots. Amigurumi can be used as a stuffed toy for children to play with, or be the perfect decor piece in your home. And no matter what you decide to do with them, they’re sure to bring you a little joy!
