Most amigurumi are made in a smooth, plied yarn so the stitches show clearly and the shape holds. Fuzzy or single-ply yarns hide the stitch definition and can pill where the figure is handled.
Fibres
- Cotton gives the crispest stitches and the firmest shape. It has no stretch, which makes stuffing easier to control. Mercerised cotton has a slight sheen; matte cotton looks softer. Sport and DK weights are the most common choice for small figures.
- Acrylic is inexpensive, comes in the widest colour range and is light. Stitches are a little softer than cotton. Worsted acrylic on a 3.5-4 mm hook makes a larger figure than the same pattern in sport cotton.
- Wool and blends are warm and slightly stretchy. They can felt with handling, which some makers like for a smooth surface. Superwash wool does not felt.
- Chenille and velvet yarns make very soft figures but the stitches are hard to see and hard to count. Better for a second or third project.
How much yarn
A 14 cm sitting bear takes about 1,800 single crochet stitches. At roughly 3.5 cm of worsted yarn per stitch that is about 65-75 m, so one 100 g skein covers it with plenty left over. The pattern header lists the exact stitch count and an estimated length; the yarn estimator tool does the same sum for any stitch count and yarn weight.
Colours and changes
Pick the main colour first, then one contrast for muzzles, bellies or paws. Two colours are enough for most figures. When changing colour in a spiral, finish the last stitch of the old colour with the new colour on the final pull-through, so the change lines up with the round.
Matching a pattern's yarn
If a pattern names a yarn you cannot find, look for the same weight category and fibre in the yarn database. Lines in the same category work to a similar gauge; a quick swatch confirms the hook size.