Slip stitch is a really easy – and very handy – stitch to have in your toolbox.
It’s one way to close up the very final tiny hole in the top of an amigurumi.
I also use it any time I want to shift from the “step” of a single crochet stitch, to a more gradual “ramp.” You’ll see what I mean in the video – and also how to do it. 🙂
See how easy that is?
Here are handy links to all the posts teaching the basic crochet stitches. . .
Chain stitches are the foundation for most crochet work – and they’re really easy to do.
Watch this video – Stacey will show you how to do it.
It’s kind of crazy that all crochet is just one long, continuous piece of yarn wrapped and looped around itself. 🙂
If you’re just getting started with crochet and want to really get a feel for how to hold your hook, just starting crocheting a chain. Keep chaining until the hook feels natural in your hand!
You can either unravel the finished chain or use it like bulky yarn to crochet something else. 🙂
Here are handy links to all the posts teaching the basic crochet stitches. . .
Why would you need to learn how to crochet an oval?
Well, I love making softies with oval bases. They require shaping that’s a little different than your usual amigurumi rounds – but they’re not hard to do.
There are two basic techniques for creating an oval. Each one gives you a slightly different look, so I’ll show you both.
Start with a Chain
Chain until the piece is as long as you want. You’re creating the center of the oval, so keep in mind that this piece will grow in all directions!
Crochet around the Chain to Grow Your Oval
Turn and sc in 2nd stitch and each remaining stitch.
You will end up with one stitch fewer than the number of chains you started with. (That’s because one of those chain stitches became a turning chain.)
That grew one side of your oval. To grow the other side you’ll need to work the bottom side of the foundation chain
Now we’re going to start looking at the two different ways to crochet an oval. Each results in a slightly different shape.
Technique 1: Increase at ends
One way to achieve an oval is to sc 3 times in each of the end stitches. You want to use stitches *directly* on the ends to get an even oval.
To do this, single crochet into the turning chain and the starting knot (unusual, I know!)
Put a locking stitch marker in the center of the 3 single crochet stitches, and increase (3 stitches in 1) on each side every round.
You increase 4 stitches each round. The result is a flatter oval with more pointy-looking ends.
Technique 2: Increase at ‘corners’
To begin this technique, sc twice in each of the 4 ‘corners’ of your piece, that is the first and last stitch of each side.
Do not work the turning chain or knot.
Place a locking stitch marker in the increase stitch furthest away from the end points.
The result is a nicely rounded oval. Just like technique 1, you are increasing by 4 sts/round.
Continue increasing (sc twice in 1 stitch) at the stitches with the stitch marker. The stitch markers will move apart by 2 stitches each round (put differently, the ‘increased stitch’ goes towards the short side of the rectangle).
Any time you need to make your amigurumi bigger, you’ll use single crochet increase. It’s super easy! You just stitch twice in one stitch.
Here’s how.
Sometimes you’ll see this written in instructions as “inc” and you decide where to put the increases, but our patterns usually spell it out. If we want you to crochet increase, we’ll say “sc twice in next st.” We like to make things clear and easy. 🙂
Want to practice how to crochet increase (and decrease)? Pick up a super easy pattern.
Jay the Bird is one of the easiest – great for beginners.
Want something just as simple, but a little smaller? This bird and bunny are adorable!
They’re a lot smaller (so you won’t get in as much practice on those crochet increases) but you’ll finish faster!
You only need a few things to crochet amigurumi – a hook (to crochet), some stitch markers (to mark your place), and a tapestry needle (to weave in the ends and attach arms and legs).
Besides yarn – that’s really it! It’s a lovely craft – and easy to carry your projects everywhere.
This set of hooks includes the three most common sizes for working with medium weight yarn. I think this kind with the fat “neck” makes it extra easy to control the tension of your stitches.
You’ll need a handful of stitch markers. I use these to mark the end of a row, to mark where eyes and noses go, to hold pieces in place while I whipstitch them together, and more. They’re super useful!
Grab the biggest tapestry needles you can find. Yes – you may have a large embroidery needle that you could maybe, with a lot of effort and swearing, work a piece of yarn into. Do yourself a favor and just get the enormous needles. They’re super cheap and you’ll be glad you spent the money every time you need to thread some yarn.
Total for all these tools?
Should be less than $20.
Add in a pattern and a skein of yarn and maybe a packet of eyes, you could be making your first amigurumi for less than $30.
Give it a try! And happy stitching! 🙂
Here are handy links to all the posts about crochet tools and supplies.
Whew! That’s quite a mouthful! But it’s actually a really easy technique that lets you get two bumps with some space between them, like the awesome googly eyes on this frog.
