Hugs and amigurumi Crochet
Hugs and amigurumi Crochet
Amber Winsveen
Jootjes Crochet Gifts
Handmade Baby toys are trendy!
What is currently possible in the field of handmade Baby toys?
As mentioned, in this blog we will focus on crocheted plush toys, also known as amigurumi, but there is a lot more jij can make when thinking of a homemade newborn gift. Below is a list jij can use for inspiration:
- A Baby blanket
- Babykleding en/of babyschoentjes.
- A wooden or silicone Teething ring.
- A Stroller chain
- A Pacifier chain or toy Cord.
- Houten en/of crocheted Baby rattle.
- A comfort blanket, such as This from Haakstudio
- A handmade wooden or silicone Baby gym > Read more about this in Ourblog about the Make of a Baby gym.
- Crocheted toy tower with stackable rings, such as the stacking rabbit by Christel Krukkert or the stackable bear.
All of the above products can be made from Wood, silicone, or crocheted/knitted items and can usually be both crocheted and knitted. Since there are so many fun Baby shower gifts to make, this blog focuses on making Amigurumi/crocheted stuffed animals. Read below for your tips and tricks.
Materials, quality and safety are important when Make Amigurumi
WHAT DO WE RECOMMEND FOR Yarn?
Made from the most popular material, if jij want to make anything for babies, it's cotton. Cotton is easy to wash and hardly pills. This means that for a little one it's virtually impossible to ingest fibers from the material while sucking on the product. In addition, children are less likely to develop an allergy or irritation from cotton in the long term than, for example, acrylic or wool. Always look for high‑quality products.
Dutch products are, for example, almost always dyed with non‑harmful substances. This is not always the case with cotton from abroad. A tip we often mention is Durable Coral yarn. This yarn is 100 % cotton and GOTS‑certified. The yarn is produced in an environmentally responsible way (both the yarn itself and the dyeing). In addition, the yarn is available in a large assortment of no fewer than 85 beautiful colors. Did jij know that Durable Coral yarn has been available in the Netherlands for more than 30 years? A real market favorite! The yarn has a length of 125 m per 50 g and the recommended needle size is 2.5–3.5 mm. However, we often Crochet Amigurumi with a size 2 Crochet hook, so the effect stays nicely closed and jij see little of the filling. Note that this also depends on how tight or loose jij Crochet, which varies from person to person. How tight or loose jij Crochet and how regularly jij Crochet also often varies depending on how long jij have been crocheting. Someone who is just starting often crochets looser or tighter and often a bit less regularly. This skill develops over time, so never be discouraged! That’s how we all start! 🙂
Important tip: For Baby blankets, cotton is almost always preferred. This also ensures good ventilation, so the Baby doesn’t get too Hot or too cold quickly. Jij should always take the blanket’s function into account, not just its final appearance.
How do jij stuff Crocheted plush toys/Amigurumi?
Okay, we have chosen the yarn for our plush toy. The exterior is ready to be shaped, but what will we fill our amigurumi with? The most important first question is: do jij want to be able to wash your plush toy? The underlying question is usually whether the plush toy is just for decoration or if the child will be in much more contact with it during play. Jij need to take this into account when jij fill your plush toy. Special stuffing is available. It is mostly synthetic and often expensive. Here at Jootjes Haakcadeautjes jij won’t find any stuffing. Why not, jij might ask?..
The answer is simple. If we’re critical of anything, it’s our pillow filling. Jij know, the one from your pillow. Jij want to lie comfortably at night as soon as jij lay your head down. That makes pillow filling the ideal stuffing for a plush toy. Look for an affordable pillow for your plush’s stuffing. For example, this one we always use, just from Ikea. Super cheap and machine‑washable up to 60 °C. Why make it hard when it can be easy! 🙂
So jij choose from a Washable pillow combined with a high-quality Cotton. Then the cuddly toy is definitely washable. Keep the washing instructions for both. Of course, jij follow the strictest, lowest temperature.
Next, when it comes to cuddly toys for Baby’s, toddlers, and children, it is important that the stuffing stays as stuffing and doesn’t secretly come out again as Free. Crochet work is always a threading of Yarn. There are always HOLES in it. Especially a beginner crocheter may still see somewhat larger HOLES in Are work than a more advanced crocheter. That is why, for both levels of crocheters, our advice is to ensure that the stuffing cannot pass through the HOLES of the Hook or knitted work.
A handy tip is to first fill your plush with, for example, the foot of a pantyhose, and then fill that with stuffing. If jij like, jij can also add a rattle disc, squeaker, or music box to the stuffing. Close the pantyhose as soon as the body part of the plush is sufficiently filled, and then finish closing the plush according to the pattern instructions. This way the stuffing won’t come out of the plush. This prevents the stuffing from escaping when the plush is chewed. And finally, don’t forget to check whether a rattle disc, squeaker, or music box is suitable for machine washing.
Crochet hook:
Good luck and have fun Crochet your Own cuddle!
Love,
Team Jootjes
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