Resizing Amigurumi Patterns

Resizing Amigurumi Patterns

The Ultimate Guide

In my earlier blog post, "Crocheting amigurumi is not that difficult", I briefly touched on the fact that you can adjust an amigurumi pattern by using thicker or thinner yarn, and of course adjusting the crochet hook accordingly. In this blog I will take a closer look at how to enlarge or reduce amigurumi patterns, so that you can make your amigurumi projects exactly as big (or small!) as you want. I use as an example a number of my own creations, which I also crocheted in a larger or smaller version.

Leave out or add rounds? The big pitfall!

Do you ever wonder how to make an amigurumi bigger or smaller? Then don't make the mistake of thinking that you can just add or remove a number of rounds. No, it's not that simple!

If you add or remove rounds, you completely change the proportions of your amigurumi creation. Your project will never look like the one in the designer's photo; The proportions are simply not right.

Exceptions to the rule:

Of course, there are always exceptions. You can adjust revs for specific parts:

1. Animal tails: Do you want to make an animal's tail longer or shorter? Then you can very well add or remove some rounds!
2. Limbs: Do you want to give a doll slightly longer legs or arms? Then you can easily crochet 1 or 2 rounds more.
3. Hair: The same applies to crocheting hair. If you want shorter hair, you crochet it shorter; If you want longer hair, you can easily crochet it longer.

But remember: these are really the exceptions!

Why would you want to enlarge or reduce a pattern?

It happens to all of us from time to time. You see a super nice creation, but you would like to crochet this creation a lot bigger or smaller. There can be several reasons for this:

Personal preference: Maybe you want to crochet a cuddly toy for a baby, but not such a very large one. Or you want to crochet an extra-large cuddly toy to cuddle with.

Yarn you already have: You have leftover yarn lying around and you would like to use it, even if it is a different thickness than prescribed in the crochet pattern.

Customize to a specific size: You want to create an amigurumi that fits perfectly with an existing creation or another project.

Testing a new yarn: You want to see how a certain type of yarn looks like amigurumi on an existing pattern you already have.

How can you successfully increase or decrease a pattern?

Just adjust yarn and crochet hook!

Adjusting yarn and crochet hook always works! This is the easiest and most effective way to adjust the size of your amigurumi, without disturbing the proportions.

For a larger amigurumi:

1. Use thicker yarn than indicated in the pattern and a larger crochet hook.

2. Crochet with 2 or more strands at the same time from the same yarn, also adjust your crochet hook.

3. Combine the two for an even bigger result: use thicker yarn and crochet with 2 or more strands at the same time. You'll notice that each stitch gets bigger, so the whole project grows proportionally. Don't forget to adjust the crochet hook accordingly!

My own examples:

Beach house as a crochet aid

A good example of a larger creation is my Beach House as a crochet aid. The original is crocheted with cotton yarn (Durable Coral), with crochet hook size 2.5. The larger version is crocheted with Durable Cosy Fine with crochet hook size 5. It has become a super large Beach House. I made the reinforcement inside to size with cardboard. The reason why I wanted a bigger Beach House? This one stands out even more when I'm at a trade show!

Kabouter Jiggle

I had never crocheted with chenille yarn before. I wanted to try that out too. For this I used the pattern from Gnome Jiggle. The pattern of Gnome Jiggle is crocheted with cotton and crochet hook size 2.5. But I crocheted this super Jiggle with Little Darling, the chenille yarn from Scheepjes, with crochet hook size 3.5. I had to enlarge his hair, beard and mustache a bit, but my white fake fur still looks good on him!

For a smaller amigurumi:

Choose thinner yarn and a smaller crochet hook. The stitches become more compact, and your amigurumi shrinks with it.

My own examples:

Dog Tanja

I designed dog Tanja with Yarn and Colors Charming with crochet hook 3. Charming is a Stone Washed yarn. Durable allowed me to try out Durable Soqs Tweed (with crochet hook 2). Look how cute Dog Tanja has become.

Henny Hen

Henny Hen is also a good example of what different yarn does to the size of the creation. The little Henny is crocheted with Yarn and Colors Must Have cotton with crochet hook size 2.5. The big Henny is crocheted with Yarn and Colors Charming with crochet hook size 3. The

By applying the different methods to make a creation bigger or smaller, you can also create a nice set. You can now easily crochet a father, mother and baby dog, for example.

Important tip:

Regardless of the yarn thickness, with amigurumi it is always recommended to choose a crochet hook that is one size smaller than what is recommended on the yarn label. Crochet your amigurumi tightly so that the filling does not come through.

What else will change?

When adjusting the yarn size and crochet hook, there are a few more things to keep in mind:

Filling: A larger amigurumi needs more filling. Get enough stuffing.

Eyelets and other accessories: The safety eyes, embroidered eyes or details and other accessories may also need to be chosen in a different size to match the new proportions of your amigurumi. Too small an eye on a large cuddly toy can look strange!

Reinforcement: Some creations have a reinforcement in the creation. You will also have to adjust these, such as for the Beach House.

Yarn consumption: A larger amigurumi will use more yarn and a smaller amigurumi less. Check if you have enough yarn at home. By the way, also a good excuse to go shopping!

I even crocheted seahorse Zena with 3 different yarns.

With sock wool and crochet hook 2, with cotton yarn and crochet hook 2.5 and with Stone Washed yarn and crochet hook 3. If I had crocheted all three in the same color, I could have really created a father, mother and child seahorse!

A personal touch!

Resizing patterns is a fantastic way to add a personal touch to your projects. You will be amazed at the great results you will achieve if you choose a different yarn!

Have you ever enlarged or reduced a pattern by using different yarn? Share your experiences and tips in the comments below!

Have fun crocheting!