basic amigurumi shapes and how to make them Hooked by Kati

Basic Amigurumi Shapes: The Shape Is In The Math

So, you want to design your own amigurumi. Or maybe you have something you want to freehand as a gift. So you choose your color, pick up your hook, and then start at it for a minute. How many stitches in the first round? How will I make this the shape and size I want? My dear friend, the answer is in the math. 

I know, I know. No one warned us that a craft as soft and fluffy as crochet would contain so much MATH!

But the truth is, from stitch patterns to amigurumi shapes, math is a huge, necessary part of crochet — especially if you are a designer.  

With the right multiplier, you can make the perfect shape for you next amigurumi pattern. 

More Starting Stitches = Flatter Crochet 

I’m sure you’ve noticed in other crochet ventures, such as hats, that the number of stitches you start with tends to dictate how flat or how round your work will become. 

If you put in too many increases, the piece will start to wave on the edges and not stay flat. If you put in too few, it will be too pointy. 

The same is obviously true with amigurumi parts, but unlike hats, we don’t necessarily want our amigurumi to have perfectly round heads. 

There are many circumstances when you WANT a pointy, conical amigurumi shape, like the snout on the Hygge Hedgehog. 

Basic Amigurumi Shapes Cheat Sheet

But since there are varying degrees of pointiness, it’s nice to have a frame of reference to use when you need to choose just how round or how pointy you want your amigurumi shape to be. 

I created a quick-reference printable cheat sheet for you so you can easily decide how pointy or how round you want your shape to be and move forward from there with confidence. 

Download it here.

Hopefully, this will take the guesswork out of some of your design process.

Each of these shapes are going to start with the same number of stitches as there will be increases in each round. 

Of course, you can start any amigurumi shape with any number of stitches in that first ch 2 (or in a magic circle, if you prefer), but for the sake of this example — to help you get a feel for the basics — These parts will all be naturally round, from their tip onward. 

Each part will start with a number of stitches in the second chain from the hook, then you will add the same number of increases to each round, making each round in multiples of the starting number. 

The multiplier to you choose will dramatically change the look of your amigurumi part, so choose carefully. Yes, you may be able to “fix” it with stuffing later, but the next artist may not.

Flat: Multiples of 8

Basic Amigurumi Shapes: Round or Pointy? With increases in different multiples, you can choose how round or pointy you want your 3-dimensional crochet shapes. Hooked by Kati

Ch 2.

Rnd 1: 8 sc in second ch from hook. (8)

Rnd 2: Inc in each st around. (16)

Rnd 3: [Sc, inc] 8 times. (24)

Rnd 4: [2 sc, inc] 8 times. (32)  etc…

This multiplier is great for when you need a flat bottom for the amigurumi to sit on, or for the bottoms of hooves. 

Almost Flat: Multiples of 7

Basic Amigurumi Shapes: Round or Pointy? With increases in different multiples, you can choose how round or pointy you want your 3-dimensional crochet shapes. Hooked by Kati

Ch 2.

Rnd 1: 7 sc in second ch from hook. (7)

Rnd 2: Inc in each st around. (14)

Rnd 3: [Sc, inc] 7 times. (21)

Rnd 4: [2 sc, inc] 7 times. (28)  etc…

This multiplier is useful for mostly-flat noses (think smoosh-faced dogs) and parts that need to attach to one another easily. 

Perfect Round: Multiples of 6

Basic Amigurumi Shapes: Round or Pointy? With increases in different multiples, you can choose how round or pointy you want your 3-dimensional crochet shapes. Hooked by Kati

 Ch 2.

Rnd 1: 6 sc in second ch from hook. (6)

Rnd 2: Inc in each st around. (12)

Rnd 3: [Sc, inc] 6 times. (18)

Rnd 4: [2 sc, inc] 6 times. (24)  etc…

If you’ve done many Hooked by Kati patterns, you know this is my favorite starting multiplier. I use this one a lot for many reasons. 

It is “perfectly round” when stuffed, meaning it does not seem pointy or flat. It is the multiplier best suited for balls, heads — anything you want to be truly round. 

The other HUGE benefit to using multiples of 6 is that your rounds often have other factors (2, 3, and sometimes 4), so it is very versatile when you need to increase and decrease the change the shape evenly. 

A Wee Bit Pointy: Multiples of 5

Basic Amigurumi Shapes: Round or Pointy? With increases in different multiples, you can choose how round or pointy you want your 3-dimensional crochet shapes. Hooked by Kati

Ch 2.

Rnd 1: 5 sc in second ch from hook. (5)

Rnd 2: Inc in each st around. (10)

Rnd 3: [Sc, inc] 5 times. (15)

Rnd 4: [2 sc, inc] 5 times. (20)  etc…

This multiplier is great for snouts, like those on reptiles. It is also great for tails and ears — when a true round just isn’t quite right.

Pointy: Multiples of 4

Basic Amigurumi Shapes: Round or Pointy? With increases in different multiples, you can choose how round or pointy you want your 3-dimensional crochet shapes. Hooked by Kati

Ch 2.

Rnd 1: 4 sc in second ch from hook. (4)

Rnd 2: Inc in each st around. (8)

Rnd 3: [Sc, inc] 4 times. (12)

Rnd 4: [2 sc, inc] 4 times. (16)  etc…

Great for ears, beaks, and sometimes noses on things like snowmen and woodland critters. 

Very Pointy: Multiples of 3

Basic Amigurumi Shapes: Round or Pointy? With increases in different multiples, you can choose how round or pointy you want your 3-dimensional crochet shapes. Hooked by Kati

Ch 2.

Rnd 1: 3 sc in second ch from hook. (3)

Rnd 2: Inc in each st around. (6)

Rnd 3: [Sc, inc] 3 times. (9)

Rnd 4: [2 sc, inc] 2 times. (12)  etc…

A little hard to get started, but this one pays off if you can fight through those first few rounds. This multiplier is great for REALLY pointy amigurumi shapes, like claws, talons, spikes, or horns. 

Basic Amigurumi Shapes: Round or Pointy? With increases in different multiples, you can choose how round or pointy you want your 3-dimensional crochet shapes. Hooked by Kati

Taking a few extra minutes to choose the right multiplier for your amigurumi parts can help you bring to life the exact crochet pal you are dreaming up. With our chosen art form, even getting the math right can make all the difference. 

Download and print the Basic Amigurumi Shapes Cheat Sheet. It is a great reference to have around to choose the perfect shape for your next amigurumi design.

Want to save this for later or send it to a friend?

Basic Amigurumi Shapes: Round or Pointy? With increases in different multiples, you can choose how round or pointy you want your 3-dimensional crochet shapes. Hooked by Kati
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19 Comments

  1. Katie, I came across your website via Pinterest! I love the information you have provided and I’ve requested a Newsletter. Thanks so much for all of the tutorials and patterns you provide.

    I’m trying to make the “Panda Bear Eye Patches” for a blanket I’m working on and it’s been difficult. I’ve looked on YouTube but some of the tutorials are not translated or they go too fast and I’m unable to slow down enough to learn it. It would be great if you could add Panda Bear Eye Patches to the “Amigurumi Shapes”. Thank you in advance; waiting for my first Newsletter. Respectfully Jo

    1. Jo, I’m not quite sure what shape a panda bear eye patch would be, but I’m guessing the pattern you found is for a flat, irregular circle. Maybe look for a tutorial for something like that?

  2. Hi Kati,

    The link to download the cheat sheet doesn’t seem to work.

    However, the article is great! I am trying to learn how to make my own patterns and was struggling to visualise different types of curve. This has saved me from crocheting 50 different samples to get my head around it. Although I’d love to see what it looks like if you have rows where you don’t increase. Does it make the curve shallower or sharper? Or is it just for bigger projects. I might have to do some experiments! 🙂

    Thanks,
    Riley

      1. I have never heard that before. My guess is that the pattern was translated and the word “hinges” is actually something like “corners” or is a typo from “edges.”

    1. Thank you. I found you so wi awfully helpful.
      CN you help with a oval.
      Recently following a designers pattern for tiny tot bunny slippers a basic oval start chain of 7.
      I just did nit like the slippers. MDe like 4 to ensure I was following the pattern exactly. So her oval sort of bukdged curved out in out on one side and and straight line in other. Thanks get when molding the toe there would be multiple decreases and there were 6. Nice toe frimt. But at the end of this slipper it still was lopsided. Was nit a symmetrical oval. Because if this no matter what I did the bunny ears was nit Osiris r straight frimt but co led to the side. That’s ok but tbat not what I wanted.
      I studied this basic pattetn over abc over. Realky I g it’s all math. I figured this out a long time ago. While self teaching this craft. I have Learning dis. As an adult. Lol it goes t go aWay when you be in e an adult. You learn how to learn basically. So

      Anyhoo. I noticed in the curve on the end she did the usual Inc *2. But the opposite end she started with 3 ax in one st. Now in the end is 3 on one side and 4 on the other. My goal was to get 27 st by that third round. Abd have a perfect oval. I finally got it. Just trial and error. Did nit take notes. You know the rest. Do yiu have a tutorial for ovals. I would like to learn how to create patterns. I create amigurumi right frim my head. Nice toys but have no patterns.
      Thanks.

  3. Wow, thanks for this amazing resource! I’ve been trying to figure it out on my own through trial and error and this is gonna save me SO much time! Thank you!!!

    1. Does this change if you use really thick yarn? Because I tried to increase a pattern from weight 3 yarn to fluffy weight 6 yarn and the bottom ended up kind of pointy (starting with 6 stitches in the magic circle)

  4. Kati, you continue to amaze me! I’m sooo happy I stumbled onto you & your amazing creations. You’ve inspired me to actually learn how to write patterns & create some of the designs I’ve dreamed up over the last 35 yrs. Thank you!

  5. Thank you so much, I have been trying to work out how to do this and this is a perfect reference! Thank you so much for generously sharing your knowledge to help the rest of us who haven’t gotten to your skill level yet.

    Also just want to say I love, love, love your blog! I’ve been crocheting for a few years now and had just about given up on the idea that it’s possible to earn an income from crochet but was researching online to see if it might be possible, when I came across your blog and it’s inspired me to give it a go!

    Thank you for sharing so much of your knowledge and tips for a crochet business. I love your writing style (clear and humorus) and I’ve learned so much from you… I’ve bookmarked literally nearly every single one of dozens of your posts I’ve read.

    THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!

    1. I’m so glad that my lessons have passed on to the right person. 🙂 I love this crazy job, and it really is something in reach. You can do this!

  6. Thank you so much, I been crocheting Amigurumis but from patterns but this will help me to create my own. So excited tks.

      1. Hello!
        Do you have the actual book “Basic amigurumi shapes: the shape is in the math” for sale on Etsy or on any other website? Do you also ship to European countries? I would like to buy your book.

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