I remember, years ago, watching my mother and aunt crochet the infamous “Ripple Afghan.” My mother’s was a range of dark purple and magenta colors. I was fascinated, watching it unfold. She would watch her “stories” after finishing her housework for the morning and then crochet. I was about 8 or 9 and was always interested in all things crafty. I had made “Jeannie in a Bottle” using a Palmolive bottle and a miniature doll after having seen one at my neighbor’s house.  I collected my sister’s and brother’s old baby socks to use as “stuffing” for my sock pets, which were more tied than sewed. Seeing my interest, Mum patiently took some of her scrap yarn and a G hook and taught me how to crochet. I was, as the saying goes, hooked!

Thanks to my mother, I have a passion for teaching others this craft. I have been co-teaching Learn to Crochet classes at the library for the last year; having met many people at a variety of skill levels, I am always on the lookout for simple projects that can be worked up quickly but will also be interesting enough for more advanced crocheters.  At our last class we learned how to make a “Super-Simple Potholder.”  It was just a basic single crochet stitch, but could really be adapted to any pattern that matched the stitcher’s abilities and interests.

I am amazed at the overwhelming response we have had to the Learn to Crochet program at the library.  We have been offering it on the first Thursday every other month, but because the response has been so positive we are adding some extra classes (check our website for details). In addition, the library offers Stitch Therapy (6:30 pm-8:30 pm on the third Tuesday of each month) which serves stitchers of all types and also provides the services of a Stitch Doctor for private appointments (book through our website). Thus, our newbie crocheters can gather with others and continue their learning.

While looking for a new idea to bring to the class, I came across Literary Yarns, an adorable how-to book for crocheting mini literary characters. They are created in what is known as the “amigurumi style.”  Amigurumi Today describes amigurumi as “the Japanese word which describes small knitted or crocheted stuffed toys, often in the shape of characters, animals, mini foods, household objects and scenery. It comes from the two root words ami, meaning crocheted or knitted, and nuigurumi, which means stuffed doll.” Literary Yarns, included such characters as Anne of Green Gables, Jay Gatsby and Daisy, and Dorothy (complete with tiny Toto in a teeny basket). Books and crochet… does it get any better than that?

I have, of course, seen many items of amigurumi. One of my coworkers is an avid crocheter and usually brings a “critter” per week in for us to see. She has stitched tiny mice, bears, cactus, dolls – really hundreds of projects. We are all following her progress as she makes an entire coral reef using crocheted sea creatures.

There are hundreds and hundreds of designs and all begin with the simple single crochet. If you can make a chain and a single crochet, then you can make amigurumi! One of the most delightful amigurumi books the library has is called Whimsical Stitches. There is everything in there from donuts to jellyfish!  Many of the projects can be done in one sitting, often using just scraps of yarn, so they are cost-effective and also, what we in the “biz,” call “stashbuster” projects. Another book I can recommend is Mini Crochet Creatures. This book gives you 30 adorable mini animal patterns. Fun! I also found a very helpful video on YouTube that shows how to crochet in detail: Duck Amigurumi Tutorial (Crochet for Beginners). Of course, if you have never crocheted and need the very basics, the library offers the book How to Crochet. This gives simple, illustrated instructions and goes well with any teach-yourself-to-crochet video you might find.

After all of this research I ordered some yarn and other supplies. Most of these amigurumi characters have eyes, which in any medium can be daunting (that darn French knot!), but I have found that they sell child-safe beaded eyes that you can attach, just as you would an earring, going from the outside to the inside of your work. The effect is adorable – a large head with black beaded eyes… who could resist?  I quickly stitched up Anne of Green Gables (a personal favorite) and am thinking about how I can adapt the pattern to make Laura Ingalls Wilder. Really, the possibilities are endless!

I look forward to many enjoyable hours creating these projects, and, hopefully, teaching others too.

Carla Howard is the Senior Circulation and Media/Marketing Assistant at the Morrill Memorial Library in Norwood, MA. Look for her article in the September 19, 2019 issue of the Transcript and Bulletin.