5 Tips for Crocheting with Plush Yarn

Plush yarn or blanket yarn is so popular for amigurumi right now, and for good reason! The outcome is super snuggly and so soft. Although the end result is adorable, there is a bit of a learning curve. First, let’s compare the good and the not so good for using plush yarn on your next crochet stuffed animal.

THE GOOD:
• Plush yarn doesn’t rub/burn my finger while I’m crocheting like some acrylic and cotton yarns.
• Works up quicker than worsted weight yarn.
• As mentioned above, it is sooo snuggly.
• There are so many options available now with beautiful colors. Loops & Thread Sweet Snuggles Lite, Premier Parfait Chunky, Hobbii Honey Bunny and Yarnspirations Bernat Blanket are just a few that I have used and love.

NOT SO GOOD:
• Plush yarn is messy.
• Using plush yarn for amigurumi can give your piece an unwanted cone shape.
• Knots can come untied easier with plush yarn.
• The stitches can be hard to see.
• Plush yarn doesn’t hold its shape as much as cotton or acrylic yarn.

Ok, let’s learn some tips to successfully crochet amigurumi with plush yarn. Pin for later!

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Before we get into the tips, it is important to know that plush yarn can break easily. Tension and proper hook size plays a big role in this. I am typically a tight crocheter. For amigurumi, that is a good thing when working with weight #4 yarn and thinner. However, with plush yarn tight tension just doesn’t work. That being said, you don’t want very loose tension either. There is a happy medium that you will have to find that works with your style and hook size. Choose the smallest hook to match your tension that will glide through the yarn. If the yarn is too tight on the hook, it can break. Be sure to use consistent tension throughout the project. This could be a tip on it’s own, but it also plays a part in the tips listed below.

1. Plush yarn is messy. The end of the yarn sheds. I recommend allowing an extra 1” to 2” when you fasten off. When you thread your needle, fold the yarn and pinch the fold to pull through. If you are wanting to thread two yarn ends at the same time, twist both tails together, fold and pull the fold of both tails through the needle. Keep your vacuum close by and maybe a lint roller. You will need it to clean up all the leftover fuzz or we can just call it yarn confetti haha!

2. If you make a mistake and need to frog your amigurumi, it is hard to pull the yarn out without breakage. The yarn gets stuck as you try to pull the stitches out, if it is pulled too hard, it will break. Sometimes, there is no way around it. I have had to cut plush yarn in order to remove a few rounds. We all know, that’s not ideal! That brings me to using the magic circle. When making a magic circle with plush yarn, the center will be more difficult to pull closed and sometimes the yarn will snap! When you start your mc, use very loose tension. When it’s time to pull the center closed, try to avoid pulling too tight/hard. Wiggle the yarn tail as you gently close the center, slowly. Sometimes I move the stitches around with my fingers to help this process. Since we are talking about magic circles, there are a couple ways to prevent the cone shape. When crocheting 6 sc in the mc with plush yarn, sometimes a cone shape is created. To help prevent this, you can either use loose tension on rnds 1-3 OR sc 8 in the mc for rnd 1. Rnd 2 will inc in each st for 16 and rnd 3 will increase in every other st making 24 sts. You will lose an entire rnd using this method. Adjust the placement for the ears, snout and eyes, etc. I always use sc 8 in the mc. It works better for me and the tension stays consistent this way.

3. When it’s time to attach the pieces (arms, nose, ears, etc) go slowly. You could also use a worsted weight yarn in a coordinating color to attach the pieces. It should hide well in the plush yarn. Don’t pull too tight, this could cause the yarn to pucker. When I am finished with my amigurumi, I like to tie the ends of different pieces together and hide them inside the body. For example, I will take the tail from one arm and the tail from the other arm and tie those ends together. I triple knot to ensure it will not come loose. Sometimes, I will make a couple different knots on the same yarn ends. I do this with worsted weight yarn too.

4. When you first start crocheting with plush yarn, the stitches can be hard to see. You will really need to feel for the stitches. Using a larger hook will help. With amigurumi, you don’t want the stuffing to show or come out, so use the smallest hook that you can comfortably crochet with. The more you practice, the easier it becomes.

5. Plush yarn doesn’t hold its shape like cotton or acrylic yarn, especially when crocheting stuffed animals. Again, tension and hook size plays a huge role as well as stuffing. Since the holes between each stitch is larger with plush yarn, it just doesn’t hold its shape as well as cotton or acrylic yarn. When crocheting amigurumi with plush yarn, keep it simple. I would recommend a basic stuffed animal to begin your journey with plush yarn. You can always mix the yarn weights to add some flair. I love to add accessories using worsted weight yarn. This is an easy way to add details to your plush ami. When you stuff your piece, make sure to stuff firmly, while taking care not to overstuff. You will use more stuffing since the piece is larger. My personal preference regarding the eyes and facial features is to embroider them with worsted weight yarn or embroidery thread when using this yarn. To me, this seems the most secure.

There you have it, 5 tips for crocheting amigurumi with plush or blanket yarn. I hope you found these tips helpful. Remember to enjoy the process and go with the flow. Do what works best for you and create what you love. There are so many ways to experience art. What works for one doesn’t always work for another. Once you get use to crocheting with plush yarn, it truly is so enjoyable. The end result is extra adorable.

Happy Crocheting Friends!