Amigurumi is the Japanese art of crocheting small stuffed animals and anthropomorphic creatures. Amigurumi is its own technique, so patterns for these animals will not be provided here; there are plenty of sites providing patterns. Start with:

• Crochet Me
• DIY Life

Tips for making amigurumi out of plarn:

• Cut plarn into one-inch strips rather than an inch and a half
• Use a smaller hook than usual, such as a “J”
• Amigurumis are made using a single crochet stitch instead of the typical half double crochet stitch for bags
• Stuff the animals with scrap left over from cutting out loops for plarn, i.e. the handles and the bag bottoms. No waste!
• No need to weave in ends: just stuff them inside using the blunt end of your crochet hook

Materials needed

• Size N hook (preferably metal)
• Plarn made from a minimum of 100 plastic bags

Pattern

Chain 30

Half double crochet from second chain from hook

Half double crochet in each chain across

Half double crochet in free loops of chain across, slip stitch in first half double crochet creating first round

Round 2: Chain one, half double crochet in each half double crochet around, slip stitch in first half double crochet

Round 3: Chain one, half double crochet in each half double crochet around, slip stitch in first half double crochet

Round 4: Chain one, half double crochet in each half double crochet around, slip stitch in first half double crochet

Round 5: Chain one, increase by making two (2) half double crochets in first half double crochet, half double crochet in each half double crochet (approximately 29 half double crochets), two half double crochets in next half double crochet*, half double crochet in remaining half double crochets around, slip stitch in first half double crochet.
*Increases should be made at opposite sides from each other

Round 6: Chain one, increase by making two (2) half double crochets in first half double crochet, half double crochet in each half double crochet (approximately 29 half double crochets), two half double crochets in next half double crochet*, half double crochet in remaining half double crochets around, slip stitch in first half double crochet.

Round 7: Chain one, increase by making two (2) half double crochets in first half double crochet, half double crochet in each half double crochet (approximately 29 half double crochets), two half double crochets in next half double crochet*, half double crochet in remaining half double crochets around, slip stitch in first half double crochet.

Round 8: Chain one, increase by making two (2) half double crochets in first half double crochet, half double crochet in each half double crochet (approximately 29 half double crochets), two half double crochets in next half double crochet*, half double crochet in remaining half double crochets around, slip stitch in first half double crochet.

Round 9: Chain one, increase by making two (2) half double crochets in first half double crochet, half double crochet in each half double crochet (approximately 29 half double crochets), two half double crochets in next half double crochet*, half double crochet in remaining half double crochets around, slip stitch in first half double crochet.

Round 10: Chain one, increase by making two (2) half double crochets in first half double crochet, half double crochet in each half double crochet (approximately 29 half double crochets), two half double crochets in next half double crochet*, half double crochet in remaining half double crochets around, slip stitch in first half double crochet.

Round 11: Chain one, increase by making two (2) half double crochets in first half double crochet, half double crochet in each half double crochet (approximately 29 half double crochets), two half double crochets in next half double crochet*, half double crochet in remaining half double crochets around, slip stitch in first half double crochet.

Round 12: Chain one, half double crochet in each half double crochet around, slip stitch in first half double crochet.

Round 13: Chain one, half double crochet in each half double crochet around, slip stitch in first half double crochet.

Round 14: Chain one, half double crochet in each half double crochet around, slip stitch in first half double crochet.

Round 15: Chain one, half double crochet in each half double crochet around, slip stitch in first half double crochet.

Round 16: Chain one, half double crochet in each half double crochet around, slip stitch in first half double crochet.

Round 17: Chain one, half double crochet in each half double crochet around, slip stitch in first half double crochet.

Round 18: Chain one, half double crochet in each half double crochet around, slip stitch in first half double crochet.

Round 19: Chain one, decrease* in first two half double crochets, half double crochet in each half double crochet around until opposite side reached, make another decrease, half double crochet in remaining half double crochets, slip stitch in first half double crochet.

*Decrease: yarn over, insert hook in first stitch, pull up loop, yarn over, insert hook into next stitch, yarn over and pull through 5 loops on hook

Round 20: Chain one, half double crochet in each half double crochet around, slip stitch in first half double crochet.

Strap

Chain 50, skip approximately 32 half double crochets, slip stitch in next half double crochet

Row 1: Chain one, single crochet *around* chain approximately 65 times or until chain is covered, turn

Row 2: Chain one, single crochet in each single crochet across. For added strength, slip stitch in half double crochet closest to last single crochet

Row 3: Chain one, single crochet in each single crochet across, slip stitch in half double crochet closest to last single crochet and finish off.

Finishing

With plarn, reinforce strap by whip stitching strap to bag at both sides. Weave in all loose ends.

Shorthand instructions

• Ch. 30
• hdc in second ch from hook
• hdc in free loops, sl st in first hdc
• ch 1, hdc in each hdc around, sl st in first hdc, repeat 3 times
• hdc increase by 2 hdc in first half double crochet, hdc in each 29 hdc, 2 hdc in next hdc, hdc in each hdc

Expert tip: At this point I stopped slip stitching at the end of rounds to make the increases on either side more symetrical. hdc in first hdc made and continue to crochet in the round.

As a visual marker, perform hdc increase in the second hdc of the previous round hdc increase.

• Repeat hdc increase row 5 times
• hdc in each hdc 6 times around
• hdc decrease in first two hdc of next round, hdc in each hdc until opposite side reached, hdc decrease in next two hdc, hdc in each remaining hdc
• hdc in each hdc once around, sl st in first hdc of this round
• Ch. 50, skip approximately 32 hdc, sl st in next hdc
• Ch. 1, sc around chain approximately 65 times or until chain is covered. Sl st in nearest hdc for added strength.
• Ch. 1, sc in each sc across, sl st in nearest hdc. Repeat once, finish off.
• Using plarn whip stitch both ends of strap to bag. Weave in loose ends.

Materials needed

• Size N hook (preferably metal)
• Size G or any smaller hook for finish work
• Plarn (about five plastic bags)
• Bottom liner for finished coaster (optional)

Pattern

First round: Make magic adjustable ring; make one single crochet.

Tip: For more stability in working with the plarn, make one loop on hook then work first single crochet by working hook around the plarn ring, yarn over and draw up a loop around the ring, yarn over and pull through both loops.

Single crochet seven more times, eight stitches total.

Tighten loop. Note: the hole may get bigger as stitches are worked. When piece is finished, tighten the loop again, pull a loop through a nearby stitch (using a smaller hook) then draw end through the loop to make a knot by pulling tightly. Weave end through work and trim excess.

Second round: work two single crochet in each stitch around.

Note: pattern is worked in a spiral so first two single crochets are worked into first single crochet of the first round.

Next rounds: alternate between one and two single crochets in each stitch around. If piece begins to curl, rip out last few stitches and work two single crochets in each stitch for that round.

Work until each side measures 2” from center to edge.

Edging: slip stitch into next single crochet, chain one and crab stitch (also called reverse single crochet) around.

Slip stitch into first crab stitch. Finish off, weave in end.

If desired, attach a bottom liner to the coaster. We like to use inverted lids from plastic food containers, such as margarine or sour cream. Or cut rounds out of clean plastic gallon milk jugs. Glue them to the bottom side of the coaster.

Shorthand instructions

• First round: Make magic adjustable ring, sc (make loop on hook, working around the plarn ring, YO, draw up loop around the ring and YO pull through both loops.
• sc 7 times more, 8 sts total.
• Second round: 2 sc in each sc around. Note: pattern is worked in a spiral so first two single crochets are worked into first single crochet of the first round.
• Next rounds: 1 sc, 2 sc in next st around increasing as needed until each side measures 2” from center to edge.
• Edging: sl st in next sc, ch 1, reverse sc (crab stitch) around, sl st into first crab stitch.
• Finish off, weave in end.

You can use plarn instead of regular yarn to crochet sturdy, reusable tote bags, purses, doormats, and more.

Click here for instructions on making plarn.