Standing in the yarn aisle wondering if a skein will make a good toy? Elise of Elise Rose Crochet, a certified crochet instructor, has a quick answer: crochet one small test ball before you commit. The ball uses every core amigurumi move, so it shows you how the yarn behaves in a real toy.
It takes about 15 minutes and a few yards of yarn.
Why a test ball beats squeezing the skein
You cannot judge toy yarn by feel. Softness on the shelf says little about how a yarn holds a tight stitch, hides stuffing or survives a hard pull during seaming. The ball runs the yarn through a magic ring, increases, even rounds, invisible decreases, stuffing and a cinched closure. If something will go wrong in a full toy, it usually shows up here.
What makes a good amigurumi yarn
- Strength. Elise ranks this first. The yarn must not snap when you pull a magic ring closed or sew on a head. She once had a 100% wool yarn break in half while closing a ring.
- Stitch definition. Smooth, tightly plied yarn shows each stitch and makes counting easy. Faux fur and eyelash yarns look cuddly but hide your stitches.
- A colour you can see. Light colours are easier on the eyes. If you love a dark shade, work under a bright craft light.
- Price is not the test. An expensive yarn is not automatically better for toys, and a budget acrylic can do very well.
Questions to ask before you buy
Smooth or fuzzy? Small, medium or large toy? Size comes from the weight: DK for small toys, worsted for medium, bulky for big huggable ones. Will it be washed? A toddler's toy gets grubby, so look for machine washable on the label. A shelf piece can be spot cleaned.
Synthetic, natural or a blend
Acrylic is affordable, easy to wash and comes in every colour. Cotton, wool and alpaca are lovely to work with but cost more and can be fussy to clean. Blends, like a merino and acrylic mix, give you some of both. Elise leans toward blends for that reason.
Yarns that passed her test
From the Premier range Elise tested, the keepers were Basix Worsted (a heavier worsted on a big budget skein), Anti-Pilling Everyday Worsted (good for toys that get hugged a lot), Stitch Please Superwash Worsted (her favourite, with crisp stitches), Basix DK, Anti-Pilling Everyday DK Merino Blend and Wool Select, a 75% acrylic, 25% wool blend that feels far pricier than it is.
Keep a test ball library
Tag every ball with brand, weight and hook size and keep them together in a jar or basket. Next time you plan a toy, grab two balls and compare them side by side instead of guessing.
Troubleshooting
Stuffing showing through? Go down a hook size or try a tighter twisted yarn. Yarn splitting on the hook? A rounded head hook or a more tightly plied yarn helps. Holes at the decreases? Work them through the front loops only.
New to toys? Start with our guide to crocheting amigurumi, then practise the magic ring, increases and decreases. Once your yarn passes, learn how to attach safety eyes.
