Tokyo a la Mode. Web Magazine for Japanese Fashion and Urban Culture

Amigurumi

By Bobby / Aug 18, 2006
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What’s cuter than a bunny rabbit?  How about an amigurumi bunny rabbit.  Seriously, they’re really cute.

Amigurumi are crocheted animals and other imaginative creatures made from yarn.  This passion for crafting cute critters first took off in Japan’s D.I.Y. culture where numerous how-to books, magazines and websites explain how to make amigurumi. 

Part of the amigurumi appeal is that each piece is handmade.  But its true charm lies in the imagination of the creator; you can almost see the personality of the creator infused in the amigurumi.

With no limits on creativity, the variety in the types of amigurumi are boundless.  Besides bunnies, there are dogs, penguins, robots, monkeys, butterflies and even cupcakes.  Anything can become an amigurumi.

Amigurumi are becoming popular outside of Japan

Beth Doherty of Gourmet Amigurumi first started making amigurumi in early 2006.  Already an artist, she picked up making amigurumi while recovering from a brief hospital stay.  “I already knew how to crochet and had made a doll or two, but after the hospital I thought amigurumi would be a good way to express myself without all of the emotional baggage that painting can carry with it.  Plus making dolls is a lot more fun,” explained the artist.

In the beginning, Beth had to teach herself how to make amigurumi by looking at other people’s dolls.  “I never used patterns.  The only ones out there are the Japanese charts and for someone like me who does not read Japanese they are kind of annoying to follow,” said Beth. 

Sometimes Beth would have to pull apart an entire doll and redo it in order to get the proper shape. But after much trial and error she can now claim that her creations are all her own.  And, she plans to use her knowledge to help others.  “I am at work on a book of my own patterns for Lark Publications, which is due out in the Fall of ’07, which I am hoping will not be annoying,” she added.

For Beth, amigurumi are not just toys and her passion is more than a hobby.  “Each doll I make helps me realize that amigurumi has true potential as an outlet for artistic expression.  So, the more skilled I get at making them, I don’t spend less time on each doll, I spend more, because I have more that I want to say with each doll.”

Besides the upcoming book, Beth’s work will be featured in a future edition of Craft magazine.  Plus, she is scheduled to display her creations at a couple of upcoming art shows in the Chicago area before year’s end.  You can see more pictures of Beth’s amigurumi online at www.gourmetamigurumi.com.

All images are property of Elisabeth Doherty and used with permission.