Try These 14 Easy Time Saving Hacks for Amigurumi | FREE Printable Amigurumi Project Tracker Sheets

Whether you're working on holiday projects for loved ones or prepping to restock your Etsy shop, these 14 Easy Time Saving Hacks for Amigurumi are sure to help. Plus get your FREE printable project progress tracker!

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[OxxOMarlenn]

For printed patterns, you can keep them in sheet protectors and with a dry erase marker mark what row you’re on.

[bellastname]

Great tips! My recent favorite tip is actually to switch to a bit of string instead of locking stitch markers! Hear me out: You shift the string over the first stitch of each new round, the same string, and then as you go through your piece you have the first round marked all the way through (or at least through the last 6-8 rounds depending on how long your string is). It won't fall out after a round or two, and if you ever need to frog more than one row you know for certain where the round started. It ends up looking like a simple running stitch up the side of your piece, and you just tug it out when you're done. Game changer for me.

That being said, I still keep the locking ones around for various uses! I use one in the loop to hold it when I set a project down, and sometimes when I need to mark a certain place in a row itself I stick a marker there to remember. For example, if a row says (sc 18, inc, sc 9) I will sometimes count out 18 ahead of time, put a marker in that spot, then crochet freely without needing to count as I go. I find it faster and simpler and removes that stress of 'oh did I count wrong?' if I am watching a show or something as I work. (Plus going back and counting if it is a dec row with invisible decreases is a pain!)

[thisnthatwithYaya]

Elise, I am old friends with crocheting (let's not talk about HOW old 😂) but new to amigurumi. I use all of your tips right down to weaving ends right away. I use a cute lanyard as a scissor fob, always have! My kids bought me cute yarn bags over the years with sections for yarn and holes in the top, which I simply cannot live without! My tip is to ALWAYS put your beverage (aka wine) in a cup with a closing lid. Don't ask me how I know that. Love your videos and your enthusiasm!! I am learning so much from you!

[xedra]

One tip that has helped me is to make appliques ahead of time, especially with scrap yarn. Those little pink cheek circles, little hearts or leaves or flowers, even crochet eyes (instead of safety eyes) - if you already have a supply of them that you've made in your spare time or with scrap yarn, then you can just grab them and add them quickly to your project.

[ryanmarshall]

My wife and I just found your channel and I just wanted to share that we love it and are about to get into making things together! But you’re channel is so wholesome and well done, so I just thought I’d share

[kathyvanderslice]

You hit the nail on the head....stay focused on one project! I always have multiple projects going, mainly because I love finding a fun pattern, picking the yarns, starting the project and then getting bored and putting it down to start or work on a different project. What I started this year is allowing myself to use "old yarn" to make small samples when I see a project I might be interested in doing. I label it with date, author and stitch details and put it into a basket I label as "future project ideas". This satisfies my need for creativity without actually starting a new project! Then I happily go back to my project without guilt. I've finished 3 projects this year already and have a 4th almost completed! And I have lots of "ideas" in my basket when I finally finish all my WIPs!

[sarahferguson]

Excellent tips. Taking a picture of your pattern, if it's not already in digital form, is brilliant. Not only have i forgotten my pattern when traveling but one time while on vacation i spilled coffee on my only copy of a paper pattern from a book that i borrowed. Lesson learned. Also your tip about keeping basic colors on hand is so helpful. If you make a lot of animals, having those basic fur type colors on hand can save tons of time. My girlfriend makes mostly bears so she has a stockpile of browns, black, greys, and whites. A tip i'd like to add is this. I've wasted so much time trying to make cheap yarn into cute toys. For me it's just not worth my time. Using better quality yarn yields a better finished project which in turn boosts my morale and motivates me to make more. I have just found through the years that better quality yarn is worth it.

[ruthmeow]

I just use a strand of crochet cotton in a contrasting color as my stich marker when crocheting. I just flip it over my first stich at the beginning of each new round as I go and pull it out when finished. I find this also helpful if I realize I messed up several rounds earlier and I have to unravel several rounds, I always know where all my rounds begin.

[corgilover]

LOVE these tips!!!! I have one! I bought a tiny bin from the dollar store to keep all my cut end in. It helps eliminate messes and sometimes, there's your stuffing too! When I am done and I don't think I can use it I just dump the extras in the trash can.

[peggyharwell]

I crocheted a basket that i keep my working yarns in, on the floor. My cat, Skittles, sleeps next to it by my feet on a small rug that i also crocheted. All of your tips are so helpful, thank you for sharing.

[monikaburdon]

Dear Elise, my tip is that I keep the very sharp point of the embroidery scissors pushed into a wine cork, it’s safer to keep the scissors in your work bag or handbag, and also I have carried an emergency sewing kit in a plastic soap box(the kind you would have in a wash bag)🙂💐🧶🧵🇬🇧

[tamarafaurot]

Those pig noses are the cutest! I’ve never done amigurumi but I always think the animals are so darling! Maybe soon.

[bonicrochetmty]

Great tips!!
Another tip for Amigurumis is to leave a more than enough tail to sew the pieces

[wolfegirl]

I love these tips, one thing I'd like to add, as a neurodivetgent knitter, is while it helps to have a single project to focus on, it's easy for the first week or so, and I find it helpful to pick up one other simmilar project that's smaller, such as a hat or mini plush, and use it as a "pallet cleanser" then finish the larger project. It really helps me work more efficiently, as long as I don't bog myself down with 5+ projects at once.

[tamramunday]

I use 3 bbq skewers to align the head to the body. It helps hold it into place.

[keepmeinstitchesss]

Love these tips!!
A couple tips and tricks I’ve picked up from crocheting is I bought a little tool box at Joans arts and crafts store and I like to store my scissors, safety eyes, scrap yarn in the little drawers it comes with, it also has little dividers! I keep my working project on the top drawer. So when I want to crochet I just pull out my little tool box and and everything is there and accessible when I need it! Traveling with it is a life savor 🥰🥰

I also crochet the extremities first and plan ahead so instead of spending hours re sewing and making sure my arms are symmetrical I just crochet them on! So much easier, saves a bunch of time and I like how it looks, my sewing skills are not the best 🤣😅

[filomenasmith]

Great tips, my goal is to keep myself organized & finish the project. My oldest unfinished project is a knitted dress I started for my daughters 1st birthday. My goal now is to finish the dress & give it to her daughter on her 1st Bday, Ryleigh is 2 months old. This is a must finish, long overdue. Love your work & your enthusiasm.

[smurf]

I put my yarn I am using for projects into cakes and I will crochet anything that needs two at once at the same time using both the center pull and outer pull. Example, if it needs two legs or two arms, I crochet them at the same time and alternate rounds. This helps me keep everything the same size and avoids getting mismatching legs or arm pairs!

[virginiawimer]

I have been weaving in-the ends as I go. That's the way to do it. 🎊

[Sabrina-emtg]

I never thought to use a bag to slip the yarn through. I may try that. Also, I agree about making all of the pieces before assembly... I don't always do that and then kick myself later. Thank you for all of your tips and help!