Amigurumi Hands: Fingers, Thumbs, or Ovals?

There are a lot of different designs and styles out there for amigurumi dolls. Some have exceptionally large heads, spaghetti-like legs, or oversized eyes, while others are more proportional. And when it comes to hands, many opt for an oval or ball shape devoid of any digits, matching the shape of the hands with the shape of the body and head.

However, some designers like to include thumbs, stubby fingers, or even fully-realistic hands on their doll. What options are out there for people designing their own dolls? And when should you include (or not include) fingers in your design?

The answer to the second question depends heavily on what effect you're going for with your doll. A doll that's meant to have a simplistic, cutesy, or innocent feel might benefit the most from going the finger-less route.

'Sofia Doll' by Lilleliis opts for a rounded fingerless hand.

Fingerless can mean having a rounded bulge at the end of the forearm (as pictured above), or keeping a consistent cylindrical shape down the entire arm (as seen in the doll below).

'Gorjuss Amigurumi' by Artedetei has a straight cylindrical shape for the arm.

Having just a thumb is a popular compromise between the simplicity of the fingerless look and the realism of the fingered design. Often the thumbs are achieved through the use of bobble or popcorn stitches, though they can also be added to the hand after the fact by picking up stitches.

'Kivircik Doll' by Yasmineli shows off a thumb-only design.

I'm a big fan of the thumb-only look, and it shows in most of my designs. When creating dolls specifically meant to emulate storybook characters, I thought having a hand that was too realistic would distract from the whimsy of the dolls and the characters I wanted them to invoke. However, being a perfectionist, I was also worried about my dolls' hands looking overly-simplified. Adding a short thumb was a nice way to have the best of both worlds.

My 'Dorothy Ann Doll' pattern has a rounded hand with a stubby thumb.

For some patterns, however, a realistic hand can have a huge, positive impact on the doll. From dolls that are inspired by real-life people, to dolls that require hand-held accessories, fingers can give the doll that extra wow-factor. And for those who still want to maintain an innocent, simplistic, or cartoon-y style, playing around with the number and size of the fingers on each hand can make a huge statement.

Amigurumibb's 'BB Candy Dolls' show off a five-fingered design.

Amigurumi Askina's Doctor Doll has an oversized, four-fingered hand that provides a more whimsical look.

A great tutorial by Kim Lapsley explains one method for crocheting realistic fingers. While they can require extra time (and patience), fingers can really make a difference in your doll's final look, pushing it from 'just okay' to 'really adorable'.

Free Crochet Pattern - Paper Bag Princess Doll

About two years ago, a friend of mine had a daughter. When we were deciding what to buy as gifts, books were high on the list - I was book-lover growing up (still am), and since it'll be a long time before I have kids of my own to share my favourite books with, I jumped at the opportunity to introduce a child to the joy that stories can bring.

The first book on that list? The Paper Bag Princess, by Robert Munsch. The new parents hadn't grown up with Munsch, and had never read it before. Now, they're both in love with it, and read it often to their daughter!

The gift for her upcoming third birthday will be this sweet little doll, inspired by the brave, intelligent, and self-sufficient Princess Elizabeth. It's my hope that she'll play with this doll as she listens to her parents read to her - and maybe as she learns to read herself!

This pattern was made from scrap fingering yarn, and works up fairly quickly. The eyes are embroidered with French Knots, and the crown is sewn firmly to the head, so there are no small parts to accidentally swallow! She can sit on her own, and her arms can move back and forth, so she's ideal for make-believe play.

This free pattern comes with pictures, a list of definitions, and detailed descriptions. She makes an ideal gift paired with a copy of your favourite Robert Munsch book. I hope she helps to inspire a new generation of readers!
 

Free Download Available On:
Ravelry  |  Craftsy

Favourite Crochet Video Tutorials

I love learning new crochet techniques and patterns! I'm a self-taught crocheter, so one of my favourite things to do is search YouTube for new tutorials and ideas for stitches. 

There are so many talented video crocheters out there to learn from! I thought I'd post a few of my favourite videos for toy (particularly amigurumi) tutorials.

Some of the patterns I've tried myself, others are on my to-do list. Check out the videos below!

"Amigurumi Sailor Octopus" - YarnYard

I absolutely love YarnYard's patterns, and she offers quite a few free "crochet-along" videos as well! I made this cute little octopus earlier this year for a friend, and it came out just as pictured - such a great toy for kids to grab and carry around!

"Crochet Amigurumi HAIR Tutorial" - Allison Hoffman

I'm always looking for new ways to style my amigurumi dolls' hair, and this tutorial was really helpful when I was just starting to make my first female dolls. Plus BONUS Princess Leia hairstyling! I've bought patterns from CraftyIsCool before, and her dolls are terrific!

Crochet Little Bigfoot Pig - Sharon Ojala

These cuties are definitely on my to-do list! This is a true "crochet-along" video - quite long, but useful for all levels of crocheters (beginners can watch every step, and more advanced viewers can fast-forward as desired).

 "Perfect Stripes for Amigurumi" - June Gilbank

Stripes and colour changes are always a pain for me when making toys - I'm a perfectionist, and I'm always worried about jogging. Luckily, this video offered two different methods for minimizing the appearance of jogging when changing colours! (There's also a left-handed video available).

"Crochet Baby Snow Dragon for 'Dummies'" - TheBusyBeeMom

Another one for the to-do list - I thought a dragon might go well with my Paperbag Princess doll (a princess has to have someone to outsmart, after all)! This dragon is adorable, and fairly straight-forward to make.


Do you like video tutorials for crochet, or do you prefer written ones? What are some of your favourite tutorials out there?