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'.