The Yarn StudioGUIDE · PROJECT YARN PICKS
Best yarn for amigurumi
Amigurumi has one hard requirement the other projects do not: the fabric must be dense enough that stuffing never shows through. That rules out fuzzy, loosely spun, and slippery yarns, and puts smooth, plied, matte yarns firmly in front.
Short answer
Use a smooth, plied cotton or cotton blend in sport to worsted weight, worked on a hook one to two sizes smaller than the ball band suggests. Cotton gives sharp stitch definition and holds shape when stuffed.
Best weights: Sport (2), DK (3) and Worsted (4). Aran and bulky make large plushies; lace makes miniatures.
Best yarns and fibres
Match the weight category on the ball band first, then compare fibre behaviour. Every option below works — the right one depends on how the finished piece will be worn, washed, and stored.
Mercerised cotton
Sport to DKWhy it works: Crisp stitch definition, no fuzz, and a firm fabric that hides stuffing perfectly.
Watch out: Hard on the hands with a tight gauge — take breaks on long makes.
Milk cotton / cotton blend
Sport to DKWhy it works: The classic amigurumi yarn: soft, matte, well plied, and available in huge colour ranges.
Watch out: Fibre content on cheap balls can be vague; check before gifting to a child.
Smooth acrylic
DK to WorstedWhy it works: Cheap, washable, and forgiving. Great for large plushies and for practising a new pattern.
Watch out: Some acrylics are splitty and fuzz after handling; choose a tightly plied brand.
Cotton / acrylic blend
Sport to WorstedWhy it works: Cotton's stitch definition with acrylic's softness, lighter weight, and easy care.
Watch out: Slightly less crisp than pure cotton on tiny details.
Chenille / velvet yarn
BulkyWhy it works: Plush, huggable finish for large soft toys and gift makes.
Watch out: Worms and hides your stitches — hard to count, and not for beginners.
Bamboo blend
Sport to DKWhy it works: Silky sheen and lovely drape for decorative amigurumi.
Watch out: Slippery and drapey; the fabric can sag under stuffing weight.
How much yarn you need
Rough yardage per finished toy in DK cotton at a tight amigurumi gauge. Multi-colour designs need small amounts of many shades rather than more total yarn.
| Size | Yards | Metres |
|---|---|---|
| Miniature (2–3 in) | 20–40 yd | 18–37 m |
| Small toy (5–6 in) | 80–150 yd | 73–137 m |
| Standard plush (8–10 in) | 200–350 yd | 183–320 m |
| Large plush (14–16 in) | 450–700 yd | 410–640 m |
| Giant plush (24 in+) | 1,000–1,500 yd | 915–1,370 m |
These are planning estimates, not a substitute for the yardage printed in your pattern. Always compare total yardage rather than skein counts when you swap yarn.
Before you cast on
- Go down one or two hook sizes from the ball band to close the fabric.
- Hold the finished piece up to a lamp — if light shows through, your gauge is too loose.
- Keep every part of one toy in the same brand and weight so the proportions stay right.
- For a child's toy, use safety eyes with washers or embroider the face instead.
What to avoid
- Fluffy, mohair, or boucle yarns — the stitches disappear and you lose your count.
- Loosely spun singles that split on every insertion of the hook.
- Working at the ball band's recommended gauge; amigurumi always wants it tighter.
Substituting from your stash
You may already own something that works. The Yarn Studio matches yarns by tension, weight category, and fibre family, and flags the ones sitting in your own stash — including whether you have enough yardage for the pattern.
- Not sure what a mystery ball is? Identify it from thickness, ply and a photo.
- Need to hit a pattern gauge? Use the gauge calculator to find weights that match.
- Swapping a discontinued yarn? Read how to substitute yarn in any pattern.
FAQ
Is cotton or acrylic better for amigurumi?
Cotton gives sharper stitch definition and a firmer body that holds its shape, which is why most amigurumi designers use it. Acrylic is cheaper, lighter, softer, and machine washable, making it a good choice for large plushies and children's toys.
What hook size should I use for amigurumi?
One to two sizes smaller than the ball band recommends — typically a 2.5–3.5 mm hook for DK cotton. The goal is a dense fabric with no gaps for stuffing to poke through.
How much yarn does an amigurumi take?
A standard 8–10 inch plush takes roughly 200–350 yards (183–320 m) of DK cotton. Small toys need 80–150 yards, and miniatures use under 40 yards, so amigurumi is an excellent way to use stash leftovers.
What yarn weight is best for amigurumi?
Sport and DK are the standards, giving a good balance of detail and speed. Worsted makes chunkier toys faster, while lace and fingering weights are reserved for miniatures and fine detailing.
Best yarn for other projects
- Best yarn for sweatersFor most sweaters, choose a springy wool or wool blend in DK, worsted or aran weight. Wool holds shape at the shoulders, blocks beautifully, and needs the fewest stitches per row for a garment you will finish.
- Best yarn for cardigansPick a plied wool or wool blend in DK to aran weight. Plied yarns keep button bands crisp and stop the fronts from drooping — the two things that make or break a cardigan.
- Best yarn for blanketsFor most blankets, use a soft washable acrylic, cotton, or superwash wool blend in worsted, aran, or bulky weight. Washability and dye-lot availability matter more here than luxury fibre.
- Best yarn for baby blanketsUse a soft, machine-washable yarn in DK or worsted weight: premium acrylic, cotton, or superwash merino. Choose a tightly spun, non-shedding yarn and a firm stitch pattern with no large holes.
- Best yarn for scarvesChoose the softest fibre you can afford: merino, alpaca, or a merino/silk blend in fingering to worsted weight. Nothing that scratches, whatever the price tag says.
Shop your stash first
Search by tension, weight and fibre — and see which matches you already own.
Open the substitute finderKeep going
Related guides
- Project Yarn PicksBest yarn for every projectWhich yarn to use for sweaters, cardigans, blankets, scarves and amigurumi — fibres, weights, yardage and pitfalls.
- CrochetBest yarn for crochetWhich yarn to crochet with by project — blankets, amigurumi, garments and accessories — plus hook pairings and how much extra yarn crochet uses.
- CalculatorYarn weight & gauge calculatorEstimate gauge from a yarn weight and needle size, convert a swatch to stitches per 10 cm, or enter a pattern gauge and find yarns that match.