From Idea to Amigurumi: How to Bring Your Crochet Creatures to Life

Have you ever had a picture-perfect vision of an amigurumi crochet creature in your head—tiny horns, floppy limbs, button nose—and then thought, “There’s no way I could actually make that”? Well, let me introduce you to someone who says, “Yes, you absolutely can”—and she’ll even show you how.

In a recent interview on my YouTube channel, I had the absolute joy of chatting with the wonderfully creative and delightfully nerdy Kati from Hooked by Kati. We’ve just spent an entire week together in Chicago working on our businesses, bouncing ideas, laughing until we cried, and yes—eating way too many carbs. But honestly? The real treat was diving deep into the world of amigurumi and learning exactly how Kati takes wild, imaginative ideas and turns them into huggable, snuggable crochet sculptures—and how you can do it too.

Kati is best known for her mythical and animal amigurumi creations, with her blog chock-full of free patterns that range from adorable oysters to elaborate fantasy beasts. If you’ve ever heard of Vincent the Dragon or the Dragon’s Eye Pillow, then chances are you’ve already admired her work without even realising it.

But it’s not just about finishing a pattern. It’s about empowering crocheters like you to stop relying solely on other people’s patterns and start creating your own. So if you’ve ever wanted to design your own amigurumi, or you’re struggling to bring that yarny character in your brain to life, then buckle up—you’re in the right place.

**Please note, this post may contain affiliate links – should you purchase anything using my affiliate link I may get a small commission at no extra cost to yourself!**

You can also watch our interview here!

Just click the image below.

Meet Kati: Dog-Agility Nerd, Star Wars Rebel, Yarn Wizard

Kati has been designing stuffed animals for 8 years. It all started when she realized how freeing amigurumi could be—it’s sculpture in yarn form! She found her groove not just in designing cute critters, but in pushing the limits of what yarn can do. When she’s not crocheting, she’s doing dog agility with her two naked rat terriers (yes, naked). Or she’s in full Star Wars cosplay mode with the Rebel Legion, a costuming club that visits hospitals and raises money for charities. Her current project? An Ewok costume. Because of course.

As she says, “You really need to take your nerd and do something wonderful with it.”

Designing Amigurumi: Easier Than You Think

The biggest myth about amigurumi? That you need years of experience or some kind of crochet degree to make it up as you go. That’s just not true.

According to Kati, if you can single crochet, double crochet, and do an invisible join, she can teach you the rest. Her patterns range from beginner to advanced, and all of them are free on her blog (the photo-packed PDFs are available for purchase). You get the same brilliant design—just minus the hundreds of step-by-step images that would slow a website to a crawl.

So if you’ve never tried amigurumi, or your past attempts have turned out a bit… lumpy? There’s still hope. Actually, there’s more than hope—there’s a plan. And Kati’s here to help you follow it.

Kati’s Top 3 Tips for Amigurumi Beginners

Let’s be honest: amigurumi can feel like a whole different language when you first try it. That’s why Kati shared her top three beginner tips in our interview:

1. Go down a hook size. If you usually use a 5mm hook, try a 4mm or even 3.5mm for amigurumi. Tighter stitches mean no stuffing will peek out and your shapes will hold up better.

2. Fluff your stuffing. Don’t just cram that polyfill in there like a Thanksgiving turkey. Stretch it out first so it’s even. Then pack it in to your desired squishiness level.

3. Learn the invisible decrease. This one’s a game-changer. Regular decreases can leave big gaps—perfect for stuffing to escape. Kati’s YouTube videos show you how to do this seamlessly (You can find the invisible decrease here, the invisible increase is here).

Should You Yarn Under in Amigurumi?

Ah, the age-old amigurumi debate: yarn under or yarn over?

Kati’s answer: Do what the designer tells you to do. Yarn under gives you squat, dense stitches that help prevent the tilt that sometimes happens in amigurumi. Yarn over gives you that classic lean. If the designer used yarn under, you should too—because they’ve likely built their entire pattern around that structure.

And yes, gauge swatching matters even in amigurumi! Shocker, I know. It helps keep your stitches consistent, ensures your parts fit together, and helps you avoid last-minute panic when your cute little creature ends up looking like it had a rough night.

What Makes Amigurumi Patterns Different

Unlike granny squares or blankets, amigurumi patterns are a whole different beast. There’s more shaping, attaching, and strategic thinking. And—especially in the paid PDFs—a lot more photos.

You’re not just crocheting a flat object—you’re creating a three-dimensional shape. Think of it as yarn sculpture. There are lots of steps that can’t be skipped, even if they seem fiddly. Attach this leg here. Make sure the eyes line up just right. Stuff this section but leave the neck squishy. You’re engineering cuteness, one round at a time.

But Kati breaks it down beautifully. Her philosophy is simple: If she can’t teach you to do it, she’s not doing her job. And frankly, she does her job very well.

Ready to Design Your Own? There’s a Course for That

Here’s where it gets exciting. Kati has created an entire course called Next-Level Amigurumi—and enrollment is open until May 15th, 2025.

This course is for you if:

• You’ve got creature ideas in your head that you desperately want to crochet.
• You’ve tried making up a pattern before and ended up in a frogging frenzy.
• You’re a designer who wants to master 3D shaping and get the math right the first time.
• You’re a hobbyist who just wants to make a plushie that no one else has ever made before.

What You’ll Learn:

• Kati’s “plug and play” math formula for shaping curves
• How to start from a sketch or idea and build it in yarn
• Different methods of shaping and structure
• How to make your stitches do the exact thing you need them to do (without the guesswork)
• BONUS: A free mini course called Profitable Plush for those in the amigurumi business

Whether you want to finally make that oddball creature from your dreams or confidently start shaping professional-looking plushies, this course gives you the tools—and the confidence—to do it.

Click the image below to check it out!

And yes—there’s an email waitlist if you miss the deadline. (Insert your affiliate links here!)

Try Before You Buy: Free Patterns from Hooked by Kati

Still on the fence? You can try Kati’s patterns for free on her blog and get a feel for her style and instruction before jumping into the course.

• Beginner Pattern: Little Oyster Crochet Pattern
• Intermediate Pattern: Wonder the Birthday Dragon
• Advanced Pattern: Vincent the Dragon

These patterns aren’t just adorable—they’re functional, educational stepping stones toward creating your own designs. By making a few of them, you’ll learn the kinds of shaping, structure, and stitch strategies that are key to more complex designs.

My Final Thoughts: Your Idea Deserves to Be Real

You don’t need a design degree. You don’t need decades of crochet experience. All you need is a willingness to learn, a love of squishy yarn creatures, and someone who knows how to break it all down for you.

That someone is Kati. And the time? Well, that’s right now. Go check out the interview on my YouTube channel, grab one of her free patterns, and start dreaming up your next yarny masterpiece.

Whether you want to create the next viral crochet plushie, or simply bring to life the little character that’s been bouncing around in your brain, you have what it takes to make it real. With the right tools, the right mindset, and a bit of help from someone who’s been there, amigurumi design can absolutely be your next creative adventure.

Because your next amigurumi isn’t just a pattern. It’s a story you get to sculpt—one single crochet at a time.

👉 Ready to level up your amigurumi? Sign up for Kati’s course here.

👉 Missed the course window? The link above will take you to a email waiting list if you missed this one! That way you will not miss out next time!

👉 Watch the full interview with Kati on my YouTube channel (https://youtu.be/De0rtELxTNY)

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