I have found that when I do yarn under instead of over it helps a lot as well as invisible decrease. Also maybe double the yarn up. Cheers from Jo-Anne
To help with the holes in the plushie, I recommend using an invisible decrease stitch with slightly less tension. I would also complete the rounds before stuffing the plush. Just some top tips that help me 🫶
When crocheting amigurumi in general you use a smaller hook size than the yarn itself calls for (1 or 2 sizes smaller). If you are following an amigurumi pattern that is written for a different size yarn, the hook size called for in the pattern will not be compatible for the yarn you’re using. (Using a worsted weight yarn instead of the bulky yarn called for in the pattern.) There will be gaps everywhere and the stuffing will show through. The goal is to create a dense crochet fabric that does not have any gaps. For the decreasing rounds causing gaps you will want to look up videos on how to do the invisible decrease. This decrease helps with the gaps. Also your yarn tail can be used to help close any small gaps when you are sewing it in. Mostly if there is a slight center gap at the end. You can also do a more gradual decrease than the pattern calls for. Instead of decreasing 6 times, decrease only 3, then add an extra round where you decrease 3 times again. So two rounds of decreasing to substitute for the one round decrease in the pattern. Be aware that this will use more yarn and may alter the end shape of the item. Hope these help.
when I decrease I do an invisible decrease. when I start it I go through both the front loops im decreasing. and I yarn over. then I yarn under to pull through and it creates a nice and tight closer and it won't lose easily. I hope that helps also I found that I crocheted so much tighter when I started crocheting the projects inside out and flipping it rightside in at the end (only do this if you are sewing limbs on. I looked up lots of tiktoks and RUclips videos. Ive been crocheting almost 4 years and am still learning new tricks and tips every day so don't be too hard on yourself.
Invisible decrease helps with the decrease holes. Also, the yarn under/yarn over technique is really helpful for amigurumi (you can find quick youtube videos showing you how to do it). I never use a smaller hook than the pattern recommends, it hurts my hands and slows me down.. so usually i go up a size or two and no holes using those techniques. :)
I was definitely going to suggest this! While you want your plushies to be stuffed "firmly" you also have to adjust to get the shape you want. Stuffing too firmly is one of the things I had to adjust myself. And most beginners already hold really tight tension, too tight in fact. As long as you are using the best hook size for your yarn, too tight tension is actually more harmful. You end up compressing your yarn and making it thinner, causing more gaps. Just loosen up and keep your hook small and close to your stiches rather than pulling too tight.
Love your items. I always sell lots of items under £10 and a few bigger items. The octopi are good, i also sell quite a few of the stackable chubby penguins, mallard ducks and triceratops. Also definitely learn the invisible decrease, it is super easy, just crochet 2 front loops together. Good luck at your market.❤
That seems to be what sells well for a lot of people! I’m almost done with 10 bees I made yesterday, they just need their wings haha 😂 I think I’m going to make some chickens and dinos next.
since I only recently started making crochet plush, I had the same issue holes when closing. but I tried a couple different patterns and found some that didnt seem to cause the holes when closing up, so I just applies that method to another pattern xD
Your holes are still rather noticeable when you decrease. It’s probably your tension which will improve with practice😀. Your items are really cute and colourful. The strawberry keychains are adorable, especially the red. Those will sell fast🥰. Good luck on your market.
Hopefully! I’m pulling very tightly when decreasing to try and prevent the holes from showing but it sadly isn’t working. Thank you! I love the little strawberries too 🍓🩷
Omg i had the same issue with the holes for the longest time! what i normally do is skip the last round of decreases and just sew the hole closed in the FLO (i dont change hook size or anything) and thats worked well for me :)
I'm going to be that one random person on the internet that came across your video requesting the patterns 😂 I really hope the market goes well, your work is so cute! I just started crocheting and I'm trying to build up stock for my first booth (around november) and my hands are already hurting -- but I end up pulling it and obliterating it
Hi there ☺️ I would be more than happy to send you patterns! Which ones are you wanting? Also congrats on starting to crochet! Let me know how your first market goes, id love to make some crochet friends 🩷!
@@AllyKayCrochet yay, thank you! I fell in love with the chubby froggies and the strawberries 🥺 I definitely need some crochet friends too, I just followed you on Instagram to follow your work! let us know how your market goes 💕
I believe u may be using the incorrect yarn for plushies. To correct those holes, I suggest u use the string of yarn & weave back & forth to block the holes. I have done it and it does work. Good luck
Seems like the pattern is incorrect as you usually don’t do 12 decreases. It is most likely sc, dec and repeat around. Then 6 dec until you have a small hole. There isn’t enough stitches on the bottom.
I had a feeling that might be the case, it was a free pattern on Ribblr so it might have been made from someone still learning. Next time I make one I’m going to try what you suggested 😊
You're not decreasing, you are just skipping stitches which creates holes. Pick up the front loop of the skipped stitch before stitching into the next stitch. This gathers the material together which hides the skipped stitch in a decrease. Hope this helps!
I double checked I was decreasing correctly and I was (yay!) Someone mentioned 12 decreases doesn’t seem correct and there should be 1 or 2 single crochets in between each decrease. I’m hoping that helps next time. 😊
@@AllyKayCrochet I really thought that was the issue, my apologies. That many decreases in a row would create some gapping. Another reason for gaps can be using a different yarn than the pattern calls for. Chenille or velvet is a commonly used yarn in amigurimi patterns. Do you get the same holes when using a different yarn or pattern?
I don’t notice it using the bernant blanket luckily! I wanted to just have something small at a $5 price point for people, using bernat with anything other than a 5mm hook is impossibly frustrating for me. That’s why I’ve been using acrylic for the super tiny things. ☺️
hi! just a little suggestion is when your editing your videos add some upbeat music quietly in the background so the video is upbeat and whenever there is silence where nothing is happening and it is really quiet, cut those parts out they are a waste of time in the video. but AWESOME leggy froggy i love u and i think u are going to make it big some day.
I have found that when I do yarn under instead of over it helps a lot as well as invisible decrease. Also maybe double the yarn up. Cheers from Jo-Anne
Thanks Joanne!
i love Leon. He is a beautiful kitty!
To help with the holes in the plushie, I recommend using an invisible decrease stitch with slightly less tension. I would also complete the rounds before stuffing the plush. Just some top tips that help me 🫶
Ty!
When crocheting amigurumi in general you use a smaller hook size than the yarn itself calls for (1 or 2 sizes smaller). If you are following an amigurumi pattern that is written for a different size yarn, the hook size called for in the pattern will not be compatible for the yarn you’re using. (Using a worsted weight yarn instead of the bulky yarn called for in the pattern.) There will be gaps everywhere and the stuffing will show through. The goal is to create a dense crochet fabric that does not have any gaps.
For the decreasing rounds causing gaps you will want to look up videos on how to do the invisible decrease. This decrease helps with the gaps. Also your yarn tail can be used to help close any small gaps when you are sewing it in. Mostly if there is a slight center gap at the end.
You can also do a more gradual decrease than the pattern calls for. Instead of decreasing 6 times, decrease only 3, then add an extra round where you decrease 3 times again. So two rounds of decreasing to substitute for the one round decrease in the pattern. Be aware that this will use more yarn and may alter the end shape of the item.
Hope these help.
when I decrease I do an invisible decrease. when I start it I go through both the front loops im decreasing. and I yarn over. then I yarn under to pull through and it creates a nice and tight closer and it won't lose easily. I hope that helps also I found that I crocheted so much tighter when I started crocheting the projects inside out and flipping it rightside in at the end (only do this if you are sewing limbs on. I looked up lots of tiktoks and RUclips videos. Ive been crocheting almost 4 years and am still learning new tricks and tips every day so don't be too hard on yourself.
I’ll have to try that next time I make them 🙂
i recently had this problem and someone told me do DC in BLO and it helped!
Invisible decreases if you aren't already and just stuff less.
Invisible decrease helps with the decrease holes.
Also, the yarn under/yarn over technique is really helpful for amigurumi (you can find quick youtube videos showing you how to do it).
I never use a smaller hook than the pattern recommends, it hurts my hands and slows me down.. so usually i go up a size or two and no holes using those techniques. :)
Thank you Elena! I’ll definitely give that a try! 🙂
Yes use the invisible decrease and to stuff until 18 or 12 stitches. Then carry on decreasing until 6 stitches
the strawberries are soooo cutie
Thank you! They work up so fast too😊
I sometimes weave my sewing tail in and out of the large holes.
could you be over stuffing? which can cause the holes to stretch open?
I was definitely going to suggest this! While you want your plushies to be stuffed "firmly" you also have to adjust to get the shape you want. Stuffing too firmly is one of the things I had to adjust myself. And most beginners already hold really tight tension, too tight in fact. As long as you are using the best hook size for your yarn, too tight tension is actually more harmful. You end up compressing your yarn and making it thinner, causing more gaps. Just loosen up and keep your hook small and close to your stiches rather than pulling too tight.
I was def over stuffing!
Love your items. I always sell lots of items under £10 and a few bigger items. The octopi are good, i also sell quite a few of the stackable chubby penguins, mallard ducks and triceratops. Also definitely learn the invisible decrease, it is super easy, just crochet 2 front loops together. Good luck at your market.❤
That seems to be what sells well for a lot of people! I’m almost done with 10 bees I made yesterday, they just need their wings haha 😂 I think I’m going to make some chickens and dinos next.
I love your video. 😊
I'm so glad!
since I only recently started making crochet plush, I had the same issue holes when closing. but I tried a couple different patterns and found some that didnt seem to cause the holes when closing up, so I just applies that method to another pattern xD
That's a great idea!
Your holes are still rather noticeable when you decrease. It’s probably your tension which will improve with practice😀. Your items are really cute and colourful. The strawberry keychains are adorable, especially the red. Those will sell fast🥰. Good luck on your market.
Hopefully! I’m pulling very tightly when decreasing to try and prevent the holes from showing but it sadly isn’t working. Thank you! I love the little strawberries too 🍓🩷
@@AllyKayCrochet, maybe pulling too tight 😂. Your stuff is pretty cute anyways.
Omg i had the same issue with the holes for the longest time! what i normally do is skip the last round of decreases and just sew the hole closed in the FLO (i dont change hook size or anything) and thats worked well for me :)
Ohhh I’ll try that too!! 😊🩷
Welcome from Launceston Cornwall
I love your videos and your work. You make such cute little things.😊 Are you using the invisible decrease? That’s the only suggestion I have! 😂❤
I am not! I’ll have to learn how to make those! Thank you for suggesting that 😊🩷
I'm going to be that one random person on the internet that came across your video requesting the patterns 😂 I really hope the market goes well, your work is so cute! I just started crocheting and I'm trying to build up stock for my first booth (around november) and my hands are already hurting -- but I end up pulling it and obliterating it
Hi there ☺️ I would be more than happy to send you patterns! Which ones are you wanting? Also congrats on starting to crochet! Let me know how your first market goes, id love to make some crochet friends 🩷!
@@AllyKayCrochet yay, thank you! I fell in love with the chubby froggies and the strawberries 🥺 I definitely need some crochet friends too, I just followed you on Instagram to follow your work! let us know how your market goes 💕
I believe u may be using the incorrect yarn for plushies. To correct those holes, I suggest u use the string of yarn & weave back & forth to block the holes. I have done it and it does work. Good luck
I don’t make leggy frogs because in my area, no one buys them.
I started making some and they actually all sold!
Seems like the pattern is incorrect as you usually don’t do 12 decreases. It is most likely sc, dec and repeat around. Then 6 dec until you have a small hole. There isn’t enough stitches on the bottom.
I had a feeling that might be the case, it was a free pattern on Ribblr so it might have been made from someone still learning. Next time I make one I’m going to try what you suggested 😊
You're not decreasing, you are just skipping stitches which creates holes. Pick up the front loop of the skipped stitch before stitching into the next stitch. This gathers the material together which hides the skipped stitch in a decrease. Hope this helps!
I double checked I was decreasing correctly and I was (yay!) Someone mentioned 12 decreases doesn’t seem correct and there should be 1 or 2 single crochets in between each decrease. I’m hoping that helps next time. 😊
@@AllyKayCrochet I really thought that was the issue, my apologies. That many decreases in a row would create some gapping. Another reason for gaps can be using a different yarn than the pattern calls for. Chenille or velvet is a commonly used yarn in amigurimi patterns. Do you get the same holes when using a different yarn or pattern?
I don’t notice it using the bernant blanket luckily! I wanted to just have something small at a $5 price point for people, using bernat with anything other than a 5mm hook is impossibly frustrating for me. That’s why I’ve been using acrylic for the super tiny things. ☺️
hi! just a little suggestion is when your editing your videos add some upbeat music quietly in the background so the video is upbeat and whenever there is silence where nothing is happening and it is really quiet, cut those parts out they are a waste of time in the video. but AWESOME leggy froggy i love u and i think u are going to make it big some day.
Hi there! Editing is getting better, hopefully they are easier to watch!
@@AllyKayCrochet :)