- Amigurumi are single crocheted in a continuous spiral. Don't join your work at the ends of rounds; just continue working in a spiral. Having said that, rules are made to be broken.. If I'm changing colours I will always finish off the round as that prevents the colour change looking uneven.
- Stitch markers are your friends - you absolutely cannot live without them. I like to use earrings with a closeable clasp as they don't snag my work (like safety pins) nor do they fall out.

My favourite stitchmarkers
- The basic formula works as such - if you begin with 4 sc you will then increase 4 sc on each round. Here is a basic example.
- Round 1. 4 sc (4)
- Round 2. inc 1 in each sc around (8)
- Round 3. *inc 1 (2 sc in 1 sc), sc in next sc* (12)
- Round 4. *inc 1, 2 sc * (16)
- Round 5. *inc 1, 3 sc* (20)
- Round 6. *inc 1, 4 sc* (24)
- When it comes to decreasing the principle works the same. You may want to use a smaller hook when making decreases to prevent any little holes in your work.
- My example may not make too much sense if you're new to amigurumi, but after a while it will become so familiar you could do it in your sleep, you'll also soon be able to carry out entire conversations while silently counting in your head!
- Always begin working with the 'magic ring', even if you're following a pattern and it doesn't tell you to do this e.g. if your pattern says ch4 4sc in first ch, ignore this and make your 4 sc in a 'magic ring' rather. All other methods will inevitably leave a small hole at the beginning.
- Glass animal safety eyes are by far the best things to use for your creatures, the effect is amazing; once you've attached them then suddenly your creature seems alive and even has a personality!! There are other options for eyes of course. If I'm making a toy for a young baby I would definitely choose to embroider the eyes on. You can get moveable google eyes, sew-on button eyes, some of my creatures have even had their eyes 'bedazzled' on! If making a toy for a young child or baby I will always embroider the eyes on. My faovurite method for this is that used by Jean Greenhowe.
- My favorite part about Amigurumi is that there is hardly ever any need to weave ends in (my least favorite thing to do on the planet!). Most ends can be stuffed back inside their respective body parts, for example, with arms or legs I just stuff the ends of the yarn back inside the part and thus eliminating the needs to stuff this part! When changing colours or adding new yarn tie the two loose ends together using a double knot.
- When finishing off a piece leave the final tail piece quite long as this will be used to attach it to the body or head.