If you crochet amigurumi, you may have come across the terms "yarn over" and "yarn under." The traditional crochet technique involves yarn over, but many amigurumi crocheters prefer using the yarn under technique. Simply by changing how you grab the yarn on your hook, you can change the look of your amigurumi pieces.

I initially used the yarn over technique for my amigurumi, but I switched to yarn under about a year ago, and it has become my preferred technique for crocheting amigurumi. I now use the yarn under technique in all of my crochet patterns. 

It's important to note that there is no right or wrong choice when crocheting amigurumi - the yarn over and yarn under techniques are purely a matter of personal preference. Both techniques can be used to create amazing amigurumi pieces.

 

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Let's compare the differences in stitches when using these two techniques. I crocheted two circles using single crochet, one with the yarn over technique and one with the yarn under technique. Can you spot the difference?

 

Upon close inspection of the circle made with the yarn over technique, you'll notice that the stitches have a "V" shape. In contrast, the stitches in the yarn under circle form an "X" or square-like shape.

Another noticeable difference between these two circles is their size. Using the yarn under technique consumes less yarn, resulting in slightly smaller amigurumi pieces compared to those made with the yarn over technique.

 

It's also important to note that not every crochet designer specifies which technique they use in their patterns. However, by examining pattern photos, you can easily discern the technique being used. For instance, when examining  the lamb (photo left), we see a “V” shape in the stitches, meaning the yarn over technique was used. For the goat (photo right), we can clearly see the “X” shape meaning the yarn under technique is used.

 

This is especially crucial when crocheting a gauge swatch. If you crochet using the yarn over technique while the designer uses the yarn under technique, your piece will be slightly larger than the pattern measurements. You can easily adjust your hook size to match the pattern dimensions or gauge swatch in this scenario.

To someone unfamiliar with crocheting or amigurumi, the average person is unlikely to notice a difference. If you're selling your crochet pieces to non-crocheters, either technique will suffice. Choose the one that works best for you.

However, if you struggle with looser tension when crocheting amigurumi, consider trying the yarn under technique. It naturally creates tighter stitches compared to the traditional yarn over technique, which can be beneficial for individuals with loose tension.

 

I also love the yarn under technique because it makes color transitions sharper with clearer transitions. Basically when you change colors in amigurumi, the initial color change is not as noticable. Just take a look at these color changes using the yarn over technique and the yarn under technique.

Now, let's practice crocheting each technique together. Grab your yarn and hook, and let's begin.

 

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When crocheting each technique, think about where the yarn is in comparison to your hook. With yarn over, the yarn should be “over” or on top of the hook. For yarn under, the yarn will be "under" the hook.

 

Yarn Over

Step 1: Insert your hook into a stitch.

Step 2: Place the yarn over the hook, pulling the yarn through the stitch creating a second loop on the hook.

Step 3: You will then yarn over again, wrapping the yarn around the hook, pulling the yarn through both loops.

 

Yarn Under

Step 1: Insert your hook into a stitch.

Step 2: This time place the yarn under the hook, grabbing the yarn and pulling it through the stitch creating a second loop on the hook.

Step 3: Grab the yarn with the hook, pulling it through both loops. Grabbing the yarn in this manner is what is creating your tighter stitches and using less yarn.

Whether you use the yarn over or yarn under technique, you can create beautiful amigurumi pieces. You really can’t go wrong with either technique. If you have never tried the yarn under technique, I encourage you to give it a try. You never know if it might suit you better. But whichever technique you choose, I highly recommend sticking to one technique to maintain consistency. Even though the differences may be subtle, pick a technique and stick with it.

If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to me via my contact form on my website. Happy crocheting!