Blended Yarn or Chenille: Which Should You Choose for Your First Amigurumi?

The yarn you choose affects both the finished look of your amigurumi and how easy it is to make. At Oporto Amigurumi, you will find cotton/acrylic blends such as YarnArt Jeans, Jeans Plus and Jeans Soft Colors, and chenille yarns such as YarnArt Dolce, Dolce Baby and Himalaya Dolphin Baby.

Cotton/acrylic blend yarns

Blended yarns give clear stitch definition. It is easier to count stitches, identify increases and decreases, and see where to correct a mistake. I like this combination because it brings together the strength of cotton and the softness of acrylic.

Personally, I do not enjoy making amigurumi with 100% cotton yarn quite as much. In my hands, the pieces tend to be stiffer than I would like. That is why I prefer the feel of blended yarns.

Chenille yarns

YarnArt Dolce, Dolce Baby and Himalaya Dolphin Baby make plump, soft and velvety amigurumi. At first, the texture can make it difficult to identify stitches. I remember the first time I used chenille: I could barely tell where the next stitch was!

It takes practice. Over time, we learn to recognise the stitches by touch. Use a marker at the start of the round and always count the stitches in every round to catch any mistakes before moving on.

Which should you start with?

For your first amigurumi, I suggest a blended yarn in a light colour and a simple project.

Once you feel more confident identifying and counting stitches, try chenille. Then you can discover which finish you prefer.