The basic amigurumi ball is the foundation for heads, bodies, paws, berries, ornaments, and many small toys. Once you understand the increase and decrease rhythm, many animal patterns become easier to read. This version uses a 30-stitch widest point.
Terms: This pattern uses US crochet terms. Work in continuous spiral rounds unless a step says to join. Place a stitch marker in the first stitch of every round.
Safety note: Handmade toys require maker judgment. For items intended for babies or young children, avoid small detachable parts, use secure embroidery instead of loose pieces, and follow the toy-safety rules in your country.
Materials
- Any smooth light-colored practice yarn
- Hook 0.5–1 mm smaller than the yarn label suggests
- Stitch marker, yarn needle, stuffing
- Scissors
Abbreviations
- MR = magic ring
- ch = chain
- sl st = slip stitch
- sc = single crochet
- inc = 2 sc in the next stitch
- dec = invisible single-crochet decrease
- st/sts = stitch/stitches
- FO = fasten off
Construction
Start with 6 stitches, add 6 stitches per increase round until you reach 30, work even rounds for height, then remove 6 stitches per decrease round. The increase and decrease rounds mirror each other, which keeps the sphere balanced.
Round-by-round instructions
Ball R1: 6 sc in MR. (6) R2: inc around. (12) R3: [1 sc, inc] x6. (18) R4: [2 sc, inc] x6. (24) R5: [3 sc, inc] x6. (30) R6-R9: sc around. (30) R10: [3 sc, dec] x6. (24) R11: [2 sc, dec] x6. (18) Begin stuffing. R12: [1 sc, dec] x6. (12) Add final stuffing in small pieces. R13: dec around. (6) FO, thread tail through front loops, pull closed.
Stuffing and assembly
The ball should feel firm but not hard. If you see stuffing between stitches, switch to a smaller hook or loosen the stuffing slightly. To make a larger ball, continue the increase sequence to 36 or 42 stitches, add more even rounds, then mirror the decreases.
Related learning
Troubleshooting
If the ball looks hexagonal, stagger your increases on future rounds instead of stacking every increase directly above the last one. The count stays the same, but the curve becomes smoother. If the closing hole will not disappear, use the yarn needle to pick up only the front loops of the last 6 stitches, then pull slowly and evenly.
This practice ball can become a head, a berry, a bauble, or a tiny animal body. Change only the color and face placement before changing the stitch count.