What is Amigurumi? It's Definition, History and Technique

What is Amigurumi?

Amigurumi is the Japanese word which describes small knitted or crocheted stuffed toys, often in the shape of characters, animals, mini foods, household objects and scenery. It comes from the two root words ami, meaning crocheted or knitted, and nuigurumi, which means stuffed doll. 

The art of Amigurumi and Where did it come from?

Amigurumis specific origins are a bit murky, it definitely has its main roots in Japan. The first stuffed animals emerged in their earliest forms around the same time other countries discovered and, eventually, entered into trade with the Japanese civilization of the day. Crocheting and knitting techniques didn't originally exist on the Japanese islands, and several theories circulate about how they arrived. Some speculate that they appeared as early as the dynasty periods, when sporadic interaction with the Chinese brought it to light, while others believe the specific techniques came later on in the 1600s-1800s with Dutch traders. Either way, the methods took up a quiet stand in their own niche of homemaking and practical needlework and didn't truly blossom until much later.

The first actual amigurumi dolls appeared at the start of the 1970s. The concept sprang up alongside other kawaii (cute) trends, like chibis, which means "little" versions of normal people and objects, and formative (though not the earliest) types of anime and manga. At the time, they were still relatively new, and given Japan's emerging focus on bolstering its economy, the development of a sub-culture built on kawaii was prime breeding ground for products just like amigurumi toys. However, the bulk of the movement gained its footing when it reached the United States in the early 2000s.