A: Amigurumi is the Japanese art of knitting or crocheting small, stuffed yarn creatures. Adults love them, children love them, and I love making them! I'm happy to make one for you, to your specifications or colors. Or, you can buy one of the already-made models shown.

A: My amigurumi are made either of acrylic yarn or of cotton yarn. I do not use wool in my toys,

A: My amigurumi are filled with 100% polyester fiberfill. It is fully washable and will not clump.

A: NO. I do not know why they are called safety eyes, as they are not safe for children under 3 years old. They are plastic and it is possible to tear them out of the crochet. Please ask me to crochet or embroider eyes if you are purchasing for a baby.

A: As all crafts, crochet starts out hard and becomes easy as you practice. I offer individual and small group classes so you can learn quickly and easily. The first amigurumi I teach is a Mini-Monster!

Check on the Lessons link, above, for more information about learning to crochet or improving your skills.

A: I have no answer for this. It depends on the pattern, the size, the yarn, the TV program I am watching, the amount of light in the room...in other words, I am always doing at least one other thing when I crochet, so I never time myself.

A: You can wash these amigurumi gently in the sink. Reshape them if they have twisted and let them dry naturally. They will not shrink, but do not put them in the dryer...it's just too much agitation for them.

A: Absolutely! Just toss them in the washer (they are cotton), but avoid the dryer. I let them dry flat on a towel.

A: Mandala means "Circle" in Sanskrit. Many cultures use mandalas as an aid to meditation; I use mine simply for something beautiful to look at. Brighten your home and spark your imagination with these lovely crocheted creations! I'll happily make any design in your preferred colors.

See some samples in the Shop section, or learn to make your own in the Lessons section.