In our youth (which, contrary to what our children or grandchildren think, does not go back to the time of the dinosaurs…), we have all practiced at least once an activity with chenille yarn. You remember: you had a lot of fun shaping these little animals out of chenille yarn! As an adult and passionate about crochet, you now want to spoil your little ones with handmade works. How about using this type of yarn to crochet cute amigurumis? We give you 3 good reasons to crochet animals with chenille yarn and explain everything you need to know to make your DIY project a success!
WHICH CHENILLE YARN TO USE FOR CROCHETING?
Forget the famous pipe cleaner wire! Indeed, when we talk about crochet chenille yarn, it is not the same as the one used for fun manual activities, namely an easily malleable wire covered with very soft synthetic hair.
To crochet, you must use special crochet chenille yarn, also called chenille wool . Its main characteristic is its velvet effect and its softness (just like its metallic counterpart used in creative hobbies!).
It is available in a wide range of shades , from the brightest to the most pastel. Something to meet all your creative desires (and those of your children)!
Another good news: it washes easily in the washing machine . Crocheted chenille yarn cuddly toys for your toddlers won’t be doomed to remain filthy after a day of adventure with your explorers!
On the technical side, just like other types of crochet yarn, you must choose hooks that are the right size for the thickness of this fancy yarn .
Several brands offer chenille yarn to make crochet amigurumis such as DMC (Happy cotton or Happy chenille, 100% polyester yarn), Sirdar (Super Happy chenille)…
Note: it can delight both crocheters and knitters since it is a yarn for crochet and knitting.
3 COMPELLING REASONS TO USE CHENILLE YARN TO CREATE CROCHET ANIMALS
You have already crocheted animals!
A crochet giraffe at the request of your youngest, a fan of Sophie (the giraffe!). A crocheted unicorn for a My Little Pony fan. A crochet koala for your child who climbs trees… But using the same yarn as for crocheting a pretty DIY dinette …
So, as a crocheter, you ask yourself only one question: why use chenille yarn to crochet amigurumi-style animals?
1. Delight your kids with soft, huggable amigurumis
This is the key advantage of this velvet-like yarn : its visual and tactile softness !
It offers a soft finish. Impossible to resist the urge to cuddle the cuddly toy crocheted with chenille yarn! But in addition, it is particularly soft to the touch. Once the cuddling session is over, the child has only one wish: to start again!
Thus, your crocheted animal will become the privileged companion of your boy or your girl to comfort him.
Our advice: the texture of this yarn tends to fray quite easily (depending on the brand chosen). Avoid crocheting a cuddly toy intended for a baby who is in his “I put everything in my mouth” phase.
2. Take advantage of the wide range of colors to personalize your creations
Do you want to give free rein to your creativity? With the chenille yarn, it is quite possible! Indeed, even if it is a fancy yarn, it is available in a wide range of colors .
Do you want to crochet an amigurumi with colors as bright and dynamic as your child, bursting with energy? On the contrary, do you prefer to adopt pastel shades, very soft, like the maternal love that binds you to your daughter/son?
Whatever your creative desires, you can enhance them and create many different crochet animals by choosing from the wide color palette of this yarn !
3. Adopt a certified yarn that respects the fragile skin of children
This is an international label awarded to textile products that do not contain substances harmful to the skin .
This certification guarantees that the yarn has been checked according to strict and reliable standards to ensure that no dangerous chemicals or undesirable substances enter into its composition.
It is a guarantee of security and confidence for the mother that you are. While it will be in direct contact with your daughter’s/boy’s skin, your cuddly toy crocheted with this type of chenille yarn poses no risk to your child’s health .
You can rest assured: he will be able to cuddle it again and again until he wears it out and sees the padding appear!
THE PRECAUTIONS TO TAKE WHEN CROCHETING ANIMALS IN CHENILLE YARN
Before throwing yourself headlong into making an animal in chenille wool, take a look at our advice.
Indeed, it is not a standard crochet yarn… You don’t want to end up wanting to stick the hook in your heart so much you struggle with your stitches?
So take the following precautions.
If you are new to crochet…
… pass your turn!
Or rather: start by learning the basics of crochet with a classic yarn .
Then you could (almost) crochet with your eyes closed, because you have mastered the stitches and crochet techniques? Then you can start a crochet project with chenille yarn!
It is not recommended for beginners to crochet, as it is not so easy to crochet . Indeed, it slips with difficulty and it breaks easily. It can fall apart if you undo rows (which often happens to a beginner crocheter!).
Crochet with a sufficient light source
…and eyes wide open!
As this yarn is fluffy, the stitches are often difficult to distinguish , especially if the color is dark.
Crochet gently to avoid any mistakes
To undo rows is to risk damaging this thread, which is rather fragile. So no room for error! Better to be sure of the number of stitches just crocheted. Take the time you need, don’t rush…
It would be a shame to ruin the last ball of chenille yarn you have left to crochet your amigurumi!
Provide enough balls
The yardage of chenille yarns is generally smaller than that of conventional yarns.
There are many (unfortunate) feedbacks.
Many crocheters have had to leave their work hanging and recommend balls to be able to finish it, because they used to order standard yarn and mistakenly thought they had enough…
Adopt the correct thread tension
Be careful not to crochet the first stitch of the magic circle too tightly (technique necessary for making an amigurumi).
On the other hand, for the rest of the book, be careful that your work is not too loose.
Otherwise, once the stuffing is finished, your crocheted animals may look a little like Emmenthal due to the holes that have appeared due to the stitches being knitted too loosely.