Are Crochet Kits Really Worth The Dollarydoos?

I got my hands on an amigurumi box kit over the holiday break and I want to know, are they actually a worthwhile purchase?
Timestamps:
Intro: 00:00 - 01:19
Let's Open This Bad Boy: 01:19 - 03:20
Day One & First Impressions: 03:20 - 17:06
Day Two & Assembly: 17:06 - 19:14
Final Thoughts & Outro: 19:14 - 28:37
#crochet #amigurumi #try
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[@SkeinSpider]

Forgot to mention this in the video but in the interest of transparency I wanted to say here, this was not a sponsored review or anything of that nature.

[@gutsybear]

Them explaining the part of adding 2 sc to the edge is quite similar to how they explain it in Amigurumi Today. The difference, though, is that the person who makes the patterns in Amigurumi Today would say to add a certain amount of stitches till it reaches a certain point, but would add that you could subtract or add stitches if needed. I think that is what they were trying to convey, but forgot to add the detail of adding or subtracting as needed😅. I hope that helps

[@amara560]

Beware 'safety' eyes are not safe for children under 3 years old❤

[@zsmithmyself]

I learned to crochet from a Woobles kit, which I found to be very good for teaching the basics. However, after learning sc, inc, dec from Woobles, I found KZbin to be a much better place to learn. Your channel and Complicated Knots taught me a lot more than Woobles could have in the long run.

[@frontseatdevil7831]

I did the same thing - I made 2 woobles and then moved on, which I think was a good way to learn.

[@Kat_109--stay_crazy_yall]

Woobles definitely do seem better from what she had I've seen them on tiktok and YT and they do seem pretty good

[@WindyHillCrochet]

I've been talking about using Woobles to learn to Crochet. I agree it's a great place to start and then you have the confidence to try something else

[@Fishwolfcrow]

I did one wooble kit (the fox) which provided me with every skill I need to make a basic pattern

[@crystalsanimationseries6789]

Same

[@ivygarcia6878]

As an advanced crocheter, I think I *would* buy an amigurumi kit *IF* it was of a character I really liked, not a generic doll like the one in the kit you reviewed. If it was a specific character I really liked, I wouldn't have to worry about trying to buy yarn in very specific colors that I would only use for that project, and then have a bunch of leftovers that I wouldn't know what to do with.

[@SkeinSpider]

That's a valid point and I could possibly see myself doing the same in that specific situation.

[@Hay.Balke1223]

That is a valid point, but in my experience I have gotten character kits in the past and not only was there not enough yarn per color, meaning i would have to buy yarn anyways, but the colors were also wrong. My Stitch and Scrump kit came with black instead of dark blue for his accent patches. Needless to say I won't be doing that again lol

[@ivygarcia6878]

@@Hay.Balke1223 oh nooo I'm sorry that happened to you. I wonder if all/ most kits of well-known characters are like that.

[@TheValiantMoon]

my mom bought a Winnie the Pooh kit since my cousins first born really loves Pooh and asked me to make it up. It came with stuff to make Pooh and Piglet and while I liked it, it was an easy pattern to follow, the downside was the eyes. It came with these teeny tiny little black stickers. and this was already a small pattern so finding safety eyes that were small enough was going to be hard so here I am trying to make two french knots the same size so Pooh has eyes that would not come off easily and be swallowed by my one year old baby cousin. Bright side, she loves the doll and according to my aunt she will not sleep without it at night

[@leemasters3592]

Ssfety eyes aren't suitable for children under 3, especially on crochet, so as annoying as the french knots were its a good thing you did them!

[@WoodsteadCreative]

For future reference you can needle felt the eyes on and it gives you some more freedom on adding custom whites/pupils/colour/irises I hate French knots and can't always use safety eyes for babies

[@velvety2006]

@@leemasters3592 I refuse to put safety eyes on anything that does not go to a child of 5 or higher, if someone insists on it I will tell them it's there responsibility if something goes wrong. Luckily I have not had that situation yet most people listen to me.

[@TwinMamaCrafts]

I could definitely see it being for people who already crochet but are new to amigurumi. Then things like skin toned yarn, stuffing, and safety eyes would be useful things they may not already have at home.

[@MistressWhispers]

They are basically the hello fresh for crafts. You get the "recipe" and usually MOST of the "ingredients" at a premium for the convenience. Sometimes the finished product is good, and other times pretty bad 🤷🏻‍♀️ I got a clearance woobles kit once. It would be great for a beginner to see if they like amigurumi but not really worth the money in you have experience.

[@SkeinSpider]

Honestly, that sums them up perfectly. The hello fresh of crafts 😂

[@ctempleman1401]

But for beginners the patterns are not specific, instructions are incorrect in places and beginners would be frustrated thinking it was their fault. Maybe better for a bit more experienced crocheters who can adapt.

[@WindyHillCrochet]

I agree. They are great! For beginners

[@vaultgirl145]

It meant to work two more sc to make a new starting spot for the side edge (or starting edge) of the first leg. The reason for the need for a new starting location is to make sure the split between the two legs is in the center of the body. She turned out really cute and honestly you can't tell with the way the skirt is that you adjusted the pattern.

[@SoMagicalMichele]

One could also say "inside edge" which would have helped in understanding.

[@SkeinSpider]

That could have been the case but the way the instructions were written was so unclear that point didn't get across (to me at least).

[@Kraftikitty]

It was really hard to understand the wording, but I would have assumed that they meant to make sure that the split was in the middle.

[@booklover900]

@@SkeinSpider I agree, the wording was weird I think it to say "Work two more single crochet in order to end the next row at the center" or something similar.

[@shibasandshelves]

Yeah that’s kind of what I was thinking but it seems like such an unintuitive way to express it, like did no one test or edit this pattern kit? 🫠

[@brittanytenney4398]

A tip for center-pull: stick your first finger from each hand into either end of the ball until they overlap slightly and circle them around each other. You can find the actual centre easier that way. Then hook any one strand over one finger and pull gently while holding the ball firmly with the other hand pull until you extract the center and find your end. Should minimize yarn vomit.

[@SkeinSpider]

Cheers, I'll have to give this method a go next time I start using a new skein.

[@reighnhkgdvk8881]

nah i had to get a yarn winder. its more often than not im quite literally flipping them inside out & still cant find it & i do exactly what you said

[@andreadiamond625]

Most crochet kirs are geareed toward beginner/intermediate. In that theyre made for people who know crochet basics but want to increase their skillset. I think they're great if you want to see if you enjoy certain project types, like amugurumi. (Say you decide you dont like it, now youre not stuck with 18000 safety eyes)

[@velvetvioletta]

To be honest I think the main market for these kits is 'people who have to buy a present for someone who crochets'. I too got given a crochet kit for Christmas, it was a potted strawberry plant and it wasn't bad. I did alter the pattern on the fly (so as to work in a continuous spiral instead of bothering with all those extra chains and slip stitches) but it came out looking more or less as the in the photograph which is more than can be said for some of the kits I've tried in the past.

[@NailTimeWithLex]

I've tried a couple kits, just so I could get an idea of them. I have a Jurassic Park one and a Nightmare Before Christmas one, both come with "enough" yarn for 2 projects and a whole pattern book for multiple characters. My biggest thing is I didn't have enough yarn to begin with and I also didn't get a stitch marker or pins to put the body parts in place. Now, I'm also an experienced crocheter so I already had the extra things on hand, but you're right. It's annoying and not very beginner friendly if the kits don't come with everything needed. Also, DOLLS ARE SO CREEPY!

[@Kraftikitty]

I learned to crochet from a kit, the Yummy Crochet Kit, and now that I’ve been crocheting for a few years, it would have been so much easier to learn to count stitches if markers had been included.

[@reighnhkgdvk8881]

yeah big fat no on the kits. screaming no for the harry potter ones.

[@ZeshaTheCat]

I don't know about this kit for a beginner, but I know my first kit was the Woobles and it turned out quite well. Would recommend that to anyone looking to learn amigurumi, specifically the penguin. They have videos that walk you through it and teach you how to read the pattern, which you can also pull up as a PDF. Is it worth $30? Eh, probably not, but when you don't know if you're going to like something it's probably better to go with a kit at first.

[@valhallashock716]

My thoughts exactly! $30 is a lot for what you get, but it is significantly less than the cost of buying a ton of supplies for a craft you might not even like. (as an experienced crocheter, i still kinda enjoy woobles the same way people enjoy jigsaw puzzles lol)

[@BrittanyResto-oz5ye]

I love an amigurumi kit when I'm traveling, specifically. I always double and triple check to have everything in it. I also usually throw a travel soap container with nail scissors, a few stitches markers and needles and any other notions I might need in my bag to be sure I have everything. It's a nice condensed way for me to keep a full project on hand without taking up too much space.

[@trixibelle480]

I started crocheting through a kit. It was a great kit from Etsy where she provided the first few rounds of a granny square, 4 balls of different coloured wool, the hook and illustrated instructions. It was a great way to start without the confusion of the magic circle (she did give those instructions too) and at the end I had made 2 granny squares to make a pillow case!

[@Cryptidlywitchie]

The only time I tend to buy a crochet project kit is when they come with a book of patterns and they tend to send enough yarn to do 1 of those patterns. But I feel like the book makes it worth it

[@jencrochetingradtech5913]

Aww I’m glad you left the part with your nephew. That was cute

[@maudvangenuchten7984]

I think that crochet two more to the side edge means crochet the first stitch as normal, crochet the second stitch on the other side which you pressed together so you form the join for the legs. Change the stitch marker so that the next stitch is the first stitch of the round.

[@lissalyn2003]

Yes I had the same thought I did a couple of kits a few have u start feet to head and they normally add two stitches between the legs.

[@howdytherestranger2139]

Oh, man i got the biggest rush of nostalgia from this. I, many years ago, learned to crochet by buying one of those amigurumi kits from a barnes & noble bookstore. Not only did the book instructions on stitches do nothing but confuse me, I ended up abandoning amigurumi and learned how to crochet garments on youtube instead. I think the spite i felt towards those instructions as a beginner is what made me stick with it and eventually relearn how to knit. Still doing both too lol also can't ignore how nice your hair looks in this video. Your curls are so shiny and bouncy that it makes me almost want to stop constantly coloring and damaging my hair... almost :p

[@amoschellegeaney]

I love Circulo amigurimi kits! I think the character's themes are so cute! I bump up from the 3.5 to 4.5mm and always have extra yarn. The kits keep me from excessive yarn stashes and have taught me cool ways to make different amigurumi pieces or techniques.

[@KyetaiKatt]

My first kit was a Woobles kit for the Narwal Bjorn. for $30 it had everything minus a physical copy of the pattern. But everything was listed on their site with both written and video explanations on each of the steps. After 7 mos I have made so many things but I find that I get irritated on how beaks look like bills and horns are a weird bulg on the critters xD lol

[@SoMagicalMichele]

I've heard similar reviews of those kits. Almost everyone has said that it is not for beginners. I can see buying a kit for yarn, eyes, and pattern so you get the exact colors of the images but the other things seem unnecessary unless specifically for a beginner which should then have a needle. I prefer to buy patterns and choose my own yarns. I also think where the gauge changes per person the option to use different hooks is important. Plus most beginners tend to crochet tight so a smaller hook isn't ideal. If you aren't a beginner, you have hooks, usually many. I'm not always in the mood to design my own patterns so I am grateful for the option to get patterns. :D

[@rebeccamcteague3675]

I’ve tried many kits, and I find that the quality varies. Sometimes I get a good kit, and other times it’s lackluster. I find kits to be more worth it if they have a bundle of patterns included, so I eventually work through the cheap stuff and get to use my own yarn for them. Working through kits also made my critiquing skills stronger, as I got practice explaining why the pattern didn’t work. As for the sc to side edge, my guess would be the designer wanted an additional two stitches in the middle of the legs so the crotch wouldn’t be pinched. That instruction would definitely need to be accompanied by a picture though!

[@cherachapin3826]

Before youtube had such a large crochet community, I taught myself amigurumi through books. It took me YEARS to learn that UK and USA had different crochet terms 😂 Somehow in middle America I managed to pick up the only 3 UK books that ever existed in our library😅 I have purchased many amigurumi kits over the years. Aldi is a great store that typically has these kits on sale in their "Aldi's Finds" aisle (we refer to this as the Aisle of Shame) These kits typically have #3 or DK weightbyarn, which is actually a bit difficult to come by in the US. Most of our yarn is #4 weight unless you order online and back when I started crocheting online ordering didn't really exist😂 I find many kits have weird sized hooks. I have a 3.7mm hook. Why 3.7? Why not 3.75? Why not a 3 or 3.5? Who knows. The hooks are also shorter. I have tiny hands. The crochet hooks in these kits often poke me in the palm of my hand from the back of the hook. I use a knife hold so the handle stabs me 🙃 I think the majority of these kits are designed with begginers in mind, and are pretty basic designs. But they have the color combinations to make the simple doll designs to look like disney characters or other known characters. The animals usually come out weird (my opinion) and the instructions seem to over complicate otherwise simple patterns. The foods and treats always tend to be written the best. I've not seen many bug kits, though I do recall a ladybug from a "forest animals" kit. I suppose each kit has its target audience. That being said, some are easier to understand than others. But because I said I get kits mostly from Aldi, I am sure theybare at a discounted price. I have however sometimes bought kits JUST to get the yarn inside😅 Its not necessary anymore, with online ordering being available. But in the past, many kits were bought specifically with that reason in mind

[@justbeingme7965]

I like crochet kits because they help get the supplies you may have not thought about, and also taught me how to read a pattern

[@angelaporch2984]

I have a lot of these kits . I am kinda obsessed with them 😊. I just found your channel and love it. I have been crocheting for over 40 years and love trying new things. Thanks for sharing

[@martyh7771]

I recently learned off youtube vids, was a pretty easy experience for someone who is comfortable floating around social media and hunting for patterns and tutorials. As a middle ground, I recently picked up a woobles book from my local library, heaps of really good beginner patterns and guidance.

[@WoodsteadCreative]

Yarn tumour cracked me up 😂 I like the term SABLE - Stash accumulation beyond life expectancy

[@SkeinSpider]

That's brilliant, I've got to remember that 😂😂

[@amywelliver538]

The way I hear you read the pattern, the last round of your body is ended two stitches over from your center mark. It is a way to keep your leg round "seam" starting and ending in the correct position. It sounds purely aesthetic. I have several kits I have ALSO received as gifts due to my "crafting preferences". FYI, I have never opened a single box because I suffer from severe crafter's ADD. Eh, they are available for Future Me to not finish once I start. 😂 I must say that I find your horror doll to be very cute. Jugy is wearing my favorite colors! I would love to find a kit of that quality (one larger project rather than 1-2 palm-sized dolls that look like potatoes), but I've never seen one like her in the US. Thanks for your review!!

[@susanmdoucetsd]

I offer a beginner bunny kit at my market. It has everything one would need except scissors to complete. It may seem expensive, but if you buy everything you need need separately, it costs a lot more. Polyfil alone is quite a lot $$. I agree these are great as a gift or if someone really wants to try amigurumi for the first time.

[@blackcat9703]

I've wondered about these kits too but haven't gotten round to buying one yet. Thanks for the review.

[@mikaylaking1552]

I generally like to buy kits for something to bring to work when I have downtime because I don't have to think about yarn (color have enough ect) and it's contained so easy to bring back and forth but I also get easy ones though I am more advanced just for some decompression throughout the day. However yes I generally don't like the hooks so I have bought some specifically for my go bag and some extras but it seems to work out fine.

[@anniegold1763]

I started my crochet journey with a few kits that were on sale. It's great to figure out if you enjoy the craft. For my kit the materials were terrible (very cheap acrylic yarn) and the pattern had a few mistakes in it. But it still got me into amigurumi.

[@ctempleman1401]

I found the Harry Potter kits had unusable yarn that broke and frayed and I bought cheap yarn which worked well. Disappointing. ☹

[@HautePolished]

I wonder if they gave you 2 sets of eyes so you can make a 2nd doll? The left over yarn looks enough to make another doll! Great review, makes me want to try a kit one day

[@SkeinSpider]

I don't think so just because there wouldn't be enough cream yarn to make a second doll. They gave me two skeins of it and I used about one and a third.

[@wigglytailscreations]

As someone who had done some amigurumis from crochet kits, this one is pretty good. But I started buying them after I've learned how to crochet. I don't think I'd ever have learned from any crochet kit alone 😅 Most of the patterns are written in a very straight forward way but some make you scratch your head, like this one. Still have no idea what they wanted you to do with the leg part 😅

[@theselfmadeprince]

The Woobles kit that I got was a fantastic way to learn how to crochet. It had videos instead of written instructions and also made sure that you understand what you're doing and how to do it. If I had started with something like this kit in the video I would have given up on crocheting.

[@cjpietropinto9293]

A tip to center pulls, stick your finger in, find the middle, push it until theres a true center. Then stick your hook in and grab a strand. Your guarenteed to be within a reasonable amount of yarn barf, vs half the ball. (For cotton yarn, results may vary for other types).

[@floramaebunny4777]

I could see this kit would be a good gift for someone like for someone who crochets

[@RaspberryDevil]

This looked like a cute gift! If you like dolls :') I started my first amigurumi with a kit (a book with various patterns but wool and stuff for one project). It was a nice intro but I realised that, as a beginner, video tutorials were easier for me, so I haven't bought one since. I almost picked up a dragon kit recently but then realised that I already have enough wool and a pattern in a book for one :D I just think they look / appear accessible and easier for time management.

[@annarutherford3561]

your cats and nephews are gorgeous

[@carly7522]

That doll came out pretty cool. I prefer buying magazines to buying kits, quite often get the yarn in it and sometimes a fun treat. Plus usually a bunch of patterns. Had similar experiences when starting out crocheting and buying kits. Mostly i just buy off the internet or get free patterns and then i can change the colours.

[@ginnywebb608]

Another fun video. I think you're t-shirt is very sweet too!

[@janedaniel7288]

I've only purchased these type of kits from Charity shops. So less than 50 - 75% off. Love the beret on the doll. I've never worked out who they are aimed at either. xxJane 🐑🌼

[@ThatOneNerdGirly]

I bought a crochet kit on a whim without any crochet knowledge whatsoever and it was quite difficult, and I decided I should probably learn some basics before coming back to this kit. So I went to youtube and watched some tutorials and found that I was picking it up quite easily. Found some easy projects and have been crocheting ever since. I never did go back and finish any of the projects provided in that kit, but it did kick start my love of crochet.

[@jessywanders8829]

I bought one Woobles kit for my mom, and it has helped her learn to crochet! I did purchase one kit only because I wanted the pattern book. It was cheaper than buying the patterns separately.

[@Falcon2Dragon]

i'd say extra accessories are added bonus. Beautiful furbaby.

[@queerbadger2869]

Is anyone else excited for the cat? Handsome kitty

[@knitwitchpgh]

I already knit, but finding a cute dragon crochet kit at my job at my LYS and it motivated me to learn. I definitely went to youtube to explain instructions but i like to tell people to find things that inspire them to craft and if thats a kit yay. Lol

[@SkeinSpider]

Absolutely. There's no "right" way to craft. If kits help someone do that, it's a good thing.

[@knitwitchpgh]

@@SkeinSpider for sure I always tell people sometimes you just got to find the right project to motivate you to learn a craft ☺️

[@jasminenoack]

I think I would be frustrated if a beginner kit was this hard. I’ve been crocheting since I was 5, but I tried a woobles kit. I recommend those because the yarn is really easy to work with and there is a video version of the instructions.

[@stephaniebatchelor8314]

Awe she turned out good! ❤

[@nofaves]

I've been crocheting for a few years now, but I find amigurumi much more challenging than wearables. When I first started out, my tension was all over the map, and no one much cares about that in a hat or scarf. But a small stuffed toy shows all the defects. On top of that, amigurimi tension is much tighter than normal, which is often difficult for a beginner to deal with.

[@craftynisse2443]

I purchased Nightmare Before Christmas book/kit only because I love the movie. Most kits seem over priced. And as you pointed out plenty of free videos/patterns out there. Also very inexpensive patterns as well as great books.

[@missapippin9020]

I am on the fence with kits. There are certain yarns I won’t use so that is a factor for me but if I like the pattern in the kit and couldn’t get it any where else I might buy it for the pattern Often kits I’ve seen do supply a needle for sewing up with but no pins Thanks for your honest review. The video was great.

[@catmumcrafts]

Hmmmm. I started amigurumi with kits, and you can get some really good ones now, but also have ventured out in to raiding my stash. I do still use kits, but mainly for when I go on holiday as it's the convenience of not having to carry several balls of yarn around with me, I can just chuck the kit in my bag😊

[@amyyy___]

I’ve tried 2 kits. A few woobles kits and 1 other from Amazon. I already knew a single & double crochet but had no clue how to do the magic ring or make amigurumi. The woobles taught me to read a pattern, how to do a magic ring, and many other little skills. The other kit I bought I didn’t even finish!! It came with a video and paper instructions and they where both different!!!! I got so frustrated I put it back into the box and haven’t seen it since.

[@ctempleman1401]

I bought a set of Harry Potter crochet kits. I have only crocheted Dobby and Hedwig. I found the yarn was a lot worse than I expected and I replaced it with the yarn from the Reject Shop. Some had plastic hooks in the set, good job I have plenty of hooks. And I ended up having to adapt the pattern. I have yet to complete the rest but will probably do them my way.

[@shai2491]

maybe someone already commented this: I think the "work 2 more sc" isn't clear because whoever wrote the instructions placed the eyes in a specific spot, causing the "center" of the face/skirt to be in a specific spot. But since there's no instruction on where in the round to place them, just between 16-17, then the center of the skirt/face for each crocheter will be somewhere else, so the 2 is just "as many sc as you need" to place yourself for the legs.

[@grandmasmagic3858]

The hook size is what is generally recommended for amigarumi. And hearing you say "bloody kids" is just so Aussie of you, chuckle. And us Aussies know that it is said with endearment.

[@solveigfrank]

there r a couple of skeins i struggles with to centerpull...and ended up with a huuuge knotty mess xD but id say 70% of the times it works and depending on the yarn it works sooo smoothly when crocheing + ur shirt is just so good!

[@coal.sparks]

I got a Sesame Street officially licensed kit as part of a Mary Maxim surprise box. I found that the yarn was very splitty - so much so that I put the entire thing down in frustration before Xmas and have not picked it up again. I'm not someone who has done a lot of amigurumi, either (just one rather wonky looking cat). So, far from being a good intro for newbs, it is a great gatekeeper to have tools that make starting more frustrating.

[@ScrewyCorgi355]

I purchased a wobbles kit as a way to learn to read patterns, It was also before I found this channel.

[@lissalyn2003]

I’ve bought a few kits the sets that come with multiple patterns Disney five set, nightmare before Christmas, Harry Potter and a few cheep ones from Temu or Clarence craft store ones. I pick them up as a quick break from a big or time consuming project. I agree I normally have to use a few of my own supplies and they are definitely at least middle level of crochet knowledge to do. I haven’t tried the wobbles yet those are priced to high and I’ve seen better patterns for free. The hooks look cute though.

[@k8tallison250]

I learned to crochet from using the wobbles kits. I love them, but they're a bit pricey

[@carolynmcmillan7083]

Unless it’s a specific centre pull yarn you really arent supposed too! Apparently if you do you are working against the twist. Centre pulls will always have a centre pull tab (in my experience)

[@briant6167]

i always worry there will never be enough stuffing in the kits so this was an interesting turn of events! it seems wild that there was no needle though. i think most people who havent done much crochet before wouldn't have a yarn needle.

[@Deniz-vw7yg]

I think the problem with the "2 more sc to the edge" is, that it didnt really describe where to put the eyes on those rows, bc depending on that, the squeeze for the legs would have been on a different spot and the 2dc would maybe have fit..

[@deepwatersgf]

I learned to crochet before these types of kits existed, I have tried 2 brands (woobles & crochetta). Woobles I find annoying for myself b/c I don't like the yarn, and the video tutorials are too slow for me. I just download the pattern and follow it instead. However, it was great for my 10 yr old who had more success learning from it than me. Plus of all the beginning patterns I've seen these are extremely easy to follow. The crochetta kit I found less annoying yet think is better suited to the semi-experinced crocheter who doesn't want to deal with choosing their own supplys. I think that the majority of the kits are for the dabbler who doesn't want a lot of supplies left over. I much prefer pattern books and the freedom to choose my fiber type and colors. Honestly, my crochet pattern book collection out does my yarn stash. It's definitely a case of all these options having their place in the crafting world.

[@gizmospazz]

I believe the 2 sc to edge is exactly what it sounds like. Your center and edge are thrown off based on where you placed the eyes. If the eyes were placed differently, you would be assuming a different central point. So 2 sc would get you to the edge with the change in eye placement.

[@SkeinSpider]

I don't think that's the case because I followed the directions for the eye placement as written in the pattern.

[@amiparanoidmuch]

Just subscribed to your channel, mainly because of your absolutely correct opinions on dolls 😂

[@SkeinSpider]

😂😂😂

[@soulstealer1667]

I will say that before I buy these kits, I do a deep dive on the internet. I do the same with books as well. Be surprised when you find the patterns cheaper or even free, especially for books.

[@zeyneposmanova]

13:28 technically, how many sc you’ll need to make would depend on the position of the eyes,but as i understood pattern said just 10 sc apart,no more clarification. To make it clearer, if you’ve put the eyes 3 sc to the right it would change the point that you’ve pinched, when separating the stitches for each leg. I hope i could explain English is not my first language.

[@Sirius_Majoris]

Oh my gosh yes! I'm terrified of dolls since I was a kid too and honestly I'd never crochet one because they horrify me too much 😅

[@iniyama]

As someone who just started learning how to crochet this year, I can confidently say that these kits are not made for complete beginners who dont yet know the different terms and how they're done. I bought 3 different kits for 5 bucks each which isnt too bad but on the other hand they only came with written patterns which is too advanced for me at this point 😅 gonna be interesting to see how i feel about them in a couple of weeks

[@mysweettlife]

I have bought lots of kits but I only buy ones that have several patterns. I really only use the pattern because I like to use the yarn I like and not have to worry about running out. Also I like to use the size hook I need to make the project the size I want it to be.

[@kaysimpson3326]

I plan on making some of the kits I purchased in to miniature versions for earrings as long as think that could be cool. Although that’s worked on a 0.5mm crochet hook. I know a lot of people will think it’s stupid but I want to try something that I like and would love to see how it turns out

[@SkeinSpider]

That's such a cool idea. I made some earrings as part of my Christmas crochet challenge and I'd love to try it again but I have to work up the courage to crochet with the tiny hooks 😂

[@Elysia07]

I am trying a kit for my first amigurumi learning. I am finding some similarities. The amount of yarn is a bit like chicken. I need some tools they didn't supply. Scissors, yarn needles, and even a wire cutter for pipe cleaners. No stick pins, etc. And the instructions aren't as comprehensive for someone who has no crochet experience. I have crocheted for a while, but this is my first attempt an amigurumi. I have faith it will get better as i learn what supplies and techniques work for me. I always look for tips but it's hard to find good specific lists of supplies to try.

[@ASquareGranny]

23:22 TOTALLY AGREE re: supplies! All of that extra yarn and no needle? Pins, SCISSORS? That is NOT “everything” needed, imo. I also did not get the “to the edge of the side” or whatever it was, thing. WTH? I think it should have contained MORE pictures as well as, a QR link to a video tutorial. I have so many mixed feelings about ALL of these types of kits. They’re kind of addictive, but kind of redundant yet kind of a waste. Ugh. Idk. Great video, Leigh! Cheers! ☺️🫶🏻🧶 PS: please tell the brats “hi” all the way from the US state of Ohio! 😉🩵

[@mythicalteatree]

i hope the two sets of accessories doesnt mean someone else doesn't get them because of an error in packaging, I just remember buying a red panda knitting kit once and there somehow was no instructions! still kept it for the yarn hoard though

[@mysweettlife]

LOVE Little Foot

[@fem4496]

I saw a lot of nice crocheted things on the internet. I wanted to be able to make that myself, so I bought a cheap set to learn and to understand how to make an amigurumi.I didn't know a single stitch yet. After that I only used patterns from the internet, because the set was rubbish. And I switched to mercerized (?) cotton, which is smoother and doesn't split.

[@cjpietropinto9293]

Your hair is beautiful ❤

[@SkeinSpider]

Thank you so much 💙

[@bjshifko]

I’ve bought kits normally for the pattern book. But I’ve also given them to people who want to just try out the craft, I just make sure everything is included that way they don’t have to go buy anything. I’m wondering if you got 2 sets of eyes so you could make a second doll? And I think the kits are good since it includes everything and the receiver doesn’t need to go blindly into the craft store looking for supplies. If you are someone who doesn’t like the restrictions, perhaps purchasing a pattern or book would be better even though you would still need to work out gauge since the creator normally includes their yarn choice.

[@BitchinStitchez]

I have been crocheting for 6 months, and have never attempted a toy pattern. If I do, I would appreciate this kind of kit, I think, so if it turns out it isn’t for me I didn’t spend a lot getting things I won’t use again (polyfil, safety eyes, etc)

[@nynex4]

I've definately gotten kits what not only had cheap yarn, but they didn't include enough yarn to do the pattern provided. My family member then proceeded to tell me that I must have done something wrong, ... excuse me?! I do know how to crochet, and there was only half the amount of yarn needed, there was no way I could have made that gigantic of a mistake anyway.

[@iuliecardenas3569]

I purchased a crochet kit, and I also found that the pattern was confusing to follow. I found myself deviating slightly from it in order to complete it. Also, the kit I got didn’t give me enough yarn so I had to buy more… I don’t think I’ll use a crochet kit again, but at least I experienced it! I’ll stick to my free or purchased patterns and buy the yarn and tools myself!

[@amandaunderhill5336]

Not reading thru this all, but you asked and my thoughts are that it MAY be marketed to crocheters that want to learn to make amigurumi. So you would have*some* notions but maybe not enough for the toy.

[@FreyjaHighUpNorse]

"work 2 more single crochet to end at side edge ..." Since the beginning of each round usually shifts more or less from the original starting point in amigurumi, in some cases (e.g. like the division of stitches for legs) the next section might need a new starting point. The number of shifting stitches can differ on yarn tension, etc.and moving the "new" beginning might be accomplished by either crocheting more stitches or omitting a few in the last round (before dividing) to end up where the following steps make sense and the pattern picks back up. However, the explanation given was really confusing, especially for a beginner. I would not give a number of stitches rather an instruction to where the next starting point needs to move to. In this case, since the front of the body is defined, instruct to extend the last row by as many number of stitches as necessary to get to the left (right) side of the body and make THAT the beginning of each row from this point forward. I hope that helps. Happy hooking 🧶

[@kaytiej8311]

Thread splitting is often because the hook being used is too small.

[@MrRuss1506]

Center pulls are good. But you have to rewind your ball first

[@aparlinproject]

I think it means when you flatten and split the legs, work to get to the side edge of the leg so you're starting the "leg" from the edge of the leg rather than the middle or off center.

[@artofalos]

I've tried an amigurumi elephant kit which was quite good except I ran out of wool halfway through the third leg and the pattern is VERY similar to a free pattern for an elephant that I have also made, I tried it solely because I was curious XD - the stitch marker broke on my next project so I don't think any of those are made to last. Hi Spiders nephew!

[@YvonneWilson312]

That sounds like the elephant I tried....

[@artofalos]

@@YvonneWilson312 :( what annoyed me more is that I don’t think you can actually buy the wool on its own you had to get like 10 different colours so I ended up just getting a very very similar wool which has worked out but ugh it annoyed me

[@YvonneWilson312]

@@artofalos Same here. Her fourth leg looks very slightly different and it really bugs me!

[@artofalos]

@@YvonneWilson312 oh no that sucks :( I ended up redoing the third leg entirely so the colour change wasn’t obvious and then the third and fourth legs were in the new wool so they match and luckily the colour is so similar I don’t think you can tell without looking super closely :)

[@YvonneWilson312]

@@artofalos That is totally what I should ave done , lol!

[@gkeller1031]

I know this video is a couple weeks old at this point, and SEVERAL other commenters have mentioned Woobles, but I'd just like to share my glowing review of them. I had VERY basic crochet knowledge prior to getting my first Woobles kit. Like, I could crochet a chain, but I didn't really know how to properly work from there. I actually recently found a free-handed crochet thing that I started a few years ago as basically just a fidget to keep me busy while on a bus tour in college (it was never supposed to be anything in particular), and from looking at it I had no idea where I had been inserting the hook, how I had wrapped the yarn, etc. It just looked so off, and I was accidentally decreasing at the end of the first several rows lol. It was a travesty and has since been unraveled. Anyway, Woobles: I bought a couple Woobles kits after seeing some ads for them, and that is what got me into crocheting for real. They give you a pre-started magic ring for the body of the amigurumi to make it more beginner-friendly but specify that you can unravel it and start on your own if you would prefer to crochet that part yourself. I found that super helpful for starting out because it basically just removed the barrier of having to learn a somewhat-complex stitch to even get anywhere with the project. I also appreciated how there were very clear video tutorials for each step as well as written instructions, and there's also an option to just download the pattern if you don't need the step-by-step guide. I think the quality of the supplies provided in the Woobles kit is superior to the one you had here, especially the hook and yarn (and I would assume the stitch markers because I never had an issue with those breaking, but I might have just been lucky). The yarn is specifically beginner-friendly, and I'm not quite sure of the proper name for the type of yarn it is, but it's like a tube or cord, generally something that wouldn't split on you easily. They also give you a 4mm hook with a rubber handle (which I think is a much nicer size for a beginner than a 2.5mm), and I found it super comfortable to crochet with. There was also an option to include a little tin for things like stitch markers, tapestry needles (which it did come with!), safety eyes, etc. I can't remember if that was an extra fee, but I will say it's absolutely adorable (it's got a little bunny and says "The Wee Woobly Bits" on it) and I've kept using it for little things like that. Now that I'm a bit more comfortable with crocheting, I don't feel like I need the kits, and I wouldn't get the one you made in this video, but I think Woobles are a wonderful starter kit, and I could see myself getting more of them if they're on sale and just following the written pattern, because they're convenient and cute, and they're almost like little collectibles.

[@CraftykittenNZ]

Totally agree....dolls...just dolls. Give me a dino, snake, or spider any day.

[@SkeinSpider]

Totally agree!

[@clarewillison9379]

Re hats on dolls, I was the same and used to unpick the stitches or peel the glue off so I could dress and accessorise to my heart’s content. (I got bored easily.) I’d run some elastic through the beret’s rim so your niece could have it both ways! Forgive me if I’ve missed it, but have you done a video focused just on finishing? I’ve crocheted a number of things from bedspreads to bears to teeny amigurumi but with larger projects where sewing or crocheting to join is involved I can’t get the neat finish I want. (My poor bear’s head is at a quizzical/thoughtful/cricked neck angle but he has to live like that because after the third unpick and redo, the finishing yarn is buried beyond retrieval and I fear I’d destroy his head if I went in with scissors. Oh and the ears took about three tries each because I could see some of the stitches.)

[@SkeinSpider]

Cheers for the suggestion! I haven't done a video specifically on finishing yet but I am planning an entire designing amigurumi series, so there will be a dedicated video on the topic at some point during that.

[@Rainbowstrange]

I’ve never purchased a kit for myself but I have been gifted many! 😅 In my experience the patterns are never beginner friendly and most I’ve tried the yarn has been horrible slippy squeaky stuff! That’s not to say there aren’t good kits out there, I’m sure there are, just not the ones I’ve tried. Side note, I LOVE your tshirt! Oh and happy new year! 🥰

[@SkeinSpider]

Thank you, I hope you had a very happy New Year as well!

[@mewsli]

Centre pull never works for me. Thankyou for being "weird" like me 😂😂❤

[@sarabockenstedt9237]

I have completed a couple of Woobles kits and I think those are far more beginner-friendly than the kit you tried. The yarn in with Woobles is unique to them and are definitely an outside pull. I imagine most kit yarns are. (Dolls are creepy!)

[@cindymello5394]

I'm considering buying an amigurumi kit because although I'm an experienced crocheter, I've never made amigurumi. I think that's who these are aimed at! I see people recommending them for beginners all the time and I really don't get it. How can someone be expected to learn crochet in general by trying to follow a written pattern? And amigurumi seems difficult!!! So many little parts, such long patterns, so many things to worry about, and all that seaming. It feels like a fairly advanced technique to me. But maybe that's just because I've never done it. Maybe I'll get the kit and update this with how useful it is for someone who knows crochet but not amigurumi.

[@KyosVerehrerin]

Watched this video while working on a unicorn from a crochet kit that was gifted. Would I have boought it myself? Probably no, because it is not THAT cute. The pattern was... okay and understandable. I would have wished for a more detailed part on where to sew everything together (which row to be specific) not juft 'pin the parts in place and start sewing'. And no pins included. I agree that that would be a great addition in those sets. A small plus however, cause the hook and the tapestry needle are made out of metal, not plastic. Have seen worse. The acrylic yarn... you can feel the low quality. Not that soft and a slightly scratchy feel. Why did I started? Need to wait for my order for a hook in a specific size that I was missing for another project, but my hands wanted to crochet :D My yarn stash isn't that small, but for most projects I want to do it is not enough xD So, a little project for in between and to keep myself busy. And as an Amigurumi beginner: Learn a thing or two about those patterns in general. In the end though I would choose a pattern and my own choice of yarn etc. over every kit out there (except for a very cute one maybe). Long story short: Thanks for trying a kit and giving your opinion. It was interesting to see and hear :D

[@Teaj383]

Work two sc to end at side edge: my interpretation of that is to do two sc and you should be on the outside of the leg the "side" of the doll" where as the point where the legs meet would be the middle or inside edge. Basically i think they're trying to slightly adjust where the start of your round is.

[@SkeinSpider]

I thought so too initially but the problem was I didn't need to adjust my stitches for the legs to be even so 🤷‍♀️😂

[@Teaj383]

@@SkeinSpider it wanted the yellow to start at a different place, that might be why? Like for shaping and to make the colour look "right" not something I would include in a beginner pattern, to be sure

[@daisygirl9914]

I have several kits. I like having them on hand for when I want to make something but don't know exactly what to make.