Which Is The “Right” Side Of Amigurumi in 2024?

When crocheting in the round to make amigurumi, the right side is the surface that is more textured and has a pattern of repeating “V” shapes throughout. The opposite side is the wrong side, and has horizontal bars instead of the “V” pattern. The right side of amigurumi is decided by convention only, and does not have any further ramifications for crocheting amigurumi.

Let’s talk about which side is the ‘right’ side and which side is the ‘wrong’ side of your amigurumi project. This usually comes down to personal preference, however, when reading a pattern it may tell you to turn your project “right” side out. The conventional way to crochet amigurumi is flipping it on the “right” side while working on the project, before reaching the end. 

For amigurumi, if you do not turn your work, the side facing you is the wrong side. If you turn your work, the side facing you is the right side. The right side also has a repeating “v” shape throughout.

When crocheting in the round to make amigurumi, the right side is the surface that is more textured and has a pattern of repeating “V” shapes throughout. The opposite side is the wrong side, and has horizontal bars instead of the “V” pattern. The right side of amigurumi is decided by convention only, and does not have any further ramifications for crocheting amigurumi.

An easier way to tell whether the right side of amigurumi is facing out is by noting whether you are crocheting clockwise or counterclockwise; clockwise is the right side out , and counterclockwise is the wrong side out.

To break down exactly what constitutes the “right side” or “wrong side,” we’ll dive a little deeper. 

When crocheting in the round, the two sides of the crocheted fabric that is produced will look different. The “wrong side” has horizontal bars in it; this will be your biggest clue in figuring out which stitch is the “right’’ side. Study your stitches on both sides.

Further, you can tell if you are crocheting with the “right side” out if you are working clockwise with your hook facing inwards, as opposed to counter clockwise with your hook facing outwards. A final identifier when working on amigurumi is where the beginning tail is, if it is “inside” your project, leaving you with a seamless start to your project. 

The difference in the final appearance of your project is completely up to your personal preference, and is optional with almost every pattern. However, it is generally the best look aesthetically to have one side or the other show on the whole piece continuously. If you decide you like one side better, stick with it for your entire project.

As you can see from the picture above, the polar bear is “wrong” side out and the bubble tea is “right” side out. The polar bear has a more fluffy look to it, as well as the stitches having a small horizontal bar in them. The bubble tea looks like the stitches are tighter and you can see the clear definition in them. The bubble tea has a less “fluffy” texture giving it a more smooth surface. 

More blog posts for amigurumi beginners:

How Do I Crochet With The Right Side Out? 

At some point (usually after the beginning two or three rounds), flip your work inside out so that the tail is inside your project instead of dangling outside. 

When you are working with the “wrong” side facing outwards, your crochet hook will be moving in a counterclockwise direction around your project. This means that when you complete the project, if you choose to have the right side out, you will need to flip your amigurumi inside out.

If you decide to flip your project while you are still working on it, you will start working in a clockwise direction around your project, and when it’s completed the tail will be inside, leaving you with a smooth surface.

Working in this direction also means that you don’t have to flip your project “right” side out when you are finished. 

Once your work has begun to develop a natural curve it will be much simpler to tell which side is “right” and which is “wrong”, also giving you the opportunity to decide which way you like your project the best. 

If you’re just getting started, I recommend your first project to be my Mini Whale! This project is aimed at complete beginners — I worked really hard to provide a full video tutorial, blog post, as well as free downloadable PDF! This is the pattern to start with if you’re a complete beginner 🙂

This is a tutorial for complete beginners and goes through how to create the entire project from scratch. The accompanying PDF pattern can be found below and the blog post here.

Should I Crochet With The Right Side Out?

The default for every amigurumi pattern is for the “right side” to be facing outwards. This consensus means that no crochet pattern will ever specifically demand you to flip your work inside out, but the process pictures and final product will usually reflect that.

This can also be confusing if you see process photos in which the demonstrator appears to be working in the opposite direction as you. It is important to be aware of this convention so that even if you choose not to orient your project with the “right side” out, you are able to understand directions in the pattern.

Aside from the looks, one perk of following the convention is that when you are working with the ‘right’ side out is that the tail of the project is already inside! This means you don’t have to weave it into your project at the end.

It also provides a seamless look at the start of your project, with no hole or chance of your project coming unraveled. Sometimes, on small projects, like accessories, it may be very difficult to flip your project inside out. If that happens, don’t worry, no one will notice. 

However, sometimes flipping your work inside out can be extremely difficult, especially for particularly small pieces. As you can see from the picture above, the ball on top of the hat is a particularly small piece. Because you only have a few rows of stitches, you won’t get the natural curve.

Because the accessory is so small it may be incredibly difficult to turn it “right” side out and keep the shape you desire. 

It is fine to just leave it “inside” out, and do your finish off once you’ve gotten the desired shape and size for the accessory. On things small such as the ball on the hat, it won’t be noticeable when looking at your finished project. 

Don’t forget, this is a personal preference; if you like the way your project looks when it’s on the ‘wrong’ side, you can absolutely leave it that way. Once the project is completed, it will look just as cute and aesthetically pleasing as it would if you had left it on the ‘right’ side. 

What Other Techniques Can I Use To Make My Amigurumi Look Neater? 

There are many different techniques and alternative methods in the amigurumi world that can improve the neatness of your project. These are just a few that I prefer  when I am crocheting. . 

The X Stitch Method:  This stitch method is an easy alternative to the standard “V stitch” which produces an “X” shape for each stitch rather than a “V” shape. This creates a pixelated look that I prefer to the standard ‘V’ stitch that is taught. The method of creating the ‘X’ stitch is not significantly different from the way you create a ‘V’ stitch — the only main difference is that you will yarn under rather than yarn over in the initial step. 

When you are first starting out, you will be taught the ‘V’ stitch method to work the single crochet. If you are interested in learning how to make the ‘X’ stitch for your project, check out this easy tutorial! 

Clean Color Changes: Having a clean color change in your project is important for the overall finished product to look clean and neat. For this special technique, when you work the last stitch of your old color, wait before yarning over and pulling through. For the final ‘yarn over and draw through all loops on hook’, substitute the new yarn, so that you draw the new yarn through your loops. This gives a seamless color change. 

For a beginner, this may sound a bit confusing, and mastering it can be difficult at first. No worries; the more you use the method, the easier it will be to get the hang of it. 

In this case, if you consider yourself a beginner, try to decide on a pattern that has only one change of color. For example; a bear with a different colored tummy, or a penguin that is only white and black. 

Here’s a video to help you learn this transition and how to make it look seamless! 

Invisible Finish Off: This method allows you to have a seamless finish off at the end of your project when you are crocheting in continuous rounds. 

To create the invisible finish off, cut the tail of the yarn at the end of the pattern and pull the yarn through the loop like usual. Then, thread the tail through a tapestry needle, and insert the needle through the second stitch away from the last stitch you worked. Finally, thread the needle through the last stitch you worked, and weave in the end. The last round should be smooth and the final stitch indistinguishable in height from the ones after it. 

You are then left with a seamless finish, with no knots in your work. Here’s a video to better explain this method!