At some point in your crocheting journey you’ve probably spent enough time working with embroidery floss to wonder whether it’s possible to crochet amigurumi with embroidery thread. I definitely have—I love using embroidery thread to create eyes and noses, so this was definitely a question that intrigued me! After doing a little research online, I’m ready to share with you all the ins-and-outs about crocheting with embroidery thread!
Can I Crochet Amigurumi with Embroidery Thread?
At some point in your crocheting journey you’ve probably spent enough time working with embroidery floss to wonder whether it’s possible to crochet amigurumi with embroidery thread. I definitely have—I love using embroidery thread to create eyes and noses, so this was definitely a question that intrigued me! After doing a little research online, I’m ready to share with you all the ins-and-outs about crocheting with embroidery thread!
It’s possible to crochet amigurumi with embroidery thread, but it can be tricky to work with because of its structural weakness. Alternatively, you can either use embroidery floss (six threads together) or crochet thread.
How is embroidery thread different from embroidery floss?
Embroidery floss is comprised of six separate strands, which are each embroidery thread. As it turns out, embroidery floss is designed to come apart into separate strands (as those of you who cross stitch may know), allowing each thread to be used individually. (For a more technical response, please see this post by Lord Libidan.) This is an important distinction because embroidery thread is 1/6th the thickness of embroidery floss. This means it’s about the size of an average piece of sewing thread.
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Since it’s possible to crochet amigurumi with sewing thread, it’s also possible to crochet amigurumi with embroidery thread, but the issue is that embroidery thread tends to be a lot weaker than sewing thread. In addition, it’s not designed to be crocheted with (i.e. yanked around by a metal hook), which means that its weaknesses will be compounded. All in all, it’s not the best choice to crochet amigurumi with embroidery thread, though it is technically possible. But what about all six threads bundled together in embroidery floss?
Can I crochet amigurumi using embroidery floss?
Good news! You can definitely crochet amigurumi with embroidery floss. Embroidery floss is about the size of fingering weight yarn, with the added caveat that it may split much more easily than the average yarn (see above: designed to split apart). However, the sheen could be appealing enough for you to stick through it and get a really cool shiny result! If you want to able to avoid gaps in your crochet fabric, it seems that a 2mm hook is best (or even 1.75mm for maximum denseness). Just be careful, because embroidery floss can be slippery and difficult to manage at times because it splits easily.
What’s this crochet thread you speak of?
If you’re still set on being able to use a very fine thread to crochet teensy tiny amigurumi, then you should opt for crochet thread. Crochet thread is not sewing thread, nor is it yarn. It’s a very fine and strong thread designed specifically for crocheting. This is the ideal option if you want to use super thin yarn to make tiny versions of normal sized patterns.
The most popular type of crochet thread is a brand called Aunt Lydia, which has gained widespread recognition because of its high yardage for a low price. Another well loved brand is Lizbeth, for its wide array of colors (though with relatively lower yardage per skein).
A Note on Sizing:
The size of crochet thread is indicated by a number ranging from 3-80. However, sizes of thread are not consecutive; the only sizes that exist are 3, 5, 10, 20, 30, 40, and 80. The higher the number is, the thinner the thread is, so conventional wisdom says that beginners should start at 3, 5, or 10 before trying thinner and more difficult threads.
This type of thread and crocheting has become so popular in recent years that it has actually been dubbed “micro crochet.”
What’s micro crochet?
Micro crochet is the art of crocheting tiny amigurumi with crochet thread. You’ve probably seen some pictures on Instagram of teensy tiny little amigurumi made out of thread—this is made out of the crochet thread we went over earlier! This type of crochet is great if you want to make itty-bitty versions of your favorite amigurumi, or if you want to make jewelry or even dollhouse accessories.
The generally consensus is that you don’t need a special pattern to make your micro crochet creation, you just need a “normal” pattern which will then be sized down because of how thin the thread is. However, because the your tools are so scaled down, it would be wise to pick a relatively simple pattern if you’re just starting out. Think: few color changes, no complex stitches, and no complicated parts.
A few other things to look out for:
- Make sure that your working area has plenty of light. It’s more difficult to see the differences between the stitches, so ample lighting is key to a no-frustration process.
- Get hooks with large handles. Fatigue is a real risk with micro crochet because of how small everything involved is, so make life easier for you by grabbing some hooks with bigger and more comfortable handles. These hooks from KnitPicks are perfect and come in the small sizes you need.
- Use embroidery scissors. Crochet thread is even thinner than yarn, so extra sharp scissors are needed to make a clean cut.
Here are a few patterns that would be perfect for micro crochet beginners:
A note about hooks:
For micro crochet, you’ll want to use steel hooks to reduce the friction between the crochet thread and your hook. These hooks are sized differently than you (and I!) are probably used to, so I made a chart:
| US Size | Size in mm |
| 0 | 1.75mm |
| 2 | 1.5mm |
| 4 | 1.25mm |
| 6 | 1.00mm |
| 8 | 0.9mm |
| 10 | 0.75mm |
Keep in mind that there are many different systems of hook sizes out there, but this chart corresponds to the hooks I recommended above!
In conclusion…
Crocheting anything just requires a hook and fiber, so technically you can use whatever you want. However, embroidery thread usually isn’t strong enough to work, and embroidery floss can split easily, though it’s very shiny. Micro crochet thread is perfect for tiny creations, but just make sure you equip yourself with the right tools and mindset for success!
For basic amigurumi tips, check out my easy amigurumi guide here!
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