Amigurumi Minion

Did you know?

Amigurumi became popular in the West only in the early 2000s, though it had been popular in Japan for several decades. The word is derived from a combination of the words ami, which means crocheted or knitted, and nuigurumi, meaning stuffed doll. They're usually animals or inanimate objects with anthropomorphic features. They're also incredibly adorable.

While Japan has a rich history of textiles, they do not have a prior knitting tradition like the West. Samurai warriors took up knitting to make socks that allowed more freedom of motion, but they were the only ones forming knitting circles for a long time.

Western countries typically think of knit and crochet projects that are useful and functional: scarves, hats, baby blankets, etc. The aesthetic and goal of amigurumi is just cuteness. They aren't necessarily toys; they're just meant to be cute and expressive.

Amigurumi started to become popular in the 1950s in Japan. It was around this time that the Japanese culture started to move toward cuteness, or kawaii. They invented well-known characters like Hello Kitty. This new culture of cute and adorable served as a mask for all of the atrocities suffered by the Japanese at the end of World War II. 

People could express themselves with amigurumi. They are little individual characters formed by human hands and the materials are chosen with care. They are sweet and innocent and could offer joy and a new culture to a country trying to heal.

Join a rich and growing culture of amigurumi and make all of your favorite chracters!