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How to Crochet Ami without the "Pinwheel Effect'

10/15/2013

10 Comments

 
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Ever wonder why your ami puppy or snowman ends up with a swirl on its head?
I'm not sure what it's called but I can only describe it as a "pinwheel effect".  This happens when crocheting in increasing rounds because each of the stitch increases land only 1 stitch away from the increases of the round before.  Since I'm not very fond of this effect, and I think it looks funny on ami heads, I found a way to spread the increases out so they don't land too close to each other.

Below is a typical Amigurumi pattern.  On the left, marked with the orange stitch marker, is the result of the increases spread out, and on the right with the blue stitch marker is the result of following a typical pattern.  Instead of increasing the number of sc by 1 for every row and following each set of sc with an increase, I took all the rows with an even number of sc before an inc, and split the first set of sc and put the rest in before the end of the round.  I know, I'm confused too.  So I've marked those rows in red.
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R1: 6 sc in magic ring (6)
R2: inc 6x (12)
R3: [sc, inc] 6x (18)
R4: sc, inc [sc 2, inc] 5x, sc (24)
R5: [sc 3, inc] 6x (30)
R6: sc 2, inc [Sc 4, inc] 5x, sc 2 (36)
R7: [sc 5, inc] 6x (42)
R8: sc 3, inc [sc 6, inc] 5x, sc 3 (48)
R9: [sc 7, inc] 6x (54)
R10: sc 4, inc [sc 8, inc] 5x, sc 4 (60)
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R11 -17: sc in each st around (60)
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R1: 6 sc in magic ring (6)
R2: inc 6x (12)
R3: [sc, inc] 6x (18)
R4: [sc 2, inc] 6x (24)
R5: [sc 3, inc] 6x (30)
R6: [sc 4, inc] 6x (36)
R7: [sc 5, inc] 6x (42)
R8: [sc 6, inc] 6x (48)
R9: [sc 7, inc] 6x (54)
R10: [sc 8, inc] 6x (60)
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R11 -17: sc in each st around (60)
Even if it evens out as you sc 1 all around, you can still see the pinwheel at the top. 
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I apply the same technique when I decrease.
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R18: sc 4 dec [sc 8, dec] 5x, sc 4 (54)
R19: [sc 7, dec] 6x (48)
R20: sc 3, dec [sc 6, dec] 5x, sc 3 (42)
R21: [sc 5, dec] 6x (36)
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Picture
R18: [sc 8, dec] 6x (54)
R19: [sc 7, dec] 6x (48)
R20: [sc 6, dec] 6x (42)
R21: [sc 5, dec] 6x (36)

After stuffing, everything stretches of course and the corners round out a bit but again, the effect can still be seen.  Maybe it's not always noticeable but I very much prefer the effect on the left :)
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10 Comments
Jei Crochet link
12/3/2013 04:54:59 am

I love your site! I love crochet too! I've been looking for safety eyes here in Cavite but I have no luck. I am lucky finding your site. I will order soon :)

Reply
Rosanna Z. Romero
12/3/2013 06:38:23 am

Thank you Jei! Looking forward :)

Reply
Yeeli
3/20/2015 03:13:16 am

Hi!! It's me, the one with the Minions, again. I am working on my 3rd Minion now, and I will be trying out your method of increase. LOVE IT! So happy I found your site!

Reply
Rosanna Z. Romero
3/20/2015 07:18:23 pm

Yay! That pinwheel-looking pattern that appeared on my projects really bugged me. I'm glad you found it! Hope you find it useful :-)

Reply
Charli link
4/3/2016 10:22:27 am

wow this is great... thanks... I'm so going to follow this advice especially for Ami's that don't have hats or hair to cover the pinwheel look (eg owls, teddies, bunnies etc...)

Reply
Drica
6/3/2016 12:33:51 am

Thanks for sharing this come in handy.

Reply
Raffaella
11/23/2016 10:14:52 pm

Thank you! I like your site! Greetings from Italy.
Raffaella

Reply
Rosanna
11/23/2016 10:22:46 pm

Thank you Raffaella! I hope you can use some of the ideas on your crochet projects!

Reply
Duchess Gala link
12/20/2016 04:33:34 pm

Hi! How can you adjust the stitches for magic circles not starting at 6?

Reply
Rosanna
1/10/2017 12:20:08 am

Hello! Just use the same pattern except you will increase x the number you start with. Example, if you start with 7sc, your 2nd round will be (inc) 7x. Your 3rd round will be (sc, inc) 7x. Your 4th round will be sc, inc (sc 2, inc) 6x, so. Your 5th round will be (sc 3, inc) 7x and so on.

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