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 The "X stitch" in amigurumi is a variation of the standard single crochet (SC) that creates a dense, clean, and X-shaped fabric. It is achieved by "yarning under" for the first loop, which tightens the stitches, eliminates gaps, and prevents your polyfill stuffing from showing through. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]


How to Crochet the X Stitch
  1. Insert your hook: Insert your crochet hook into the next stitch as usual.
  2. Yarn Under (First Loop): Instead of bringing the hook over the yarn, place the hook under the working yarn (hook goes over the yarn) and pull up a loop.
  3. Yarn Over (Second Loop): Yarn over the hook normally and pull through both loops to complete the single crochet. [1, 6, 7, 8]
Why Use It for Amigurumi?
  • Tighter Tension: It yields a stiffer, more structured fabric that perfectly holds the shape of the toy.
  • No Stuffing Show-Through: Because the stitches lock together tightly, the polyfill stays securely hidden inside your creations.
  • Neater Appearance: The surface looks less like tiny braids (V's) and more like a uniform grid of neat X's, giving your amigurumi a professional finish. [2, 3, 4, 8, 9]
Pro-Tips for Success
  • Go Up a Hook Size: Because "yarning under" creates a significantly tighter stitch than a standard single crochet, you may want to size up by 0.5 mm or 1.0 mm (go up one or two hook sizes) to keep your project the intended size and easy to work with.
  • Watch Your Muscle Memory: It can be frustrating at first if you are used to standard yarning over. Practice slowly to build new muscle memory. [4]



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