How to Embroider Eyes on Amigurumi Crochet

Crocheting Amigurumi is a lot of fun, but adding finishing touches to your crochet toy can sometimes feel a bit daunting. But it’s actually not as tricky as it seems. In this photo and video tutorial, I’ll show you a very simple way how to embroider eyes on Amigurumi.

This embroidered eyes technique is especially handy when you are unable to use plastic safety eyes or just simply want to go for a more ‘dreamy look’. 

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And if you like the cow lovey featured in my video then you can make it using my free cow lovey crochet pattern.

How to Embroider Eyes on Amigurumi

I love embroidering sleepy eyes on my crochet loveys because I think it just looks super cute and gives them such a dreamy vibe. Perfect for snuggling with before bedtime! But you can of course use this method on any crochet animal or a crochet doll.

Materials and Equipment

You will need the below items before you start embroidering eyes on stuffed animals or other crochet toys:

• a long piece of black thread yarn – about 20 inches/50cm for each eye (if you used dark yarn to make your crochet toy then use white yarn instead)
• tapestry needle/yarn needle
• pins with large heads
• scissors

I prefer using embroidery thread yarn because it gives the Amigurumi eyes a more delicate look than a thicker yarn. But if you don’t have thread yarn at hand then use whatever yarn you have available at home.

Photo Tutorial

Follow the below steps to create the perfect embroidered eyes for Amigurumi.

Step 1: Make sure you stuff the head well and close it before you go ahead and embroider the eyes

Step 2: Mark the shape of the eyelid with three pins first (Pic 1) – follow the instructions in the crochet pattern you are using or adjust the placement the way you feel it looks the best

Step 3: Thread your yarn needle with the black yarn

Step 4: Enter the head with the needle through any one stitch on the side or bottom of the head

Step 5: And then come out through the inner corner of the eye (Pic 2), remove the pin and pull the needle with the yarn through making sure you leave a long tail sticking out of the head

Step 6: Then insert your needle into the outer corner of the eye and come out through the stitch marked with the 3rd pin at the top of the eye lid (Pic 3)

Step 7: Remove the pins and pull the needle with the yarn through until you have a little loop left (Pic 4)

Step 8: Pull the needle through the loop (Pic 5), pull on the yarn a bit and insert your needle back into the very same stitch that was marked with the 3rd pin (Pic 6)

Step 9: Come out through the outer corner of the eye to finish the eyelid (Pic 7 & 8)

Step 10: You can now embroider the eyelashes one by one – I normally embroider 3 or 4 eyelashes depending on the type of animal I am making

Step 11: First eyelash – insert your needle into a stitch that is one row above the corner of the eye and come out through a stitch next to it but this time two rows above the corner (Pic 9 & 10)

Step 12: Second eyelash – go back into the eye corner again and come out through another stitch next to the second eyelash (Pic 11 & 12)

Step 13: Third eyelash – go back into the eye corner again and come out through a stitch next to the eye corner…one row above (Pic 13 & 14)

Step 14: Fourth eyelash – go back into the same eye corner again and come out through exactly the same stitch where you started on the side/bottom of the head (Pic 15 & 16)

Step 15: You should now have two tails sticking out of the same stitch on the side/bottom of the head – tie a double knot with the tails

Step 16: Then thread your needle with one of the tails, insert the needle into the same stitch the tails are sticking out of and come out with the needle through any one stitch on the back of the head

Step 17: Pull on the yarn tail tight until you pull the knot inside your crochet project

Step 18: Repeat step 16 & 17 and then cut the yarn tails off​

And that’s it. You should repeat the same steps to make the second eye and you are done. 🙂 You should have beautifully embroidered sleepy eyes that won’t come loose or won’t pull out of the stitches because we made sure to secure the yarn tails well.

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Discover my Amigurumi basics video tutorials, perfect if you want to learn new skills and techniques. Whether you need help with a particular pattern or just looking for helpful tips and tricks, these tutorials are just the thing for you!