Ever wanted to give your amigurumi crochet projects a bit of added weight? Struggling to get your crochet toys to stand up on their own? The solution is simple: try making a weighted base with Poly Pellets!
Poly Pellets are small plastic pellets that can be used to add weight to your amigurumi projects. This added weight can help keep those rogue stuffed animals to stand upright instead of toppling over. But, there’s a trick to using them correctly, and safely.
Today, I’ll show you how to use Poly Pellets safely and effectively in your next amigurumi projects.
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Where to Buy Poly Pellets
Poly Pellets are available at crafting and art stores like Michaels and various online retailers (like Amazon). I got mine at my local craft store and it cost me about $20 for a 2lb bag of them.
How to Use Poly Pellets
Poly Pellets are tiny little plastic beads/pellets and if you were to add them to your crochet project, they’d eventually work their way through the small holes that exist in crochet stitches. Even using the smallest mm hook I own with a worsted weight yarn couldn’t create a tight enough fabric because over time and with use, the fabric relaxes and the little beads make their way out.
The best way to use them safely, is to put the Poly Pellets in a container of some variety that prevents them from escaping. We’re essentially going to be creating a mini bean bag to go inside our amigurumi toy.
The cheapest, quickest, easiest thing I’ve found to use is nylon stockings. That’s right, I use pantyhose knee-high stockings! I get them in a package of 2 pairs from the dollar store for $1.25 and that gets me 4 stockings to use in amigurumi projects.
If you can’t find stockings, another great option you can try is socks (also available from the Dollarstore) or you can try sewing little pouches made of a solid fabric with a tight weave. While that is definitely an option, my personal preference is the nylon stockings for their low cost and how quick and easy they are to use.
Watch my video tutorial for how to use poly pellets in amigurumi:
Once you have your containment method of preference, you need to add the pellets to it. If you’re not careful, they can be a bit messy so you want to do this carefully. I like to place my stocking into a clean cup or mug and fold the top of it over the opening of the cup/mug to hold the stocking open.
Then using a spoon, I scoop the pellets into the stocking until I have the amount I feel will add enough weight to my stuffed animal (or other crochet projects).
Once I’m sure I have enough, I remove it from the mug/cup and tie a knot in the stocking. If you have extra stocking, you can cut it off and discard it, leave it attached or, if you have enough you could turn the remaining stocking back over the part of the stocking that contains the beads and essentially double up the stocking to reinforce it.
When you’re using the poly pellets you would use the poly pellets in the base of your crochet animals or where you want the weight to be (i.e. the ends of the limbs of your amigurumi piece).
After adding the poly pellets, you would then add your favorite stuffing around the little poly pellet pouch. My favourite toy stuffing is Polyfil but if that isn’t an option for you, some alternative stuffing options could be scrap yarn, cotton balls, pillow filling, plastic bags and more.
Once you’re done stuffing, finish or close up your toy as usual. I would recommend not adding poly pellets to the heads of toys as it will cause the heads to be floppy. I don’t recommend giving toys containing poly pellets to young children under the age of 3.
I hope you liked this tutorial. If you want to try a pattern where I use this technique, try out my crochet christmas gnome pattern for Gnorman Gnome and Free Crochet Dog Pattern Henley the Hound
If you like free amigurumi patterns, you may be interested in these:
- My Dolly Molly Amigurumi Doll
- Free Crochet Seal Pattern – Salty the Seal
- Crochet Owl Free Pattern – Otis the Owl
- Mini Crochet Cat Pattern with video tutorial
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I’m curious if anyone has ever used the poly beads with disposable nylon foot socks for smaller amigurumi projects. Especially if the project is miniature size I think it would be a lot cheaper to get a box of those to use if you’re making multiple projects at a small size… just curious. I was thinking of trying it, but wasnt sure if it was as effective, or not, as a longer sock.
I haven’t done it personally but I think it would work generally in the same fashion albeit possibly a little trickier/messier to fill. I’d love to hear how you make you 🙂
I am new to crochet and I appreciate your explanation. I also love your business name.
Thank you so much! I am so thrilled that you found it helpful 🙂
My husband wears compression pantyhose prescribed by his doctor. These pantyhose are quite a bit thicker then regular dollar store pantyhose but will they still work. He normally tosses them after 4 months of wear and it would be nice if I could them to better use then landfill.
That’s a great way to reuse them! Thank you so much for sharing 🙂