Amigurumis: What are they and what is their story?

We are all moved by amigurumis, considering them as one of those knitted dolls that are capable of winning the hearts of everyone at home. It is that they are so small and adorable that it causes them to be taken all away, proudly displaying them in the children’s room or other domestic spaces.

But behind all that sweetness and mysticism that they transmit, there is a true story of overcoming to know. An example of life for this new generation, showing them how possible it is to overcome adversity with effort and empathy towards the pain of others.

Amigurumis are not only present in exclusive stores or specialized in children’s items. We can also visualize them in the creations that our grandmothers make through the crochet technique, giving us pieces impregnated with the purest love and that will accompany us for the rest of our existence.

If you want to know what these mystical origins of amigurumis are and the meaning of this word, continue reading because this post seeks to educate you and inform you about what is behind these magnificent characters.

Forward!

What are amigurumi?

It is a trend of Japanese origin that consists of the embroidery of dolls under the hook weaving technique, better known as crochet. The amigurumis are dolls made of wool and cotton thread that have been manufactured within this artisan manufacturing pattern, standing out for offering a pleasant visual effect and offering a soft touch that makes it impossible not to want to hug them.

They can personify various animals, as well as objects of daily life in reduced or medium physical dimensions depending on who the director is. Another positive aspect of amigurumis is their sustainable nature, since artificial products or other polluting agents are not used in the entire production chain.

In addition to being timeless, being preserved among the next generations without being forced to discard them because they “suffered the ravages of time”, leaving them with an unpleasant appearance.

What is the meaning of the word “Amigurumis”?

“Amigurumis” is a compound word from the Japanese language, dividing into “Ami” which means Weaving or Knitting and “Gurumi” which translated is Stuffed Doll.

If we adapt it to the semantics of Castilian Spanish, we could affirm that it would be “Muñeco Tejido”. However, we would be making a grammatical approximation of this due to the wide variations that exist in the Japanese language in terms of pronunciation and writing with the Kanji system.

History of the Amigurumi.

To talk about the origins and history of amigurumis is to go back to Japan in 1950, when the Second World War had just ended and this Asian country was devastated in general terms. There was not only a climate of hopelessness due to the situation that existed during that time, but also motivated by the large civilian casualties that according to official records range between 350,000-500,000.

While unofficial investigations speak of more than 1,500,000 deaths as a result of this war. The Japanese were looking for a reason to brighten up their gray days, leading to the emergence of the Kawaii culture. This artistic movement is based on the creation of tender objects and images in all existing areas of Japanese society.

This brought with it internationally renowned characters such as Hello Kitty, giving meaning to the lives of millions of people who had lost their loved ones or were forcibly displaced by the nuclear attacks on Nagasaki and Hiroshima.

A homemade amigurumi was a reflection of a new lifestyle, where all the women in a family were offered a way of entertainment so that their hours at home were more pleasant. What would be a temporary custom ended up becoming a tradition with deep socio-cultural roots that are still present today. The weaving culture is even much earlier, dating back to the time of the Samurai, who had to weave their own garments to go out to fight.

The original amigurumis did not have a mouth so as not to be linked to any emotion and to be able to connect and identify with the feelings of their owner. This is why many of the amigurumis that we originally designed at Crochetts did not have mouths.

Reasons to buy amigurumi dolls at Crochetts.

Beyond being a toy, the objective of these cotton stuffed animals is to protect and feed the spirit and imagination of the child in all of us, to awaken the tenderness of love. Each amigurumi has a “soul” that makes it the companion and confidant for life of its owner, providing protection and comfort in times of fear, stress or sadness.

Our amigurumis are attachment objects linked to simple concepts such as complicity, friendship and company.

So an amigurumi will help:

Feed your children’s imagination, transmitting that feeling of tenderness, company and security that will turn them into healthy and intelligent adults.

Promote healthy entertainment among the little ones, teaching them about the importance of being empathetic and grateful to the universe for enjoying an environment that protects them.

You will be giving them an icon of Japanese culture, whose symbolism goes beyond being a simple ornament. This is a reliable proof that it is possible to move towards success with a change of mentality and moving away from those negative thoughts.

You realize? Never judge or look down on anyone based on their appearance. And we say this, because amigurumis are almost always considered as “simple toys” instead of showing a more holistic conception for everything that they embody behind them.

Go ahead and buy amigurumis and teach your children that nothing in life is so terrible that they won’t let go. If you liked this post, share it in your RRSS.