PASSAGE / SEPTEMBER 2020
EAST ASIA
by Kailey Clifford
When most people think of crocheting, they think of sweaters, scarves, or blankets. But Karen Wong has a different vision. Since she was little, Karen knew she wanted to do something artistic with her life. So, when she learned how to crochet, she had a vision of making items that you could collect or use to decorate with that looked aesthetically pleasing. Thus, she came up with the idea of making crochet plushies. This Japanese
craft is called amigurumi, a type of crocheting or knitting to make stuffed yarn creatures. It comes from the Japanese words “ami” — which means “crocheted” or “knitted” — and “nuigurumi,” which means “stuffed doll.” They usually take the form of animals or different creatures and have a kawaii, or cute, feel to them.
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