Amigurumi V or X Stitch

Mayy

Hello!

I want to know your opinions on this!
I love to crochet Amigurumi, and since from the start I learned to single crochet the X stitch.

For the V sc: wrap the yarn over the crochet hook and pull up a loop. Continue as normal.

For the X sc: wrap the yarn under the crochet hook and pull up a loop. Continue as normal. By doing this, you get a X-shaped look.

Did you know of this? I hope so! It gives your work a whole new look and you can choose which one you prefer the most!

This X shape makes the stitches more neat and uniform, but a little bit smaller (tighter) as well.
The V shape makes the whole work softer, I think.

99% of my Amigurumi is made with the X look, but right now I'm a little confused of which one to choose. Both are beautiful!!

What do you think of this? Which one do you prefer?

Search for "Pica Pau Yan" on Instagram and see more of her work. She uses the X shape stitch and she also has a video on how to do it.
And there are videos on YouTube to help you achieve this look!

Pica Pau Yan 1

Regular V shape

Same pattern V and X

Pica Pau Yan 2

Polarkitt

I only ever knew about the V way, how do you handle the X way when a pattern tells you for example to hook under both lines of the V?

Littlespider

Hi! I didn't know about it until I started with amigrumis, I was more into crocheting clothes and carpet as ( sorry forgot the word on English). For me it's easier the X when I'm making realistic dolls ( easier to grab the yard). When I want to make the amigurumi a little bit bigger with the same materials ( hook and yarn) I use the V shape but I have notices that if Im going to embroider the eyes the V makes it harder to do it. Im really don't know if that's the case or it's just me who really don't enjoy so much working with  needles. :)

bananapie

I had to learn the yarn under x way when making octopuses for premature babies, the charity had alot of rules to make them safe for the babies and like you said it produces much tigher work which leaves less gaps for stuffing making it safer. I found it super hard on my hands though (I have arthritis) so I generally work in yarn over v form. I'm working on some of the pica pau patterns now but doing them in v form instead. I prefer the look of the x but it's just not doable for me personally which is a pity

BlueTanager

I learned the "v" way. But nowadays it feels and looks a little bit odd to me. "x" seems to give more structure and tbh I didn't see a big or even noticeable sacrifice in softness at all.
To me "x" helps specially when using a bit cheaper acrylic yarns (because sometimes it's all you have around you), the shape is less prone to get deformed.
And as superkrout mentioned above, the sturdiness helps when filling it too! It's harder to get the stuffing showing at all.

Mmmmason

When I first learned how to crochet I tried following the YouTube videos as closely as possible which resulted in everything I made having that v stitch. I remember absolutely hating how it looked because I was envious of people who made amigurumi with the x look lol. Eventually, I learned how to make that stitch round four years ago so I've never gone back to the v stitch which I like to joke it's a trauma response

FluffyQueen88

                               
Login/Register to enlarge

Mayy

                               
Login/Register to enlarge

2019-1-17 14:15
Sorry, I uploaded the pictures now! Hope you like it.

Wow, those pictures are great and really show the difference! It looks like the x's give a more even texture to the fabric but the v's are maybe a bit smoother looking? I think I might like the regularity of the x's best but both are very nice.

It's really interesting to see this difference. Thank you so much for sharing!

bs.frog

Thank you Mayy this is really interesting. I really want to learn how to crochet more than a granny square so I can learn to do Amigurumi. Great hearing about this now so I can play with both as I learn. Thanks so much for the great explanation and pictures too :loveliness: Love learning new things.

Also your avatar is so sweet :loveliness:

MissLexeon

I know and have uysed the Yarn Under technique and I know it can make a piece look 'cleaner' but I just CANNOT do it efficiently and quickly the way I can a standard Yarn Over. It's just not for me and the subjective gains in looks is nto worth the insane amount of effort I'd have to add to a piece I am making.

WoolySnail

I have always made the X way. And I crochet trough one loop not both, this way the left "loop'" will close the gap







This one is the one I crochet (on the right)

Yirikka

I prefer the "x" look for dolls because it looks neater like you said.  It does make the fabric tighter, so for other things like blankets and towels I use the yarn over method.  I don't do much crochet though and always learning!

FluffyQueen88

I did not know this at all! Are there pictures to show the difference? I am quite curious to see how different they look! Very interesting!

Mayy

                               
Login/Register to enlarge

FluffyQueen88

                               
Login/Register to enlarge

2019-1-17 13:48
I did not know this at all! Are there pictures to show the difference? I am quite curious to see how ...

Sorry, I uploaded the pictures now! Hope you like it.

Marie-Louise

Very nice !

SandraMB

I think X gets better. It gets really tight.

BEBEH

Çok güzel!!! Paylaşım için teşekkürler!!!

Snownyq

I prefer the x sc, neat and tight, not showing holes when stuffing

aeon76

I have heard of 2 ways to crochet Amigurumi. They were called yarn over and yarn under. I like your explanations and pictures. This helps show the difference between the two techniques.

gospel223

I use both ways. Personally prefer the "X" sc.;P